TWELVE Harwich, Dovercourt and Parkeston Swimming Club youngsters participated in the Essex Age Group Championships, at the London Aquatic Centre, in Stratford.

In order to qualify, they had achieved county times by participating in open galas throughout the past year.

Now they had to raise the bar and compete among the best swimmers in the county in their age groups, most swimming in a 50 metres pool for the first time.

This is the most swimmers the club has ever entered into the county championships.

Seven boys and five girls took part, with two of them getting through to the finals – Josh Herbert, in the 14 year age group 50m butterfly, and Katie Holmes, in the over 17 years 50m breaststroke.

Herbert was tenth in 33.90 seconds and Holmes seventh in 38s.

All the swimmers did exceptionally well and enjoyed the day, mixing with celebrities such as Tom Daley and Mark Foster.