LEATHERHEAD Swimming Club set a cracking pace over the first of four weekends of the Surrey Swimming Championships held at Guildford Spectrum last weekend, winning a total of 14 medals.

Chloe Bean, 14, began her campaign by winning all three of her events – the 100m individual medley in 1.07.75, the 400m freestyle in 4.21.61 and 200m breaststroke in 2.34.65, setting a new championship record for the 200m breaststroke and winning the junior cup for both the 200m breaststroke and 400m freestyle events.

Chris Green, 12, showed his talent by winning the 100m IM (1.11.61) and achieved silver medals in both the 200m breaststroke (2.48.56) and 400m IM (5.38.34). He also gained seventh place in the 200m backstroke and eighth in the 400m freestyle.

Simon Churchman, 22, took gold for the 400m freestyle (4.05.70) as did 17-year-old Hannah Shore in the 200m butterfly (2.17.00).

Josh McDonough, 14, took two seconds off his personal best time in the 100m IM to achieve a silver medal in a time of 1:07.78, as well as coming fourth in the 200m butterfly and ninth in the 400m freestyle, also in PBs.

In a highly competitive 12-year-old class, Suzanne Norman scooped two bronze medals for the 200m backstroke (2:26.82) and 200m butterfly (2:44.53), came fourth in the 100 IM, fifth in the 400 IM and 200m breaststroke, and 10th in the 400m freestyle.

Chloe's younger sister, Lucy, 12, also proved her strength in the 200m breaststroke winning a bronze medal in a personal best time of 2:58.60.

Backstroke specialist, David Brazil, 14, put in a powerful performance in the 200m backstroke to take bronze in a personal best time of 2:16.41.

Team-mate David Andrews, 16, also made an impressive improvement in the 200m breaststroke (2:31.81) as well as a sixth place finish in the 100m IM.

Nicky Cooke, 14, achieved a well deserved bronze in the 400m freestyle (4:39.87) and fourth place in the 200m backstroke where she knocked more than five seconds off her PB.

There were many brilliant performances that landed just outside the medals, often in large and highly competitive heats. These included 11-year-old Emma Brown who came fourth in the 100m IM, knocking nearly eight seconds off her PB, and ninth in the 200m breaststroke, Jamie Wilks and Sarah Matthews, both 10, who both came eighth in the 400m freestyle, Iona Doig, 15, who achieved sixth place in the 400m freestyle and eighth in the 100m IM, Eloise Crowther, 12, who came seventh in the 200m breaststroke and ninth in the 400m freestyle, Ben Staig, 10, who came seventh in the 200m backstroke, Rebecca Cooke, 16, who came sixth in the 400m freestyle, and Louis Foster, 11, who came 10th in the 200m backstroke.

During the championships, which will be held over three further weekends, nearly 1,100 swimmers from 26 clubs across the county will be taking part in over 4300 individual swims.