Hartlepool's Brenda Bland flies to Australia tomorrow (Sat) to replace the team manager, who returning home, of a British swimming squad which is currently training on the Gold Coast, writes ERIC WILKINSON.

One of the squad, who have already been there for four weeks doing long course outdoor training, is British record holder Nicola Jackson (Richmond/Derwentside), who comes home next Thursday. In her only competition out there she beat Jenny Thompson (USA), the Olympic sold and silver medallist, in a knockout competition.

Northumbria University students, all members of the Newcastle club, achieved some excellent results at the British Universities long course championships at Leeds, with Julie Fort and Darren Wigg both scoring hat-tricks and each broke two championship records.

Julie won the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke establishing new marks in the 100m and 200m, Darren successes came in the 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m individual medley breaking the 200m butterfly and 400m medley records.

Sarah Whewell was first in the 200m individual medley setting new figures, second in the 400m individual medley and third in the 200m breaststroke. Chris Cook was second in the 100m breaststroke and third in the 50m and 200m.

Its women's 4x100m freestyle team of Julie Fort, Jill Porter, Sarah Whewell and Pauline McLean were second and the same quartet were third in the medley relay.

The English Amateur Swimming Association holds its annual general meeting in Bristol this weekend when Brian Eeles, from Durham, a former secretary of the North-East and Northumberland and Durham Counties ASA will become the vice-president. He will be installed as president at next year's AGM in the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate, on February 15-16.

Newcastle starts its defence of the Durham and District junior swimming league title in its home pool on Sunday (3pm) when it entertains former holders Darlington and Wear Valley along with Sedgefield, Stokesley and Gateshead in the first division.

The division two and three first round fixtures are also at Newcastle on Sunday. The second division gala (12.30pm) features Richmond, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Durham, Sunderland

and South Tyneside while the division three gala (10am) is between Billingham, Consett, Newburn, Boldon, Ashington and Castle Morpeth