COLCHESTER Swimming Club Team Coach Katie Holmes said it was a 'marvellous achievement' for the club's swimmers to claim ten medals at this year's East Swimming Long Course Championships.

A total of 13 of the club's swimmers made the grade to compete at this year’s level one event, held at UEA Sportspark in Norwich.

They won three gold, three silver and four bronze medals, helping Colchester finished a creditable eighth overall in the medal table.

Holmes said: “As you would expect the standard was very high but the club’s senior swimmers gave some fantastic performances.

"To come away with ten regional championship medals is a marvellous achievement.”

Martha Duley (17 years and over) claimed two of Colchester’s three gold medals, winning both the 100 metres backstroke (one minute 03.75 seconds) and 100m freestyle (58.29s) events.

She also won silver in the 50m backstroke (30.06s) and made the final of both the 200m backstroke and 50m butterfly.

Elinor Duley (17 years and over) won 50m butterfly gold (27.95s), 100m butterfly silver (1m 03.89s) and 50m freestyle bronze (27.05s) and also made the 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle finals.

Olivia Norman (16 years) won silver in the 100m backstroke (1m 07.00s).

Asma Parker (15 years) won bronze in the 50m backstroke (31.28s), 100m backstroke (1m 08.02s) and 200m backstroke (2m 27.94s).

She also made the 100m freestyle, 200m IM and 50m butterfly finals.

Molly Young (15 years) made the 100m and 200m butterfly final and Rebecca Girolami (15 yrs) made the 50m and 100m breaststroke final.

The following swimmers represented Colchester SC: Nicole Chandler, Jamie Coles, Elinor Duley, Martha Duley, Rebecca Girolami, Thomas Grieve, Katie Holmes, Amber Jordan, Brontë Jordan, Nicholas Mitchell, Olivia Norman, Asma Parker and Molly Young.

A long distance event was also added to the Regional Long Course Championships for the first time.

The 1,500m event at Basildon saw Sophie Freeman win gold in the 14 age category with an incredible time of 17m 41.17s.

Charlotte Tree came a very respectable fourth (18m 54.72s) while Charlotte Norman was fifth with a commendable time of 19m 19.96s, in the 13 years age group.

Colchester SC Head Coach Michelle Young said: "All three girls swam their hearts out as they attempted to improve their national ranking.

"They each came away with new PBs and their spirited swims are just reward for the devotion to training.”

The Junior Regional Championships this weekend, at Inspire Luton Sports Village.