Newcastle club members, representing Northumbria University, won titles and broke records at the British Universities national short course championships at Darlington, writes ERIC WILKINSON.

Julie Fort scored a double success in the women's 50m and 100m backstroke finals equalling the championship record in the 50m and setting new figures in the 100m. She was also second to Olympian Helen Don Duncan (Coventry) who also set a new mark in the 200m.

Sarah Whewell is the new record and title holder in the 200m individual medley and she was also the bronze medallist in the 200m breaststroke. The men's 200m individual medley was won in record time by Darren Wigg. He was also runner-up in the 400m and the 200m butterfly. Club mate Michael Downes, competing for Newcastle University, was first in the 200m backstroke and second in the 50m and 100m. Team, and fellow club member, Nick Jackson just missed a medal in taking fourth place in the 200m butterfly. Anja Slim (Cambridge), the ex-Wear Valley and Chester-le-Street club member, was fourth in the 100m backstroke and 800m freestyle. Harrogate's Thea Evanson (Loughborough) won gold in the 400m individual medley, bronze in the 200m individual medley and was fourth in the 200m backstroke. The NE Counties short course age group championships also took place at Darlington with a new format in which the competitors are awarded points in each event with the prizes going to the top points winners in each category. Newcastle's Danielle Berry was the outstanding swimmer having the fastest time in eight events to top the girls 13 years category, the runner-up was Stephanie Proud (Chester-le-Street) with the quickest times in four events. The girls 14 years category winner was Natasha Crawley (Middlesbrough) who top scored in five races, Christopher Alderton (Hartlepool) did the same in the boys 13 years category, the runner-up was Ciaran Hanson (Gateshead) who achieved a hat-trick. Among the others who headed three events were Joanne Jackson (Richmond) 14, James Carter (Middlesbrough) 13, and Richard Savage (Peterlee) 14, and those with best times in two events included Emily Surtees (Middlesbrough) 13, Tara Johnson (Chester-le-Street) 14, and Laura Whing (Gateshead) 12. The Sedgefield club has six members, Aidan Stonehouse, Martin Nicholls, Graham Johnson, Robert Smith, Scott and George Jnr Carpenter. Included in the team of 13 that will represent the NE Counties in the ASA's inter-district boys 15 and under water polo competition at the Manchester Commonwealth Games pool Saturday.