FIVE members of Redbridge Swimming Club were part of the Ortus Londonium team to compete in a prestigious gala in Geneva last week.

Charlie Dentith was pick of the bunch as he triumphed in the 400m free, setting personal bests for the event as well as the 100 free, 100 breast and 100 fly.

Lawrence Brown was back to his best with PBs in the 400 free, 100 back and 200 free, while Phoebe Hayes was superb in the 100 and 200 back, 100 and 200 free.

Kelsey Richards returned from illness and excelled with some impressive swims, and Chris Inch enjoyed prolific races despite a busy five-race schedule.

The local club were also in action in the first block of the Essex Swimming Championships, which kicked off last week, with the team winning the overall relay title after some terrific performances.

Redbridge won six of the 12 team events, with the 4x50 Individual Medley and free team of Lewis Archer, Ben Hollis, Charlie Dentith and Ivan Georgiev combining to win, while Kelsey Richards, Emily Cole, Ellie Bedwell and Anna Keble teamed up to win the girls’ 4x50 front crawl.

The girls team of Kelsey Richards, Phoebe Hayes, Georgia Hunton Clarke and Emily Cole then bagged a remarkable treble, claiming the 4x100IM, 4x100FC and 4x200 titles.

Meanwhile, the Waltham Forest Gators struck gold at the recent Rushmoor Royals meet in Aldershot.

There were a number of incredible individual efforts, not least the four golds each picked up by 15-year-old Alex Keating and Alistair France, 14.

Keating was first home in the 50m back, butterfly, free and 200m back, while he also won silver. France wasn’t far behind, as he racked up victories in the 200m free, back, individual medley and 100m free, while he also won a bronze medal.

Nicola Farmer won an excellent three races in the 200m back, butterfly and IM, as well as a silver, while 10-year-old Aaron Christian-Wilson won gold in the 50m and 200m breast.

Emma Hasler won the 200IM, David Hare and Eris Crawford won 200m fly, while Oliver Burling, Dominic Davies, Niall Gandy, Poppy Hill, Ryan Nicholls, Josh Christian Wilson and Jeremy Nockels also won medals.