SWIMMING: HALTON held off a late charge from Liverpool Penguins to finish third in the final of the Liverpool & District President's Cup sprint on Sunday.

Thirteen-year-old Katie Holmes once again gave the team a flying start, winning the 50m breaststroke.

It meant she has won this event in all three rounds of the competition.

The club's only other first place came from another 13-year-old, Lucy Myler, who won the 50m backstroke in 34.5.

The two girls were partnered in the relay events by Andrew Matthews and William Warburton, and the quartet were never out of the top two placings in 10 swims.

Craig Garner gave a strong display and was rewarded with a fine second place for 50m freestyle in the 14-years age group with 28.3.

In the open age, Gareth Martin finished well for another runner-up spot in a good time of 32.5.

With just seven points separating Halton and Liverpool Penguins and four relay events to go, the race was on for overall third spot.

Halton's cannon team of Lucy Myler, Andrew Matthews, Sarah Banner, Shaun Whitfield, Paula Matthews, Craig Garner, Stephanie Mahoney and Gareth Martin proved too strong for Liverpool.

Final results were - 1 Bootle & North Liverpool; 2 Hoylake; 3 Halton; 4 Liverpool Penguins; 5 Southport; 6 Everton. ROBYN Bright nailed the victory which had been eluding her as Halton Swimming Club finished overall fourth in the Liverpool & District Tadpole League.

The final round took place at Everton Park Sports Centre on Friday.

Robyn, 12, is going from strength to strength and showed typical determination to win the 50m freestyle in 33.0, with team-mate Hanna Stevens claiming second place.

Four other Halton juniors reached the finals and Anna Navis, who has competed strongly for the club over the last few months, finished fifth in the 100m IM final to round off a great competition for her.

Equally, Sophie Cannon took seventh place in the same event after a great freestyle finish to her medley.

Mark Allen also finished fifth in the 12-years 50m butterfly - a just reward for his efforts.

In the 10-years' 50m breaststroke, Jack Davies battled hard for seventh place and looks to be a good young talent on the way up.

Just two seconds separated Nichola Garner, Lauren Marnell, Rebecca Reese, Kirsty Garner and Heather Worthington in the 11-year-olds' IM as all the girls fought bravely for personal-best times and helped Halton to a great top-five finish.