EIGHT members of Colchester Swimming Club competed against the region’s best at Swim England’s East Region Short Course Championships.

Held at Basildon Sporting Village, the Championships saw a number of fine individual displays.

Helen Thompson even broke two of her own Down Syndrome Junior World Records setting new lifetime bests in both the 400m Freestyle (6:47.59) and 200m Individual Medley (3:35.91) as she claimed double gold.

She also won silver in the 200m Freestyle.

Asma Parker, who qualified to race in eight events, swam well throughout the championships.

She set a personal best (PB) in the 50m Butterfly (29.25) but her standout swim came as she achieved a 50m Backstroke Winter national time with a PB (29.55) in her heat to make the final.

Ciara Wookey also qualified in eight events and pushed herself to new limits as she set PBs in the 100m Breaststroke (1:17.22), 200m Breaststroke (2:47.99), 200m Fly (2:25.51) and combined all four disciplines to excellent effect in the 200m Individual Medley (2:28.38).

Other personal best times were set by Alfie Francis (28.54 in 50m Butterfly), Rebecca Girolami (28.09 in 50m Freestyle), William Pestell (1:11.00 in 100m Breaststroke), Molly Redgrave (2:23.04 in 200m Backstroke) and Syd Roberts (1:03.04 in 100m Backstroke).

Michelle Young, head coach at Colchester Swimming Club, said: “Inevitably the competition gets harder as swimmers progress and it is a considerable achievement simply to make the qualification time and compete at the Regional Short Course Championships.

"I was really proud of the way this group gave their all to represent the club superbly.”

The following swimmers represented Colchester Swimming Club: Alfie Francis (50m Butterfly, 50m Breaststroke, 100m Butterfly, 100m Breaststroke, 200m Butterfly, 200m Breaststroke), Rebecca Girolami (50 Freestyle, 50 Butterfly, 50 Breaststroke, 100 Breaststroke), Asma Parker (50 Freestyle, 50 Butterfly, 50 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 100 Backstroke, 200 Individual Medley, 200 Backstroke), William Pestell (50 Butterfly,100 Breaststroke, 100 Backstroke), Molly Redgrave (50 Backstroke, 100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke, 200 Individual Medley), Syd Roberts (50 Butterfly, 50 Backstroke, 100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke), Helen Thompson (200 Individual Medley, 200 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle) and Ciara Wookey (50 Butterfly, 50 Breaststroke, 100 Butterfly, 100 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly, 200 Breaststroke, 200 Individual Medley, 400 Individual Medley).