STOCKPORT Metro held their sixth designated short course meet last weekend at their Grand Central Pools, where 19 swimmers represented BMSS.

This was a top class event giving swimmers a chance to qualify for next year's National Age Group Championships to be held at Ponds Forge, Sheffield and attracted 650 swimmers representing 52 clubs from as far affield as Jersey and South Ayrshire.

In particular the team from Portsmouth North Sea provided strong swimmers in all age groups, bringing out the best in other swimmers in most events.

The BMSS members had an excellent weekend with 11 national qualifying times being achieved by seven swimmers.

They were: 11-year-old Andrew Kilby, qualifying for next year's 12-year-old 200m butterfly; 12-year-old Daniel Coombs, qualifying for next year's 13-year-old 50m backstroke; 12-year-old Brian Halstead, qualifying for next year's 13-year-old 200m and 50m butterfly; 13-year-old Sean Rushton, qualifying for next year's 14-year-old 200m and 400m individual medley, 50m and 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle; 13-year-old Nicole Whitehead, qualifying for next year's 14-year-old 50m freestyle; 13-year-old Lucy Finn, qualifying for next year's 14-year-old 200m freestyle; 14-year-old Corrine Allmark, qualifying for next year's 15-year-old 400m individual medley.

In addition, seven swimmers reached event finals. Nicole Whitehead headed the list with a win in the 13/14-year-old 50m freestyle setting a record time for the gala of 28.44 seconds. BMSS also had three British Age Group Catagory (BAGCATS) placings. They were Andrew Kilby fifth in the 11-year-old boys catagory; Brian Halstead sixth in the 12-year-old catagory and Sean Rushton fourth in the 13-year-old catagory.