St Felix Swimming Club this year had the highest number of members qualify for the 2008 Nationals, showing how the club is progressing.The age group competition started at the end of July and for Waveney Senior Sports winner Ellis Jackson, this was her third year and she was out to win the title for her third consecutive year.

St Felix Swimming Club this year had the highest number of members qualify for the 2008 Nationals, showing how the club is progressing.

The age group competition started at the end of July and for Waveney Senior Sports winner Ellis Jackson, this was her third year and she was out to win the title for her third consecutive year.

Charlotte Hicks, Waveney Junior Sports winner, was attending for her second year and she too was hoping to return with some medals.

They were joined by Pascale Reeves, making her first Nationals and Chantelle Whiting making up the relay team. The boys were again represented by Luke Bailey, Jordan Purdy and Jack Bartlett.

Ellis Jackson, first out, had some excellent swims taking gold in the 400m Individual Medley, 200m fly, 200m IM and 200m back, and bronze in the 800m free and then continued in her top spot by coming first in her age group. With this performance she also continues on the selection camps for 2012.

Charlotte Hicks also had some excellent swims, getting through to the finals in four of her races and brought home two bronze medals in the 1500m free and 200m fly, also gaining some excellent new times in most of her swims.

Pascale Reeves in her first outing at the Nationals as an individual produced a brilliant performance in her 200m and 400m free, making the final in her 100m free and gaining an excellent new time.

The boys also gave excellent performances, with Luke Bailey, third time at Nationals, swimming well in his 1500m free, 100m back, 800m free, 200m back and 200m IM and making the final in the 200m and 100m free and gaining some excellent times. Jordan Purdy, second time at Nationals, gave some good performances in his 1500m, 800m and 400m free and Jack Bartlett on his first time at Nationals also gave some fine performances in his 200m fly, 100m back, 200m free, 200m back, 100m free, 400m free and 200m IM. Jack also made the final in his 100m fly, setting another excellent PB.

The girls did well in their relays, making the final of the 4 x 200m free on the final day. Ellis, Charlotte, Pascale and Chantelle gave excellent performances, gaining new times on their legs, but had to settle for sixth place.

Overall in the age groups the girls finished second Club and overall St Felix finished fourth. On the medal table they won four gold and three bronze and to top their success, Charlotte and Pascale received invitations to attend the ASA Level One Talented Swimmers camps starting in October.

Following on from the age groups came the youths, with Sophie Chamberlain, Alex Harrison, Alex Huston and Robyn Ball joining them in the relays and Richard Harris and Tom Sutton all competing for places in finals and medals.

Sophie Chamberlain started the ball rolling with some excellent swims, getting through to the final in 400m IM, 100m free, 200m free and 200m IM and bringing home bronze in the 400m IM. Alex Harrison, also on the 2012 selection camps, performed some excellent times in her races making the final in 400m IM, 200m breast and 100m breast and also bringing home a bronze medal in the 200m breast.

Alex Huston swum well in the 100m back, 100m free, and made the finals in 100m free, gaining a new PB.

Tom Sutton was first out for the boys and had two good swims in his 400m and 200m free and then Richard Harris with one swim gained a brilliant new time in his 100m back, making it through to the semi-finals.

The girls' relay teams also gave some good performances getting through to a final in their 4 x 100m Medley, finishing a creditable ninth position. On the medal table they scored two bronze.