THE City of Hereford Swimming Club enjoyed a most successful Age Group Championships at the International Pool in Ponds Forge, Sheffield.

Their three qualifying swimmers took part in 12 separate events and successfully made four finals.

Otto Putland, aged 11, secured a silver and bronze in the 100m and 200m butterfly, came 7th behind James Morren (City of Leeds) in the 100m freestyle, and narrowly missed qualifying for the final of the 400 IM (Individual Medley) by 17/100ths of a second to Liam Flanighan (Portsmouth North).

Ledbury-based Tom Stokes swam a personal best to make the final of the 400 IM where he knocked another second off his heat time to finish 10th just over a second behind another Portsmouth North swimmer, Joshua Fowler (who completed the eight 50m lengths in 5:22.39).

Ashleigh Powell put in some sterling performances to take a second off his 100m backstroke and butterfly times and finish in the top half of the field in the 100m backstroke.

Head coach Chris Treanor was delighted with the swimmers' performances and is looking forward to further success in future events.

Putland is, however, not as believed, the first swimmer from Hereford to return with a silver medal from the Age Group championships.

That honour went to Michael Weaver who clinched the runners-up spot in 1969 in the 110-yards freestyle in the 14-year-olds section at the championships in Blackpool.

Weaver is now a house-master at Malvern College.

The only down side to Putland's success, from his point of view, was that his dual club recognition - the youngster also trains at the University of Bath - was not properly shown.

"Otto is very concerned about his loyalty to Hereford and while he has had a chance to join other clubs that is where he is staying," said his mother Charlotte. "He has a great coach there."

HEATS

Otto Putland ( age 11), 100m Freestyle, time 1.05.15, 8th out of 36.

Otto Putland (11), 200m Freestyle, 2.45.46, 13th out of 18.

Otto Putland (11), 100m Backstroke, 1.17.53, 16th out of 28.

Otto Putland (11), 100m Butterfly, 1.12.94, 3rd out of 19.

Otto Putland (11), 200m Butterfly, 2.44.58, 4th out of 18.

Otto Putland (11), 200m IM, 2.45.46, 13th out of 18.

Otto Putland (11), 400m IM, 5.46.72, 11th out of 35.

Tom Stokes (12), 200m Backstroke, 2..32.66, 15th out of 25.

Tom Stokes (12), 200m IM, 2.35.89, 21st out of 34.

Tom Stokes (12), 400m IM, 5.24.39, 10th out of 40.

Ashleigh Powell (14), 100m Backstroke, 1.05.12, 13th out of 29.

Ashleigh Powell (14), 100m Butterfly, 1.03.25, 16th out of 25.

FINALS

Otto Putland (11), 100m Freestyle, 1.04.37, 7th.

Otto Putland (11), 100m Butterfly, 1.10.92, 2nd.

Otto Putland (11), 200m Butterfly, 2.36.46, 3rd.

Tom Stokes (12), 400m IM, 5.23.62, 10th.