Competitive swimming restarts after the holiday break with the biggest event possible, the Olympic Games, writes ERIC WILKINSON.

It begins on Saturday and competing in the opening session is Newcastle's Sue Rolph, the Commonwealth and European women's 100m freestyle champion.

She has a busy schedule of five events, Saturday sees her racing as a member of the women's 4x100m freestyle team. She also swam in this event at the last Olympic Games in Atlanta when the team finished ninth just missing the final by a fraction of a second.

On Monday Sue has the heats and semi-finals of the 200m individual medley which could be her best chance of a medal. The final is on Tuesday.

Wednesday sees her competing in the heat of the 100m freestyle followed by the semi-finals and the final is on Wednesday.

Sue has the heats of her last two events on Friday, the 50m freestyle and the 4x100m medley relay team, both finals being staged on Saturday.

The area's other competitor at the games is Nicola Jackson (Richmond and Derwentside). She is in the 4x200m freestyle relay team on Wednesday.

In the World short course championships (25m pool) at Hong Kong in March, Nicola was the fastest member of the British team which won setting a World short course record. Second were the USA with China third.

Former Derwentside and Newburn member, Vicki Horner (Stockport) is a reserve for the 4x200m freestyle team and may swim in the heats. The local representation is completed by assistant team manager Brenda Bland (Hartlepool) and coach Ian Oliver (Newcastle).

Entries close this week for the Darlington big open swim meet at the Dolphin Centre on October 7-8. This event attracts competitors form all over the country, including internationals and national champions.

There are races on all strokes for swimmers from ten years and upwards.

The three Sedgefield club members in the Great Britain junior women's waterpolo squad, Angela Winstanley-Smith, Carol Mohan and Samantha Mitchell have been invited along with club mate Charlotte Nicholls to take part in a training session and trials in Manchester at the end of the month following which a team will be selected to compete in the Czech Republic two weeks later.