ANITA Tien bagged the girls' top swimmer award as Colchester Swimming Club hosted their annual Mid-Summer Madness gala at Leisure World.

Nearly 300 swimmers from Essex, Suffolk and as far afield as Shropshire competed for medals, county and regional qualifying times and personal bests.

Colchester swimmers started as they meant to go on, with Tien, Sophie Freeman, Elinor Duley, Abbie McCarthy, Sam Milburn and Spencer Prior all claiming 200 metres Individual Medley gold.

And Tien, Freeman, Olivia Norman, Martha Duley and Alex Williamson were victorious in the 200m freestyle.

As the gala continued, a number of swimmers began to show real dominance in the various races.

Tien won an impressive 11 golds in the 11-year-old category, with Sophie Freeman matching her feat.

In the older age groups, Norman (14) won nine golds, while Martha Duley (15+) was also in impressive form after winning seven golds.

In the 15+ age group, Prior claimed six golds and McCarthy secured five golds, in the 14 age group.

Other Colchester gold medal winners were: Charlie Pryke (ten) - three golds, Katie White (14) - two golds, Ben Hardy (13) - two golds, Elinor Duley (15+) - two golds, Rebecca Girolami (13) - one gold, Amber Joran (14) - one gold, Kai Cheng (11) - one gold, Owen Williams (12) - one gold, William Eastel (11) - one gold, Patrick Warner (13) - one gold, Sam Bently (12) - one gold, Kalam Corani (11) - one gold, Nicholas Mitchell (15+) - one gold.

Other swimmers who achieved a top-three finish: Luke Ledwidge, Joseph Cole, Thomas Grieve, Cole Scott, Isaac Pavey, Brogan Bates, Christian Tilley, Hayden Chamberlain, Jamie Coles, James Tree, Matthew Lemnell, Mark Milburn, Alex Tinnion, Charlotte Norman, Charlotte Tree, Bronte Jordan, Elizabeth Woods, Anshma Rai, Lucy Morgan, Sophie Talbot, Izzy Eastel, Ila Nicholson, Keziah Cornish, Anola Jordan.

The boy’s top swimmer award to Louie Lane of Romford SC, who were the top visiting club.

Other swimmers who took part: Joseph Tilley, Antonio Girolami, Daniel Himsworth, Felix Szpakowski, Samuel Whearty, William Marsh, Kirin Weung, Zak Troman, Henry Proud, Alfie Francis, Edward Cox, Harvey Daniels, Sam Toon, Oscar Crofts, Sam Horn, Oliver Cox, Ross Jordan, Finlay Keating, Erica Joscelyne, Emily Digby, Jessie Barrett, Amelia Duley, Ruby Watson, Jemima Bowley, Hannah O’Malley, Francesca Williamson, Lucy Toms, Georgia Bleck, Lauren Himsworth, Niamh Higgins, Annie Bayliss, Lauren Wopling, Molly White, Lottie Talbot, Hannah Karlsson, Imogen Ottley, Amy Milburn, Harley Raison, Alannah Brosnan, Anna Hawkins-Clarke, Isobel Fifield, Amy Johnson, Keira Hemsworth, Olivia Vinter, Jennifer Woods, Eloise Smart, Madison Ottley, Jasmine Bayliss, Scarlett Wicks, Amy Apps, Ruby Chalmers, Amy Bennett, Katelyn Parfitt, Olivia Horn.

The gala could not have taken place without a huge task force of volunteers and the club’s committee have thanked parents, sponsors, officials, coaches and Leisure World staff.