ROMSEY and Totton swimmers Henry Barker (13) and Freya Long (15) competed at the British and English National Swimming Championships over the last two weeks at Ponds Forge International Swimming Pool in Sheffield.

Henry excelled in winning the 100m Butterfly in a time of 62.02 seconds more than 1.5 seconds faster than his closest rival. 

With 6th place finishes in both 100m and 200m freestyle 14th on 400m freestyle and a 16th place finish on 200 individual medley all in personal best times.

He also swam in the 200m butterfly at the British National Championships coming 14th in the combined 13/14 years age group.

Freya swam an excellent race in the 50m backstroke to finish 7th, as well as a very creditable 16th in the 100m backstroke.

These were the first RATS swimmers to make the nationals in more than a decade and coach Steve Harrison is delighted with the progress, application and delivery of both swimmers. To swim at national level is excellent for our swimming programme so a huge well done to both.