SWIMMING: HALTON'S sprint relay stars were in their element at Macclesfield in the final weekend of individual action at the Cheshire County Swimming Championships.

In the open-age section, Halton put three girls - Sarah-Louise Banner, Stephanie Mahoney and Lucy Myler - into the final after good heat swims.

Sarah-Louise dominated the final for 45 metres after a super start, only to be touched out by her two team-mates in a finish which saw electronic timing needed to separate five swimmers!

Stephanie's experience told as she won in a great PB time of 28.34, with Lucy coming through for second in 28.35. Sarah-Louise made it a Halton one-two-three in 28.5 with Satellite's Claire Collenge and Winsford's Lucy Tetley fourth and fifth in 28.7 secs.

In the age-group 50m freestyles, Lucy Myler came under strong attack from Nicola Chadderton and Helen Cutler, of Stockport Metro, for the 14-years title. But the Halton girl was up to the challenge and won in a new county-record time of 28.1. Team-mate Katie Holmes was eighth in the same final.

Sarah-Louise Banner followed her bronze in the open race with a silver in the 15-years age group in another great time of 28.6.

However, she turned silver into gold in the backstroke events, winning the 50m and 100m titles.

Lucy Myler came up with another great finish to win the 14-years 50m backstroke, adding a bronze medal to her collection in the 100m event.

Louise Wallbank claimed another bronze in the 13-years band.

In the open breaststroke competition, Katie Holmes gave a great account of herself to take silver in the 50m and finish third over 100m in 1:16.

William Warburton went one step further in the boys' 50m breaststroke with a great first spot.

The young Halton star stayed sharp all weekend and smashed his PB in the 100m butterfly for a silver medal in 1:03 - just outside the National Qualifying Time.

After a similar story in the 200m breaststroke, Will gave a determined effort in the 200m IM to collect another silver, behind rival Michael Duncan of Hoylake, to achieve his first national qualifying time in 2:19.

Luke Joseph finished with a flurry to snatch another silver for the boys in the 12-years 50m freestyle.

The competition was a great stepping stone for the Halton team as Mike Neil, Craig Garner and Andrew Matthews all dipped under 28 seconds in the 50m free.

Ellie Newby just missed the medals in fourth place after giving everything for a new PB in the 10-years 100m butterfly.