STRATFORD ASC had their most successful day to date during the second phase of the Coventry and District Secondary Galas, coming away with six first places and 18 medals.

Ross Sandilands and Emma White, both aged ten, gave the Stratford team their first taste of victory, with both swimmers smashing their previous best times to win their respective 50m freestyle events.

Ben Perham then continued the freestyle success by taking victory in the 14-year age group by two seconds. He later followed up with an excellent fourth in the butterfly event.

Further double success was achieved by James Wardle, aged 15, who added the 100m butterfly to his recent triumphs and then narrowly missed out on victory in the backstroke.

Ben Timms maintained the winning streak dominating the 12-year breaststroke, taking victory by a three second margin.

The nine-year-old girls maintained their fine form when Sinead Timms, Stevie Buckland, Grace Wright and Emily Key convincingly won their freestyle relay.

Robert White, aged 12, set the ball rolling by coming sixth in the 100m backstroke event.

In the next event, Lawrie Mills, 10, touched fourth in the freestyle and the nine-year boys mixed relay team of Matthew Thomas, Mark Dexter, Jordan Morrissey and Jack Chapman quickly matched this feat.

The afternoon session also saw Eric Pearson, 13, record a new personal best in finishing third in the 100m breaststroke and Poppy Sheehan, 11, touch sixth in the 100m butterfly final.

The evening session saw Stratford continue in the same vein when Emily Aston, 12, improved her best time to take fifth in the 100m breaststroke.

Personal best times were then set by Tom Goss and Carly Malling, both 11, who touched third and fourth respectively in their backstroke events, and Kim Mortimer maintained this backstroke success by equalling her season's best and touching fourth in the 15/16 age group.

Despite missing out on the medals Sam Nelson-Brice, Gavin Smith, Jonathan Weedon, Yasmin Sheehan and Natalie Jaworska all recorded personal best times in their freestyle events.

Elliot Smith narrowly missed his best time and Daniel Perham again showed good form in touching ninth in the 100m backstroke.

l STRATFORD ASC has pulled off a major coup in securing the services of ex-Olympian and British team captain Helen Slatter as the new director of their competitive swimming section.

Helen, who has recently retired from international competition, is a three times Olympian, having swum in Seoul, Barcelona and Atlanta.

Helen has firm plans for the development of competitive swimming within Stratford and will undoubtedly be a major influence in developing the potential of the club and building on its recent success.

This is a terrific opportunity for swimmers in the Stratford area to learn and thrive under the dynamic leadership of a young coach who is, and has been at the cutting edge of national coaching development and international competition over the last 15 years.