Tom sets new swimming club record

And at the weekend he followed that feat by achieving two National Qualifying Times at the Southern Counties Age Group Championships at Crystal Palace.

His was one of two new club age group records set, the other being nine-year-old Elliot Hooper's time of 20.15 secs for the 25m backstroke.

Two other performances of special note were achieved by Samantha Doxford and Jack Turner, who both slashed over 30 seconds off their PBs. Although they didn't win their events, such an improvement represents a remarkable performance.

In all, there were 61 PBs on the night and the following won championship titles: Sarah Penney (two), Zoe Harper, Chloe Benton, Sophie Etheridge, Tina Barnes, Laura Hoodless, Vinny Hourihane, Julia Hourihane, Tom Parris (two), Elliot Hooper, Joe Thomas, Tom Heskett, Alex Berwick (two), Chris Varrell and Mark Parris.

Last weekend there was a Masters Open Meet at Eastbourne and two Hastings Seagulls took part '“ Hoodless in five events and Julia Hourihane in two. The former won three titles and came second and third in her other two events, while the latter managed fourth and fourteenth in her two events

Parris was joined in competing at the aforementioned Southern Counties Age Goup Championships by another Seagull, Tom Heskett. Twelve-year-old Heskett had swum really well to achieve the qualifying times to get into three events at this level of competition and his performances on his first time in a 50 metre long course pool were equivalent to his PBs in a 25 metre pool.

Parris competed in five events, finishing 10th in two and 12th in a third, and in doing this, achieved two National Qualifying Times. He will be going to Sheffield for the National Age Group Championships at the beginning of August.