SOUTHEND-ON-SEA Swimming Club are enjoying a great start to the competitive swimming season with excellent results at their first three competitions.

Thirty-three swimmers from the club competed at the Epping Forest Early Season Opener, with the team collecting 58 medals, recording 18 new Senior Junior Essex Championship qualifying times and setting 52 new personal best times.

Holly Lamb was first in the nine years 200m butterfly and second in the 50m freestyle, Erin Wilkinson was first in the nine years 200m backstroke, second in the 200m butterfly, second in the 50m backstroke and third in the 50m freestyle.

Sophie Galbraith was first in the nine years 50m breaststroke and Charlie Wilkinson also claimed a win, in the nine years 100m individual medley.

Harry Richardson was second in the nine years 200m freestyle and third in the 50m freestyle, while Euan Rowley was third in the nine years 50m breaststoke.

Nathan Gray was third in the 10 years 40m breastroke, Emily Rice second in the 10 years 50m breaststroke, Lydua Davies third in the 10 years 50m butterfly and Hannah Raker fourth in the 10 years 50m breaststroke.

Andrei Gare had a great meet, winning the 12 years 100m individual medley, the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly. He was also second in the 100m backstroke.

Declan Rowley was third in the 50m breaststroke, Harry Baskett was second in the 13 years 50m backstroke, third in the 100m freestyle and 200m freestyle, while George Overell was third in the 14 years 50m breaststroke.

Haydn Good was third in the 15 years 200m freestyle, Abigail Last was second in the 15 and over 100m butterfly and 50m butterfly, Liberty Good was fourth in the 15 and over 100m freestyle and, Jack Overell first in the 15 and over 200m individual medley, second in the 50m breaststroke and third in the 50m freestyle.

Kieran Wilkinson was second in the 15 and over 50m butterfly and third in the 100m individual medley. Other medal winners were Jack Baskett, Harvey Last, Patrick Milner, Lewis Bayley, Darcy Gray Sophie Raker and Tate Allen.

At the Essex Masters Championship in Southend, masters swimmers Reece Parker, Peter Lawton and Keith Bridge collected eight top three places in their individual age groups.

Reece Parker was first in the 50m and 100m butterfly and second in the 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke.

Peter Lawton won the 50m breaststroke and was third in the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle.

Keith Bridge picked up second places in the 100m and 50m breaststroke events.

Parker and Lawton will represent Essex in the Masters Inter County event in November.

Finally, the club had 36 swimmers attend the Alan Mitchell Memorial Gala. The swimmers recorded 54 PBs and collected 30 individual medals.

Charlie Wilkinson was first in the nine years 200m individual medley, Euan Rowley was second in the nine years 50m freestyle and 100m individual medley and was third in the 50m breaststroke.

Harry Richardson was first in the nine years 50m backstroke and 100m individual medley, Erin Wilkinson was first in the nine years 200m backstroke and 200m breaststroke and second in the 50m breaststroke.

Andrei Gare was second in the 12 years 100m backstroke and third in the 100m individual medley, Lewis Bayley was second in the 13 years 400m individual medley and the 100m breaststroke and was third in the 400m freestyle and 200m freestyle. Kieran Wilkinson was third in the 15 and over 200m individual medley, Jack Overell was third in the 15 and over 400m freestyle. Abigail Last was second in the 15 and over 50m butterfly. Other medal winners for Southend were Tommy Grant, Harry Baskett, Haydn Good, Declan Rowley and Sophie Sharpe.