SWIMMING: QUICK-STARTING Stephanie Mahoney headed Halton Swimming Club's roll of honour at the Irish National Championships.

She won the 50m backstroke's B final in a PB 31.5.

Also on day two at Lisburn in Northern Ireland, Stephanie produced her fastest 100m butterfly (1:10.3).

Day three saw her dig deep for sixth in the 100m A backstroke after a PB 1.08.9 in qualifying. She bettered that by nine tenths to finish sixth, one second off the medals. Stephanie finished sixth over 50m butterfly A.

Two Halton swimmers reached the 100m backstroke B final.

Lucy Myler, also a 100m butterfly B finalist and seventh-placed junior, knocked more than two seconds off her 100m backstroke best for 1:10.9 to join Lindsay Jude. Lindsay had already come eighth in the 200m backstroke A final in a season's best 2:29.5.

Katie Holmes, 13, reached the 200m breaststroke B final and was tenth junior. The ladies' open free-style team of Stephanie Mahoney, Lindsay Jude, Sarah Louise Banner and Lucy Myler were 4x100m reserve finalists.

John Navis and Craig Garner battled hard at 100m breaststroke. Sarah Louise Banner, Lucy Myler and Stephanie Mahoney all dipped below 30 seconds at 50m freestyle. In the 50m breaststroke, Katie Holmes reached the A final and was fourth-placed junior.

Awards from June's Merseyside & District Junior League Individual Championships were made at the league's AGM.

Halton are Division One champions with Katie Holmes the ladies' individual championship winner.