Bermuda?s best young swimmers have been busy winning medals and smashing personal bests this past week at the Alberta Provincial Championships in Edmonton ? a meet involving over 800 of the best junior swimmers from across North America.

At the Edmonton Aquatic Centre last night, 11-year-old Ashley Yearwood won the gold medal in the 11-12 division 50-metre butterfly ? sensationally breaking the Bermuda record with a swim of 32.63 seconds.

Yearwood attends Warwick Academy and is a highly-rated member of the Harbour Club.

Elsewhere, Ashley Aitken narrowly missed out on the bronze medal by placing fourth in the women?s 17 and Over division 50m breaststroke while Nick Thomson collected a silver medal in the 13-14 division 100m backstroke.

Another highlight for the Bermuda team was the senior men?s four by 50m medley relay, where the team ? consisting of Darren Woods, Trevor Johnstone, Julian Fletcher and Martin Danielak ? placed second in the ?B? final.

Rebecca Sharpe won a silver medal in the 13-14 division 200m backstroke and set a new Bermuda ?long course? age group record, swimming a time of 2 minutes 31 seconds and beating the record by over two seconds.

The Bermuda team includes 17 of the Island?s top swimmers from all three local swim clubs ? Sharks, Harbour and Dolphins.

And head coach Ben Smith was fulsome in his praise of his young charges? efforts last night.

?I?m proud of the Bermuda team ? they are swimming fast, and are very focused. They are supportive of each other and all 17 members are competing hard and representing Bermuda very well.

?It?s remarkable for these kids to get into these provincial finals, and an honour for them to be achieving medal standings in such a large field of swimmers. Their hard work, training and discipline is paying off, and Bermuda should be proud of them.?