KNUTSFORD Vikings capped off their inaugural National Arena League campaign with second place in the weekend’s final.

Almost a third of races in the North West Division Two middle final at Bury’s Castle Leisure Centre were won by Vikings competitors.

Vikings head coach Steve Parry said: “I’m thrilled with the team’s overall performance, especially given this was our first appearance in the Arena League.

“We’re constantly raising the level of our game and the team is getting motivated by the results they are achieving.

“2013 is on the horizon with a whole host of regional galas and the team will be training throughout the holidays to ensure they are in tip-top condition in January.”

Vikings racked up 155 points to finish second behind Stretford’s 169 points, beating Lancaster’s 151points, Buckley’s 138 points and Liverpool Penguins’ 121 points.

Adam Frost, Beth Simms, Ben Mitchell, Phoebe Allanson, Amy Howarth, John Crawford and Flo Thwaites-Miles recorded individual race wins alongside three relay successes. Frost led the way with three victories, the open boys’ 100m individual medley, the 100m freestyle and 100m breaststroke.

Thwaites-Miles took the 100m freestyle honours and Allanson the 100m backstroke prize in the open girls’ competition.

Doubles in the 13-year-old girls’ 50m races were achieved by Simms in the breaststroke and backstroke as well as Howarth in the butterfly and freestyle.

Crawford’s first place came in the 15-year-old boys’ 100m breaststroke, while Mitchell took the honours in the 11-year-old boys’ 50m fly.