Colchester Swimming Club's celebrations started early this year when they hosted the McNeil Intersport Christmas gala.

Two fine wins from Elliot Noble, in the U10 25m backstroke race, and Zoe McKenzie, in the U11 50m breaststroke race, got Colchester off to a great start.

Oliver Crosby swam beautifully in the U12 50m butterfly race taking an early lead which he held to the finish.

By race number ten, Braintree and Clacton were tied for the lead with Colchester trailing by one point.

Second places from Lucy Tallentire, Thomas Jiggins and Bronwyn Carter kept the points accumulating and the pressure on Clacton and Braintree.

Ben Watkins swam brilliantly in the U11 50m backstroke, taking a comfortable lead to finish three seconds ahead of his nearest rival. This win saw Colchester tied with leaders Clacton.

Another fine win from the U11 mixed relay team, Ruby King, Matthew Rayner, Zoe McKenzie and Ben Watkins secured Colchester maximum points.

Daniel Few followed this win with another in the U12 50m breaststroke.

Frazier Christie was triumphant in the U10 25m butterfly race, this win pushed Colchester into the lead.

Thomas Rootsey was in fine form all evening, he won the last individual event, the boys U1 50m backstroke.

A jubilant Colchester team had won a very exciting evenings competition, narrowly beating Clacton by two points.

The gala ended with a skins competition. Colchester's Nicola Mett dominated every round of the girls competition emerging the night's overall winner.

Clacton's Kyle Kershaw won the boy's event, beating team-mate Alan Morgan in the final round

Published Friday, December 13, 2002

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette