Runnymede Swimming Club's annual Jingle Bells Gala brought together a huge field of competitors from many of the south-east's best clubs.

Ten Essex clubs, including squads from Southend, Basildon, Canvey Island and Runnymede's own team competed for individual honours in 50m sprints and 100m medley races at a high spirited end-of-year meeting.

The home team's swimmers produced some tremendous performances against strong opposition, picking up trophies and achieving personal best times in many of the events.

Gareth Henson completed a successful year of competition with another first place in the 50m breaststroke in the 13-years age group.

Top position on the podium in the Girls 11-years age group butterfly went to Lauren Hunt with a powerful display of swimming, rewarding her for this year's hard work in training.

In the 14-years old group, Karen Somerville picked up three trophies at the meet, her best being an excellent second place in the 50m butterfly.

The 50m butterfly events proved fruitful for the club, where Runnymede's swimmers excelled in the tough competition.

Second place trophies were presented to Aaron Eveleigh in the 11-year age group, and Adam Guiton in the 13-year age group butterfly events.

Neil Thompson produced a hat-trick of third positions, for the 50m freestyle, backstroke, and the 100m IM races in the 15-years and older group. He also achieved a hard fought fifth place in the butterfly.

Alan Jarratt collected a third place trophy in the backstroke event for 13-year olds.

Third place trophies also went to Sarah Jarratt for 50m backstroke and breaststroke for 11-year olds.

Another of Runnymede's swimmers to earn a clutch of trophies was Eleanor Kerr. Her efforts in the 13-years age group won her a third in the freestyle, and fifth positions for butterfly, backstroke and 100m IM.

Rebecca Turner turned in a good performance in a classy 50m breaststroke race for 14-year-olds, gaining third position on the podium.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.