Watford Swimming Club won 61 medals at the first leg of the Borehamwood meeting in the Hertfordshire County Championships.

The club are on target to smash club and country records when the team return to The Venue on Saturday, March 19 for the second weekend of the event.

The competition takes place this year over two weekends and involves swimmers of all ages from nine up to 23 in three days of racing. In the first part, 57 Watford swimmers competed last weekend in a total of 423 individual events.

Watford came away with 23 golds, 21 silvers and 17 bronze medals. Club juniors picked up one gold, three silver and five bronze medals.

In the Open Championships, 16-year-old Jack Spence won the 200m backstroke and David Godridge, 17, took gold in the 50m fly. Both swimmers recorded personal best and regional qualifying times.

Watford swimmers have posted 153 personal bests which is the highest in any championship meet for the club. The club broke another record with 40 swimmers achieving their regional qualifying times.

Ashley Holness-Wright, 14, was first in the boys age group and third in the junior championships for the 50m fly. Louis Mayhew, 15, topped his age group and was second in the junior championships 100m fly. Tom Hall, 17, won his age group for the 50m breaststroke.

In the girls’ events, Katie Armitage was first in her age group for the 100m freestyle.

Chloe Arnold came first in her age group and third in the junior championships 200m fly.

Adam Colyer turned in a star performance at the event. The 13-year-old was first in his age group and the junior championships in the 50m backstroke and 100m breaststroke. Colyer also finished first for his age and second in the junior standings for the 100m breaststroke.

Watford Swimming and Water Polo Club was established in 1901 and is based at Woodside Leisure Centre.

To find out more about the club and its activities log on to www.watfordswimmingclub.co.uk