Killerwhale swimmer Jodie Swallow was unable to compete fully in the second round of the Essex Swimming Championships last weekend, due to an athletic commitment.

Nevertheless she made her mark in the three events on the Sunday, at Fullwell Cross Pool, winning two silvers in the Open Ladies 100m backstroke and the 17/18year group 200m individual medley, and fourth at 200m free.

Slowly, she shows signs of her old sparkle, but it has been a depressing struggle to shake off the effects of glandular fever.

Fifteen-year-old Wade Rimbach also had to miss events, to attend school on the Saturday morning. Later there was a silver medal in the junior boys 200m breaststroke with a fourth and fifth at 200m butterfly and 1500m freestyle.

Grays schoolboy 16 year old Greg Hunton continues to find his way through to the winning ways he thought he had lost.

Just missing creating a record when he took the 200m freestyle title. In the 400m free, he had to settle for silver, but an improved lifetime best. Things were not all perfect, with a disappointing 1500m free with a fourth place.

Stanford-le-Hope resident 14 year old Lee Wightwick is also punching his way through the ranks to the top, leapfrogging onto the top of the national rankings on his first out at 200m breaststroke.

Angered after a disappointing 400m IM in the morning (fourth), he attacked the breaststroke at suicide speed. Hitting the 100m mark just one tenth of second outside his best, but that still had him in second place behind Harlow's national winner Sam Blunt.

As the pair turned for the last time, with 25m to go, Lee went to the front, winning in a new record time, and the fastest in GB for his age.

Big sister Kelly earned a sixth place in her 400m IM.

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