THE borough played its part in Cheshire retaining its Division One status in the National County Team Championships.

Halton Swimming Club's Lucy Myler, Stephanie Mahoney, Katie Holmes and Sarah-Louise Banner represented Cheshire in Sunday's event.

Katie set a club 100m breaststroke record in the 15-year-old age group, finishing fifth in a great time of 1:15.3. Sarah-Louise smashed her personal best after an under water start in the 100m backstroke.

Despite a poor lane draw, she was not overawed by the occasion and touched in 1:10.8.

Lucy Myler also set an excellent personal best in the 50m freestyle team with 28.0.

All four girls performed spiritedly to help Cheshire to a fine 13th place.

Lancashire won with Yorkshire in second on the same number of points. n Jessica Wainwright led Halton's juniors to 10 PB times from 15 swims at Friday's Tadpole League meeting at Everton Park and maintained her progress towards an overall top-six finish with three rounds left.

Twelve-year-old Jessica took first place in the 50m butterfly with Amy Anderson in fifth and Sarah Steele eighth.

Amy reversed the results on her team-mate in the 200m breast stroke by finishing eighth with a PB of 3:30. Sarah Steele was 12th and Jessica 14th, also PBs.

Ellie Newby, 11, set a club record of 3:31.9 in a tough 200m butterfly, finishing fifth.

In the 10-year-old agegroup Sadie Smith finished fifth. Rebecca Stevens, Amillia Shard and Olivia Bailey were all close behind in PBs.

For the boys, Luke Joseph was fifth at 200m backstroke in a PB of 3:05.2 and Jordan Shard took eighth.

The consistent Matthew Edgar was rewarded with a best time, finishing eighth in the 200m breast stroke.