COLCHESTER Swimming Club competed in the second round of the National Arena Swimming League premier division at Luton Sports Village.

It proved a difficult night as they competed against some of the best swimmers in the region.

However, despite a slow start, the squad responded well to finish sixth with 185 points.

For the boys, Alfie Francis’ recent good form continued as he collected maximum points in the 100 metres breaststroke (1:11.83) and 100m butterfly (1:05.46).

Fresh on the back of his huge medal haul at Colchester’s Spooktacular Meet, Zak Troman raced to take first place in the 50m butterfly (34.77) and set a new personal best (PB) to come second in the 50m breaststroke (40.57).

Once again, the boys 13/U 4 x 50m freestyle relay team of Louis Walker, Daniel Himsworth, Mark Milburn and Alfie Francis left the rest of the field behind as they stormed to a first-place finish (1:52.60) and in the 100m freestyle Louis Walker put in a great swim to finish second (59.73).

There were also a number of PBs registered, for Massimo Girolami in the 50m freestyle (35.18), Jamie Coles in the 100m butterfly (1:05.67), Thomas Grieve in the 100m freestyle (54.39) and Syd Roberts in the 100m freestyle (59.22).

The girls also picked up essential points for the team throughout the evening.

Elinor Duley, who was recently crowned 50m butterfly regional champion, won the 100m butterfly (1:02.48).

The event proved very lucrative for Colchester as Molly Young (1:08.84) and Charlotte Norman (1:12.09) both secured third-place finishes in their age groups.

Charlotte also came third in the 100m backstroke (1:07.96).

Rebecca Girolami (1:20.59) replicated her success in the 100m breaststroke, as did the girls 15/U 4 x 50m medley relay team of Molly Redgrave, Rebecca Girolami, Molly Young and Lucy Morgan (2:09.29).

There were also a number of PBs, for Olivia Cartwright in the 50m backstroke (3756), Sadie Rowe in the 50m breaststroke (42.72), Eloise Smart in the 100m breaststroke (1:30.33), Elinor Duley in the 100m freestyle (58.71) and Lucy Morgan in the 100m freestyle (1:02.73).

Head coach Michelle Young said: "We didn't get off to a great start but the squad worked exceptionally hard to pull things back and received fantastic support from the crowd."

Final results: 1 Team Ipswich (343), 2 Bailsdon & Phoenix (288), 3 Ealing (253), 4 Teddington (220), 5 Bishop Stortford (186), 6 Colchester (185), 7 Shiverers (157), 8 Enfield (155).

Colchester will compete in the third round on December 8 at Hertfordshire Sports Village, in Hatfield.

The following swimmers represented Colchester - Naythan Aung, Georgia Bleck, Harrison Brook, Olivia Cartwright, Kai Cheng, Jamie Coles, Kalaum Corani, Keziah Cornish, Elinor Duley, Alfie Francis, Massimo Girolami, Rebecca Girolami, Thomas Grieve, Hannah Karlsson, Amy Milburn, Mark Milburn, Lucy Morgan, Charlotte Norman, Olivia Norman, Molly Redgrave, Syd Roberts, Sadie Rowe, Eloise Smart, Alexander Tinnion, Zak Troman, Louis Walker, Elliot Whitehouse, Connor Wilken and Molly Young.