A clutch of local youngsters made a successful medals raid on the Scottish age group championships in Glasgow, four of them Shanna King (Middlesbrough) 13-14yrs 100m breaststroke; Rebecca Rides (Newburn) 12yrs 400m freestyle; David Carter (Darlington) 12yrs 100m breaststroke and Chris Wilson (Wear Valley) 15-16yrs 200m breaststroke, won their events in championship record times, writes ERIC WILKINSON.

Shanna did the qualifying time for the Scottish youth squad in the 100m and was also second in the 200m. David was also runner-up in the 200m individual medley and Rebecca was also third in the 200m individual medley.

Other Middlesbrough members also did well, Emily Surtees, second, 13-14yrs 200m backstroke and third 100m; Gemma Porter second 13-14yrs 400m freestyle and third 200m individual medley; James Carter third 13-14yrs 200m individual medley and Craig Granger third 15-16yrs 200m freestyle.

A NE Counties team returned this week from the Bellinzona, Switzerland international meet with 21 medals, seven gold, nine silver and five bronze. Andrew Hogg (Scarborough) was first in the men's 100m butterfly and second in the 200m; Joe Roebuck (Rotherham) won the men's 400m individual medley and Rebecca Shaw (Leeds) got one medal of each colour, gold 400m individual medley, silver 400m freestyle and bronze 200m individual medley and fellow club member Stuart Trees was first in the 400m freestyle and second in the 200m.

Its outstanding junior was Danielle Place (Leeds) with a hat-trick of wins in the junior 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke. Her club mate Amanda Winstanley was second in the junior women's 400m freestyle and third 800m.

Other medallists: Sarah Lambert (Selby) runner-up women's 50m butterfly and 100m backstroke; Richard Davies (Leeds) second 50m and 100m butterfly and third 200m; Ben Lack (Rotherham) second 1500m freestyle; Steven Broadley (Bradford) third 50m and 100m backstroke.

For the third year running Matthew Bowden (Sedgefield) is in the GB waterpolo team which next week plays in the Loule, Portugal junior international tournament in which it has a fine record having won it ten out of the past 11 years.

Britain is using it as part of its preparation, for the European junior men's waterpolo championship which is in Hagen, Germany in two weeks time.

The British team which is currently playing in the European junior women's waterpolo championship in Manchester is having an dissapointing time. In the opening game they lost 24-1 to favourites Russia. They were then beaten 11-3 by Greece. In the following game Germany defeated them 18-5, they then lost 8-5 against France.

Carol Mohan (Sedgefield) has been the pick of Britain's outfield players. She scored three goals against Greece and two against Germany and France. Two other Sedgefield members, Samantha Mitchell and Charlotte Nichols are also in the team.