TALENTED Colchester Swimming Club youngster Sophie Freeman said it was a “great feeling” to strike gold at the British Swimming Championships in Sheffield.

The 13-year-old, who lives in Brightlingsea, was crowned girls’ 50 metres butterfly champion in the 13-14 age group at the event, in Ponds Forge.

The gold medal was the outstanding highlight of a hugely successful championships for the teenager, who also reached the final of the 100m and 200m butterfly and 50m backstroke events.

She said: “I couldn’t believe it when I won gold and it was a great feeling.

“I was really happy with my time.

“It was a great atmosphere in Sheffield with some really talented swimmers there and I think I deal better with things when there’s a bit of pressure.

“I love being a member of Colchester Swimming Club and with Laura Stephens having been there and now competing internationally, it’s an inspiration for me.”

Freeman was also in medal-winning form at the recent Swim England ASA National Summer Meet, in Ponds Forge.

Competing in the 12/13 age group, the Colne School pupil won gold in the 200m backstroke and silver in both the 200m and 800m front.

She also won silver in the 200m Individual Medley and 100m backstroke races.

Colchester SC head coach Michelle Young said: “I’m really proud of Sophie for all that she’s done – she’s a very modest girl but she’s done so well.

“It’s no surprise that she was so successful.

“She was there in the morning training hard and doing everything right.

“She was one of the youngest swimmers in her category, which makes her achievements even more special.

“Sophie was up against some very tough opposition and a lot of the swimmers she was competing against were from specialist clubs.

“She had to learn to handle her nerves going from the heats and then the final.

“She had a fabulous time and also won golds and silvers at the English Championships.”

Colchester SC boasted a number of swimmers at the British Championships, where the top 24 swimmers in the whole of Great Britain competed in their respective age groups against the best in the country.

Young added: “We had a very strong representation there and there wasn’t a day when I wasn’t at a final with at least one of our swimmers.

“It was another level because a lot of these kids are very experienced competitors at a higher level."

The top 24 Great Britain swimmers in each age group were in action at the British Summer Championships, with Colchester well represented.

In addition to Freeman, Martha and Ellie Duley took part in the 17/18 category, while Olivia Norman raced in the 15 years category and Asma Parker was in the 13/14 age group.

Results, 17/18 category, Martha Duley: 100m backstroke (fifth), 50m front (seventh), 100m front (seventh), 200m backstroke (15th), 50m backstroke (fifth); Ellie Duley: 50m butterfly (disqualified), 50m front (tenth); 15 years category, Olivia Norman: 100m backstroke (15th), 200m fly (15th), 200m backstroke (eighth), 50m backstroke (seventh); Asma Parker, 13/14 age group: 50m backstroke (12th).

Joining Freeman at the English Championships, fellow Colchester SC member Olivia Norman won silver in both the 15 years' 200m and 400m Individual Medley finals.

She also competed in the 50m fly (tenth) and 100m fly (15th).

Abbie McCarthy also competed in the 15 years category, finishing seventh in the 200m fly final.

Colchester SC's Asma Parker competed in the 100m fly in the 14 years category (18th).

Sisters Martha and Ellie Duley were in action in the 17 years and over category.

Martha was fourth in the 50m fly final, while Ellie finished sixth in the 100m fly final.

Colchester SC'S Sam Whearty also impressed in the S9 category multi-classification event.

He took part in the 50m, 100m and 400m front crawl, along with the 100m breaststroke and 200m Individual Medley.