BOROUGH of Southend Swimming club (BOSS) has a record number of qualifiers for the Essex County Championships.

The championships will be split into three blocks during February and March in Basildon and Braintree, and 37 BOSS swimmers will compete, including a number of first-time county qualifiers.

The club will be taking four nine year old girls: Maisie Robins, Anneliese Magrath, Neve Shinn and Gabriella Eveleigh, who has qualified for six events.

Aimee Gras, 13, will make her debut in the 50m freestyle, and Grace Kenneally, 15, will be in the same race.

Rachael Hughes, 15, made sure of her place at the Romford Open, clocking 34.28 seconds in the 50m butterfly.

Jake Piercey and Eddie Whitehair will compete in the 11 years old age group, and Dylan Alston, 13, will make his debut in the 50m freestyle race having recorded 31.81 seconds at Bexley in January.

BOSS’ assistant coach Nikki Spurgeon said: “All our first time qualifiers deserve a special mention for their great achievements in the build up to the counties.

“I know all of them are looking forward to representing the club in three weeks time at Basildon. I’m sure this will be the first of many County Championships for them.”