TOP swimming talent represented Redbridge at the national swimming championships.

Ten swimmers from the borough took part in the ten-day National Age Group and Youth Championships, held at the international centre in Sheffield.

Competitors were divided into age groups and disciplines for each race, with some of the swimmers' times good enough to take them into next year's British Championships.

A series of impressive personal bests were set by the borough's swimmers, who made up one of the biggest teams taken to the event in more than a decade.

Chris Inch swam a PB in the 200 fly to make the national final and finished in a career high of sixth. His time of 2.07 also ensured qualification in next year's British Championships.

The 16-year-old also swam the 200m and 400m free, and 400m individual medley, as well as making the semi-final in the 100 fly and setting a PB in the 200m individual medley.

Dean Smith, 18, competed in the 50m fly, 100m free and 50m free, and set a lifetime best to qualify for the semi-finals in the 100m fly.

Sixteen-year-old Ben Hollis made it three semi-finalists in the 100m fly when he set a PB.

Ivan Georgiev, 16, swam what Paul Robbins, head coach of the London Borough of Redbridge swimming club, described as 'a brilliant' PB in the 200 fly, leaving him just outside the top ten.

Georgia Hunton Clarke, 18, swimming in her eighth and last championship, also swam well, according to Robbins, in the 50m and 100m backstroke.

Phoebe Hayes,17, swam a season's best in the 100m free and equalled her PB in the 400m.

Charlie Dentith returned from a broken wrist to compete in the 200m and 400m free, and the 200 individual medley. Even though not competing in his favoured events, the 14-year-old is still ranked in the top 12 nationally.

Kelsey Richards, 15, swam a PB in the 200 free and was just outside her best in the 1500m in just her second race of the year.

Lawrence Brown, 13, competing in just his second championship, swam in the 800m free and qualified for the 400m free.

At 11, Grace Wingrove, was the youngest member of the team and raced in the 800m free and the 1500m.

Robbins said: "It gives the swimmers a degree of self pride to make the championships, and it is a reward for all their hard work.

"Considering the lack of facilities in the borough, it is a great result. Despite the facilities we have to work with, we produce some of the best butterfly swimmers in the country, which is really good."