SEVEN Watford Swimmers took part in the Southern Counties Swimming Championships at Crystal Palace - Hayley Duncan, 14, Amanda Weller, 15, Gooding brothers Peter, 16, Marc, 13 and Paul, 10, Tom Rose, 11 and Ben Dollard, 13.

Duncan had a very tiring weekend competing in four events. Her first event was the 400 individual medley, finishing 20th in a time of 5.56.41.

Her next event was the gruelling 200m fly, finishing 16th in a time of 2.49.70. In the 100m backstroke, she finished in a time of 1.16.64 and in the 200m back 2.45.37.

Amanda Weller competed in the 200m breast and finished in a time of 3.10.57 and in the 100m backstroke she finished in 1.19.57.

Paul Gooding was the reserve finalist, having had an excellent swim in the 50m freestyle, missing out on the final by hundredths of a second in a time of 32.57 to give him tenth position overall.

In his breaststroke, he finished in 20th place in a time of 44.14.

Tom Rose had a good swim in the 50m free and finished in a time of 34.46.

Marc Gooding had two good swims in the 100m free and fly - his times were 1.04.93 for the free and 1.17.58 in the fly.

Peter competed in three swims - 100m breast in 1.20.62, 100m fly in 1.12.70 and 50m free in 27.54.

Ben Dollard also had three swims in the 100m backstroke finishing in 1.18.11, 100m free 1.07.20 and 100m fly 1.20.16.

Three Watford swimmers attended the Brighton junior sprint open meet.

Duncan had a very exciting race in the 50m backstroke - just being beaten into fifth place by a split second, in a time of 35.18.

Her other swims were equally as exciting and, once again in very close finishes, she finished in 35.03 in eighth place in the 50m fly and in the 50m free she got a new personal best time of 31.50.

Marc Gooding, 13, was also a medal winner - again fighting for the finish he came third in the 50m free in a time of 28.83 and in the fly he came fifth in a time of 32.82.

His brother Paul also had some very good swims. He came first in the 50m free in 32.85, third in the 50m fly in 38.83, fourth in the 50m breaststroke in 42.19 and finished in a personal best time in the 50m backstroke in 43.47.

The last Watford club championships before the summer break were held last Wednesday.

The race of the night was in the final of the boys' under-12 100y backstroke. Tom Rose and Glen White had a great battle with Tom just getting the better of his rival to win on the touch in 81.65, only just ahead of Glen on 81.87, with Paul Gooding taking the bronze.

Andrew Allum had another excellent night, winning three more titles in the men's open 200y fly (2.30.19), 100y back (57.62), and 66y fly (35.90).

In the ladies events, Claire Willer took the 400y free in 4.48.21, Kim Cox beat her sister Lydia in the 66y breast, and Hayley Duncan regained the 100y fly title in 68.81.

In the age group events, Emily Ginty (36.28), and Dean White (29.06) both won again in the under-10 33y fly, as did Kerry Cuthbert in the girls under-12 66y free.

The under-14 races were won by Rebecca Dunsmore for the girls in the 100y back (72.53), from Anisa Jamal and Kate O'Reilly, and Ben Dollard for the boys in the 66y free (38.34), from Adam Collins and Luke Rogers.

Finally, in the under-17 events, Amanda Weller took the girls 100y breast (77.20) and Peter Gooding the boys 200y free in 2.07.90