THIS year's Western District Championships Youth age group events have taken place with more success for Hereford.

Once again Philippa Davies (19) struck gold in a variety of events over a busy weekend of competition. She won gold in her 100 free, 200 free and 800 free, and finished with gold in her 200 fly event. Philippa also sprinted to silver in the 50 free to prove her versatility over all distances in her favoured freestyle events.

Adam Preece (17), competing in his specialist fly events, swam to double bronzes in both the 100 and 200 butterfly. Adam was just outside national qualifying, but did post new personal best long course times. He was also sxith in the 100 back.

Emma Rogers (15) also had a busy weekend of competition, achieving an excellent bronze in 100 back and fourth place in the 200 back again, just outside national qualifying but new personal best times. Emma also placed eighth in her 200 individual medley.

The weekend also contained the 4 x 100 freestyle and medley relays, with Hereford taking the district title for both relays in the 11/14 years boys' age group. Alex Macdougall, Chris Bayliss, Pat Meggitt, Joshua Haines and Jon Pugh completed the team. The wins qualified the team to compete in the National Champion-ships later in the year at Sheffield.

Then the sprint relays took place, with once again Hereford striking gold to take Western District titles.

The 11/12 years girls 4 x 50 freestyle team, Charlotte Tully, Jessica Rogers, Zoe Whitlock and Amy Ballantyne, won convincingly and swam to an excellent bronze medal position in the medley relay.

Continuing their excellent form in relays, the 13/14 years boys' team struck gold again in the 4 x 50 freestyle, Patt Meggitt, Jon Pugh, Chris Bayliss and Joshua Haines, and then swam to a close silver medal in the 4 x 50 medley relay, Lee O'Neill, Chris Bayliss, Pat Meggitt and Joshua Haines.

Gloucester Counties 2003 - British Age Group Category Awards: Jessica Rogers (11) 1st, Zoe Whitlock (11) 5th , Charlotte Tully (12) 1st, Amy Ballantyne (12) 3rd, Oliver Bufton (11) 5th, Ashleigh Powell (12) 2nd, Lee O'Neill (13) 1st, Alex Macdougall (13) 2nd, Sam Jones (13) 6th, David Wright (13) 7th, Charlie Loughman (13) 8th, Patrick Meggitt (14) 2nd, Joshua Haines (14) 4th.