After Edward Baxter became a Youth Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Cockermouth Swimming Club completed a sensational grand slam of sorts.

The West Cumbrian volunteer-led club now boast the unique achievement of having produced a Youth Olympic gold medallist, a double European Games gold medallist, a world junior record breaker, a World Championship bronze medallist and a Youth Commonwealth Games gold medallist – all in the space of 13 months.

The honours have rolled in thanks to the efforts of 17-year-old Baxter and Luke Greenbank, with the former’s Commonwealth success - winning gold, silver and bronze at the Games in Samoa - completing his club’s remarkable feat.

Another swimmer, Tom Milburn, has competed in open-water events at both the European and world stages during that time.

And Cockermouth coach Sean Balmer paid tribute to the efforts of all at the club in helping the youngsters to international glory.

“I don’t think there’s another club in the country that have achieved that,” he said.

“We’re incredibly proud of what everybody does. It’s a team effort – there’s lots and lots of people who give up their time, go away to competitions, do the administrative stuff behind the scenes, all of those things are done by willing volunteers, so it’s fantastic that we end up in those situations.

“I think what is most impressive is that at the end of the day, we’re a tiny voluntary club. We have close relations with lots of clubs, and quite often they’ll have two or three full-time coaches and maybe four or five part-time coaches at the big clubs.”

Balmer also revealed that both Baxter and Greenbank had been invited out to Australia to train alongside Adam Peaty, holder of world records in the 50 metres and 100 metres breaststroke, in the new year.

“Luke and Edward are both going away with Adam,” he said.

“They’re spending six weeks with him in Australia in January and early February.

“Mel Marshall, Adam’s coach, spoke to us and we said that these guys are up and coming, and who wouldn’t want people of that calibre in their swimming club?

“So she’s basically said would they like to come to Australia, and she’s made the offer to them.”