Six swimmers represented Harpenden Swimming Club at the ASA East Region Winter Championships at Luton.

The club finished eighth in the medal table, making it the third-best placed Hertfordshire swimming team.

There was a gold medal for Abby Smith in the 800m freestyle event. She achieved a new club record, taking it down below nine minutes for the first time.

She also gained a silver in the 200m freestyle in a new club record time and a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle, which was another record.

Michael Ripper achieved an age group club record in the 1500m freestyle event, and a personal best in the 200m backstroke, where he finished in 35th place.

There was also a personal best for Claire Burrell in her first ever Winter Regional Championships. In the 50m backstroke she finished 47th out of 111 competitors, in a new age group club record. She also performed strongly in the 200m backstroke finishing in 24th place.

Katialin Dang finished 23rd in the 100m breaststroke, 24th in the 200m breaststroke and 29th in the 50m breaststroke.

Other highlights included the Harpenden Girls 4 x 100m freestyle relay team, Katialin Dang, Juliet Merelie, Caitlin Hoddinott and Abby Smith, who swam well to finish in sixth place.

It is the first time Harpenden have entered this event as Dang and Merelie both swam personal bests on their legs, whilst Smith and Merelie were both within 0.3 seconds of their personal bests.