A YOUNG swimmer from Middleton St George has confirmed her potential as a star of the future by producing medal-winning performances at the recent national age group championships in Sheffield.

Fifteen-year-old Natasha Crawley, who swims for Middlesbrough Swimming Club, won a silver medal in the 100m butterfly, just missing the gold by a fraction of a second.

She also took bronze in the 50m butterfly and won another silver in the freestyle relay with Sharon Reid, Gemma Porter and Natalie Palfrey.

Natasha, a pupil at Hurworth Comprehensive School, said she was disappointed not to win gold, but her ambition was still to represent Great Britain at the next Olympics.

She added: "I'm going to do more distance work to build up my stamina and develop a faster finish."

The Middlesbrough club, under head coach Les Green, was strongly represented at the national finals.

Emily Surtees was fourth in the 50m backstroke, sixth in the 200m backstroke and eighth in the 100m backstroke, while Shanna King finished eighth in the 50 and 100m breaststroke.

Craig Grainger from Saltburn set a new North East counties record when he finished sixth in the 50m butterfly.

James Carter was eighth in the 100m breaststroke and Ben Douglas set personal bests in the 50, 100 and 200m breaststroke. Other personal bests came from Lyndsey Pullen and Sarah Dove.

The 15-16 years boys team of Craig Grainger, Alex Mason, Ben Douglas and Chris Vickers made two finals, as did the 13-14 years girls team of Shanna King, Emily Surtees, Lyndsey Pullen and Danielle Coonan.

Natasha is in need of sponsorship to help with travelling expenses. Anyone who can help should contact her mother Liz Crawley on 01325 333569.