Matthew Bowden, one of the Sedgefield club's two dual swimming and waterpolo junior internationals, returned from Belgium last weekend after a week's training with the British boys U-18 waterpolo team, writes ERIC WILKINSON.

It mainly consisted of friendly matches with the Dutch and Belgian sides, who were also holding training camps there. The principal six games were played in the Bruges 50m pool where Britain won all three against Belgium and lost one and won two against the highly rated Dutch side.

Although scoring goals is not his role, he usually supplies the passes for the others to score, Matthew hit the net five times and impressed the GB team manager and coach.

This was part of the team's preparation for the European junior championship qualifiers in Bulgaria in May. The championships are in Germany next August. They have more trips into Europe planned before then, including the Czech Republic, Poland and either Holland or Spain.

The 104th annual meeting of the Northumberland and Durham ASA is to be held at the Quality Hotel, Boldon, on Saturday (2pm) when the delegates will be welcomed by the Mayor of South Shields, Councillor Mrs M Brady.

The Arthur Mothersdale Memorial Trophy, awarded to its Swimmer of the Year, will be presented to British junior international swimmer and waterpolo player Angela Winstanley Smith (Sedgefield) by Brenda Bland (Hartlepool), the outgoing president and assistant manager of the GB swimming team, who will then install Alan Capstick (South Tyneside), a starter at international swimming events, as the new president.

The president-elect will be Greta Foulds (Wear Valley) and Derek Hatton (Gateshead and Whickham) secretary and Roy MacAlister (Tynedale) treasurer, will be returned unopposed. There are nine nominations for the ten places on the executive committee.

Several schools in the area have teams who have qualified through to the English schools relay finals at Crystal Palace on February 10 including St John's, Bishop Auckland junior boys medley and girls medley and freestyle, Emmanuel College, Gateshead, junior girls medley.

Woodham Community Technology College intermediate boys medley and freestyle, Lanchester St Bede's intermediate girls medley and freestyle, Hummersknott, Darlington, intermediate girls medley.

Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form, Darlington, senior boys medley and freestyle, Community College, Peterlee senior boys freestyle, Prior Pursglove, Guisborough senior girls medley and freestyle teams.