Canvey Island Swimming Club secured an amazing victory over defending champions Romford in the first round of the Essex League.

Trailing Romford virtually all the way, Canvey snatched the lead in the last 15 events and never looked back as they claimed a morale-boosting advantage.

The evening started very well for Canvey as their under-11 girls freestyle team of Charlotte Lamb, Terrena Foord-Rance, Sophie Drake and Jodie Moran stormed through to win the first event.

Alyson Moran followed this with a comfortable victory in the 100 breaststroke with sister Jodie recording the same time in the 50 freestyle.

The following eight relays saw the Islanders in the top three each time.

However, the under-13 boys (Jon Guiton, Adam Lamb, Nick Bright and Chris Chenery) won both freestyle and medley events in style.

The under-15 girls team of Aimee Drake, Alyson Moran, Clare Thomas and Cassie Williams were unstoppable in their medley relay, winning by nearly half a length.

Canvey, boosted by good results, seemed to gather momentum as wins by Tash Chignell (100 breaststroke), Chris Chenery (100 freestyleand butterfly), Clare Thomas (100 butterfly), Neil Thompson (100 freestyle), Aimee Drake and Ben Preston (100 backstroke) and Charlotte Lamb (50 breaststroke) put the gala beyond Romford's reach.

In the final flurry of relays the Open girls' team of Lauren Park, Marie McDermott, Stacey O'Rawe and Tash Chignell scored a well-deserved victory to seal matters.

On top of the first placings, seconds and thirds also played a major part in the team success.

Notable inclusions here were Paul Barauskas and Craig Johnston (butterfly), Hannah Drake, Jon Guiton, Paul Williams, Stacey O'Rawe and Jason Daniels (backstroke), Harry Park, Becky Moran, Joe Stewart and Jon Guiton in the breaststroke plus Marie McDermott, Ben Preston, Aimee Drake and Jason Daniels in the freestyle.

Published Monday October 28, 2002