SWIMMING: THURROCK Swimming Club member Sophie Drake is proving her worth on the other side of the Atlantic.

She has been attending Daytona State College in Florida USA since September 2011 when she was given a full scholarship for education and swimming. The teenager represented Great Britain at junior level in Prague in 2009.

She holds records in both Essex and the Eastern Regions, well as in and in Switzerland.

The 19-year-old attended the Florida Short Course event at India River State last week.

And she became Champion in the 200yard freestyle event in a time of 1.49.96.

For the full story see Friday's THURROCK GAZETTE