TOP young swimmers throughout Western counties took part in the Cheestrings National championships to find 2005's most promising young champions. Eighteen swimmers from City of Hereford Swimming Club qualified to swim in 253 events. Chris Bayliss(16) achieved four gold medals and Otto Putland (11) one.

Hereford also came away with seven silver and two bronze medals and a further eight swimmers reached finals: Isabella Fox (10), Robert Griffiths (10), Joshua Darby (11), Ashleigh Powell (14), Lizzie Mason (11), Sam Jones (15), Louise Griffiths (17), Lee O'Neill (15), Alex Macdougall (15), Charlotte Tully (14) Patrick Meggitt (16), Joshua Haines (16)

All who participated have already risen through the ranks at county level. One in 10 swims (24) were fast enough to qualify the swimmers to compete at the highest level at the National Championships in Sheffield in August.