The second half of the local swimming season starts with a bang tomorrow (9.30am, 1.30 and 5.30pm) and Sunday (9.30am and 1.30pm) with the staging of the 17th Darlington big open and age group meet at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington, writes ERIC WILKINSON.

A number of stars are competing including senior British international Sarah Whewell (Newcastle) who has the fastest qualifying times in the women's 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 100m and 200m breaststroke, 50m and 200m freestyle. Melanie Marshall (Loughborough) is another international star. She is in pole position in the 100m freestyle and 200m backstroke. Top seed in the 100m backstroke is Julie Fort (Newcastle) another international and former Wear Valley Club member.

Newcastle's Michael Downes leads the qualifiers in four men's events, 100m and 200m backstroke, 200m freestyle and individual medley. His club mate Chris Cook, who has represented his country, is favourite for the 100m breaststroke.

Junior international swimmer and waterpolo swimmer Matthew Bowden has the quickest entry times in 50m and 100m freestyle.

Natasha Crawley (Middlesbrough), who hails from Darlington, is in pole position in four of the five girls 13-14yrs events and is in second spot in the other. Dayne Hitch (Durham) also leads the qualifiers in four of the five boys 10yrs races. Jessica Dickons (Stockton) 10yrs, and Danielle Berry (Newcastle) 11-12yrs, are in hat-trick positions.

Newcastle defends the top open and age group points trophies, Melanie Marshall was last y0ear's top women's points winner. She also got the salver for top performance at the meet.

Last year's men's top points winner was Garry Timbs (Northampton) who goes into the men's 100m butterfly with the fastest entry time.

Northumberland and Durham meet Cheshire in the preliminary round of the National County Junior Men's (U-18) waterpolo championships at Middlesbrough on Sunday (4.30pm). The Twin Counties who are competing again in this event after a long lapse, are putting a very young team into the water to build for the future. Last weekend at Rotherham they were beaten 17-7 by Yorkshire, one of the favourites for the title, despite the score Ian Storey (Sedgefield) had an outstanding game in goal.

Sedgefield has four girls, Angie Winstanley-Smith, Carol Mohan, Samantha Mitchell and Charlotte Nichols selected for the GB Junior Women's squad of 13 to play in the Czech Republic next week