The Narrabri swimmer is entered in 13 events for tomorrow’s carnival, which will be the final on the New England and North West program for the year.

At the North West School Sports Association awards on Tuesday, the Narrabri High student was presented with the Kris Stewart Memorial Award.

The trophy is awarded to the North West athlete who produces the most outstanding performance at the NSW Combined High Schools Swimming Championships in honour of the former Tamworth High swimmer and water polo player.

Gourley qualified to compete in six events and reached the final in all four of her individual events.

Her efforts were highlighted by a bronze medal in the 12yrs 50m freestyle where she clocked a personal best time of 30.65secs.

She also placed sixth in the 100m backstroke, seventh in the 100m freestyle and eighth in the 200m freestyle.

In all three she also set new personal bests.

That was the icing on the cake on top of making the final, which was huge, she said.

Gourley was also part of the school’s 13yrs girls’ and open medley relay teams.

It was still “quite a surprise” to learn she was to receive the award.

She has been swimming since she was two and trains seven days a week.

Of the strokes, backstroke is her favourite, she said, and she’s hoping to get down to a state qualifying time.

She has two or three seconds to cut off.

She’s already qualified for the 50m freestyle and has achieved Country times in five or six events.