Sutton & Cheam Swimming Club member Anita Hedges celebrated being crowned regional champion by giving coach Helen Andrews a big hug last weekend.

The 10-year-old stormed to victory in her age group girls’ 200m backstroke at Crystal Palace.

Having been fastest qualifier in the heats, April went five seconds quicker in the final to win by six seconds, setting a new regional record in the process.

Andrews said: “It was an incredibly mature performance for a 10-year-old.”

Anita went on to complete a full set of medals with silver in the 200m breaststroke and bronze in the 200m individual medley, as well as reaching the 100m freestyle final.

George Brown took bronze in the boys’ age 11 200m individual medley and was just a quarter of a second off a medal in the 400m freestyle, coming fourth.

He also reached the final of the 400m freestyle.

William Ward came fifth in the boys’ age 11 200m individual medley and 200m breaststroke, while Charlie Carr, Lois Martin, Rosie Heape, Ross James and Michael Rees also qualified for the championships, Michael unable to do himself justice in the 200m backstroke because of an arm injury.