Hitchin Swimming Club s Eastern Region finalists continued their recent good work on home territory. Alex Baker, Laura West and Charlotte Reid topped the medal table at the annual Hitchin open meet at the weekend with a total of eight gold, four silver an

Hitchin Swimming Club's Eastern Region finalists continued their recent good work on home territory.

Alex Baker, Laura West and Charlotte Reid topped the medal table at the annual Hitchin open meet at the weekend with a total of eight gold, four silver and two bronze medals between them.

Baker, competing in the 13 years boys' section, took gold in the 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke and silver in the 100m freestyle.

West claimed gold in the girls' 15 years and over 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle, with silver in the 100m butterfly and 100m breaststroke.

Reid took gold in the girls' 11 years 100m individual medley, 50m backstroke, silver in the 50m butterfly, plus bronze in the 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke.

The club took a further four silver and five bronze medals - Molly McKenzie (girls' 10 years) silver in the 50m butterfly and bronze in the 50m breaststroke, Bethan Robb (girls' 14 years) silver in the 50m backstroke and Jade Barrett (girls' 15 years and over) bronze in the 100m backstroke.

Plus William Noble (boys' nine years) bronze in the 100m individual medley, Daniel Chen (boys' 10 years) silver in the 50m breaststroke, Jack Noble (boys' 12 years) bronze 100m breaststroke, Dan Cotton (boys' 14 years) silver in the 100m breaststroke and Matt Lander (boys' 15 years and over) bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

Other medal winners were Maddie Churchman, Zoe Hague, Frances Maydon, Tara Keswick, Chelsea McKenzie, Rosie O'Sullivan, Emma Lander, Holly Mould, Becki Allen, Hannah Tomlin, Emma Keen, Quentin Lau, Thomas Hooper and Liam Rogers.

P The future looks bright for Letchworth Sharks after the novice meet at Amersham on Saturday.

The Sharks finished third even though the coaching staff took the opportunity to take advantage of no age restrictions with a young team.

The youngsters were so good that 26 club records were smashed!

Seven-year-old Katie Shoobert broke the nine years' butterfly record as did Megan Levet in the backstroke.

In the 10-year-olds, Alex Hawkins took the butterfly and backstroke records, Hayley Smith the breaststroke and butterfly, Sarah Plater the backstroke, James Thomson breaststroke, Graham Birch and Rachel Brown the freestyle.

For the 11-year-olds, Arthur Thomson and Georgina Godfrey set backstroke standards, Erin Tomlin and Jacob Myner breastroke, Alex Hawkins and Lottie Cartwright butterfly and Jack Ward and Eleanor Hardy the freestyle.

There were many relay records broken, with William Tomlin, Zoe Taylor, Adam Hensby, Emma Whimray-Edwards, Robyn Godfrey and Isobel Tickner ably assisting the above.

William Tomlin was swimmer of the gala for a brilliant freestyle debut, gaining second place.

Other debutants on the night were Fiona Thornton, Nicholas Watson and Joseph Pridmore.

Robyn Godfrey, James Smith and Richard Thomson set new personal bests in their races.

Individual winners on the night were Rachel Brown and Erin Tomlin.