An elite team of five Sudbury Storms swimmers headed to the University of East Anglia, in Norwich, for the ASA East Region Youth Championships.Sixteen-year-old Alex Deal made finals in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke.

An elite team of five Sudbury Storms swimmers headed to the University of East Anglia, in Norwich, for the ASA East Region Youth Championships.

Sixteen-year-old Alex Deal made finals in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke. Alex finished seventh in both events. He also set long course personal best times of 34.01 in the 50m and 1.15.79 in the 100m.

Senior swimmer Ashley Buck, 28, was in outstanding form in the 50m and 100m Backstroke and 100m Freestyle events. He made the finals of the 50m and 100m backstroke events setting lifetime long course bests of 28.52 secs and 1.02.65 respectively. Ashley finished fifth in the 50m Backstroke and sixth in the 100m Backstroke. Ollie George, 17, was in equally impressive form in the 50m Backstroke recording a time of 30.87 finishing in tenth place.

Storms' ladies were not to be outdone by the men. Megan Buck, 14, competing at her first regional championships swam in the 50m Freestyle and established a credible long course personal best time of 31.68 secs. Kelly Murray, 18, competing in her favoured 50m Butterfly and Breaststroke events clocked some impressive times. Her 50m Butterfly time of 32.34 secs placed her 12th and her 39.31 in the Breaststroke placed her 11th overall.

Two of those who qualified for the championships could not get there because of other commitments.

Storms head coach Paul Cook said: “The team were outstanding at the weekend and put on a display we are all very proud of. For a club of Sudbury's size to have a team of seven qualifiers at a championship of this profile is marvellous. We hope to build on these successes and bring more swimmers to the event next year.”

The Junior squad turned out in force at two local open meets.

At Newmarket, Storms swimmers recorded 38 personal best times, which included five new club records. Lana Mo, nine, and Mollie Milsom, 11, shared the Top Girl award at the Open Meet. Lana set four club records and seven personal best times and Mollie smashed the club's 200m Freestyle record and set three personal bests.

John Jiang came within 0.3 secs of the 100m Freestyle regional qualification time and Francesca King within an agonising 0.2 secs of the 100m Backstroke time.

A smaller squad went to the West Suffolk open meet, at Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre. Storms set 25 personal best times and four club records.

Lana Mo added a further four personal best times and three more club records. Mollie Milsom set a new club record in the 400m Freestyle.

Gemma Rides, 10, came within two seconds of the 200m Breaststroke time with an outstanding 3.37.44. Older Sister, Ella, 12, who was looking to add to her regional qualifications in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke was chasing times in the 100m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley. She missed out on the 100m Freestyle time by one second, but managed to smash her personal best in the 200m Individual Medley and qualify for the championships next month.