Essex County ASA would like to congratulate all those swimmers who competed in the ASA East Region Youth Championships 2012, held at The Basildon Sporting Villiage over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Special congratulations go to Chelmsford, Colchester, Thurrock, Southend-on-Sea and Epping Forest Swimming Clubs who all provided medallists. A total of twenty-seven medals were won by Essex-based swimmers, including seven golds.

Chelmsford SC finished as ‘Top Essex Club’, with a total of four gold, three silver and three bronze medals. Special congratulations go to Chelmsford’s 4x100m Freestyle and Medley Relay teams of Evie Fisher, Eliza Duffy, Hannah Travell and Sarah Larner, whose superb performances resulted in them qualfying for the British Gas ASA National Youth Championships in both events. Subject to ratification, the times were also new Essex County Records. Well done Chelmsford, and good luck at Ponds Forge in July.

As always, events such as these would never run without the support of an army of volunteers. As County Volunteer Officer, I would like to thank all thoses individuals and clubs who helped to stage the Championships. At any one time there were over twenty volunteers from Essex-based clubs assisting on the poolside, and without their help, the gala would simply not have taken place.

Tom Baster