ROUNDING off a year of success for Hereford Swimming Club, 13 members returned with club record results from the annual National Championships in Sheffield.

Coach Richard Blackshaw said: "This is the pinnacle of the swimming year for top clubs and qualifying alone is a significant achievement for any swimmer.

"Last year seven Hereford swimmers qualified in 19 events and one swimmer reached four finals. This year 13 swimmers qualified in 49 events and nine swimmers reached 17 finals."

Well over half the swims were personal best times and two thirds were in the top 20 in the country for the appropriate age group.

The finales of the first day, and of the competition as a whole for Hereford, were the boys' under-14 relays, the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley.

Hereford's team reached both finals to achieve seventh in the freestyle and fifth in the medley relay. Hereford's relay team was Patrick Meggitt (14), Alex Macdougall (13), Chris Bayliss (14) and Joshua Haines (14)

Jessica Rogers (11) and Marcus Ashcroft (11), competing for the first time, achieved personal bests in all their events. Jessica reached finals in 100m and 200m backstroke and Marcus narrowly missed finals as reserve in the 100m and 200m breaststroke.

Amy Ballantyne (12), also a first-timer, completed an astonishing swim on the second day. She went in ranked 17th in the 100m freestyle and swam two seconds faster than her previous best time, earning a place in the final where she came fourth in a time that may have qualified her for the prestigious World Class Start programme. Amy swam five events, all in personal best times, and reached two finals.

Charlotte Tully (12) swam an impressive eight events, recording six personal best times, reaching two finals and coming overall eighth in her age group. Charlotte has just completed a year on the World Class Start Programme.

Ashleigh Powell (12) followed his success at the Welsh Nationals with three excellent swims, all personal best times, and reached finals in the 100m and 200m backstroke. It was in these two last events that Ashleigh came away with gold medals at the Welsh Nationals, also breaking two-age group records.

Alex Macdougall (13) competed in seven events, the best being the two relays and the 1500m freestyle where he knocked 29 secs off his previous best time and improved his ranking from 20th to 11th in the country in his age group.

Patrick Meggitt (14) excelled in the 100m fly where he reached his first individual final, coming eighth with a good personal best time, and he then went on to repeat this time in the medley relay. He also completed a good swim in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Chris Bayliss (14) competed in seven events and reached two individual finals in 100m and 200m breaststroke, coming fourth and eighth. Chris achieved three personal best times and came overall 13th in his age group. He, too, was in the relay events.

National Results in full -

Jessica Rogers (11): finalist and 8th in 100m and 200m backstroke and personal best times in these plus 400m freestyle. Overall she came 28th in her age group.

Marcus Ashcroft (11): 11th in 200m breaststroke and 12th in 100m breaststroke, all personal best times.

Amy Ballantyne (12): 4th in 100m freestyle, 9th in 200m free, 17th in 400m free and additional personal best times in 200m individual medley and 800m free.

Charlotte Tully (12): 8 swims altogether with 6 personal best times. 4th in 400m Individual Medley, 6th in 800m freestyle, 9th in 400m free, 11th in 200m fly, 14th in 200m individual medley and overall 8th in her age group in GB.

Ashleigh Powell (12): three good best times in 100m free, 100m back and 200m back plus finals in the back strokes, achieving 7th and 10th places.

Alex Macdougall (13): competed in 5 individual and 2 relay events, with best performances in 1500m free (11th) and 400m free (15th) and in two relays. Other events were 100m and 200m backstroke and 200m free.

Lee O'Neill (13): recently recovering from illness, Lee competed in 4 tough events in his third year at Nationals - 200m and 400m individual medley, 100m and 200m fly.

Jon Pugh (13): silver medallist at the Welsh National championships in July, Jon competed in the 200m freestyle and almost matched his time from Swansea.

Patrick Meggitt (14): finalist in 100m fly, coming 8th; 14th in 200m fly and also in the relay team.

Joshua Haines (14): highlights in the two relays where he made two excellent swims for the last legs to bring the team in to 5th and 7th places. Additionally, Josh competed in 100m free,100m fly and 200m freestyle.

Chris Bayliss (14): overall 13th in his age group in GB and finalist in 100m breastroke, coming 4th and in the 200m breaststroke, coming 8th; 13th in 400m individual medley and personal best times were recorded in 400m free and 200m individual medley. Also in the relay team.

Nick Tully (16): 14th in 200m fly in a time that is the national qualifying time for age18.

Phillippa Davies (19): Welsh record holder for 1500m freestyle, Phillippa completed 4 good swims at the senior National Championships and came 4th in 800m and 1500m freestyle, 7th in 400m free and 8th in 200m fly.