There was a creditable third place finish for Watford at the annual Hertfordshire inter district swimming gala.

A total of six teams consisting of pupils from years five and six converged on Woodside Leisure Centre for the event which saw Watford claim six of the nine new championship records set.

In the year five events, Brodie Judge, from the Royal Masonic School, took five seconds off her previous record time in the butterfly to secure a gold medal in 33.02.

Meanwhile, Coates Way pupil Fiona Holmes gained bronze in freestyle and the freestyle relay team consisting of Tori Weston, Charlotte Snooks (RMS) Harriet McGrath (Christchurch) and Fiona Holmes claimed a silver medal.

The girl’s medley relay team of Judge, Amy Bloomfield-Proud (RMS), Elizabeth Tang (Sacred Heart) and Isabel Artime (St.Margartet’s) performed brilliantly and smashed 12 year record.

In year six, Thomas and Felix Cheng achieved new records. Both from Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, Thomas was in action in the backstroke and set a time of 33.71 with twin Felix taking the butterfly in 32.34.

Ollie Taverner (Knutsford) smashed the record for breast stroke with a time of 38.27.

Molly Missah, Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls, took a silver medal in the girl's freestyle and Erin Visaya-Neville (St. Margaret’s) took bronze in the fly.

The boy’s medley team of George Elliott (Christchurch), Thomas and Felix Cheng and Ollie Taverner broke a eight year record to take top spot, while in the girl’s freestyle relay, Elana Keiles (RMS), Moreli Hatfield (Charlotte House), Charlotte Watson (Parkgate ) and Melanie Metcalf (Edge Grove) secuerd a gold medal.

These fine performances resulted in the year six boy’s team winning the trophy for best team and the fastest medley relay.

Team manager Zoë McQuire said: "I am so proud of these children. They came together from different schools, for the most part, but left as a team. They cheered their team mates who won medals and trophies and took real delight in the team successes."