SWIMMING: ABI Tetley this week becomes the first Mid Cheshire swimmer in a decade to contest the Commonwealth Games trials.

She is the first Winsford ASC member to compete at this level and it is, far and away, the biggest event she has attended - and she's a little apprehensive.

The 18-year-old Cuddington girl knows she won't qualify for the Melbourne Games next year and will be happy if she reaches the semi-finals.

Abi qualified for the 100m freestyle when she clocked 60.14 seconds at the Northern Championships earlier this year.

To be picked for England she will need to beat the 55 seconds mark, which is unlikely. At the moment.

'It will be the biggest event for me and I am a little bit nervous.

I could be drawn against full internationals and if I can get through the heats I'll be happy.'

Abi, who has just left Sir John Deane's College and hopes to study biology at Manchester University, is aiming for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and perhaps higher.

She said: 'I think I can go further than this and want to swim in internationals. I think I have it in me.

'I am really better over 50m and was unlucky that I was not well when they were raced. I have plenty of room for improvement over 100m and I can't keep doing 50m.'

The last Mid Cheshire swim-mer to bid for a place at the Commonwealth games was butterfly specialist Melanie Lang, of Northwich ASC, 12 years ago.

Abi has been racing since she was eight and had two grandparents who were talented swimmers. She recently became Winsford's first international by representing England in the UK Schools Home Championships.

She has a sister, 16-year-old Lucie, who is also talented.

Lucie contests three events, also this week, at the National Youth Championships, in which Abi finished seventh in the 50m freestyle last year.

'I think Lucie is going to be better than me,' said Abi. 'The Youth Championships were the biggest I had competed in at the time and getting to the final was my biggest achievement, although winning money in the races that have cash prizes is good.

'I'll join the Manchester club next year, but I have been lucky in always having good coaches. Dave Pettengell at Winsford is very good and the club is improving all the time.'