CANVEY Island Swimming club hosted the second Mercel Harvey Gala at Blackshots swimming pool, Grays.

Clubs from all over Essex attended this charitable event with some good swims by all.

The Islanders were just beaten at the finish by Southend Swimming Club who proved to be the best on the day and won the prestigious Mercel Harvey Memorial Cup.

Good sport and fun ran well throughout the gala with all six clubs helping to raise money for Cancer Research.

A special award was donated on the night by Mercel's Family; Jeff, Claire and Paul Harvey, to Canvey Island swimmer Kate Thompson, who, in her coach's opinion, gave her best in an individual event in the 50 freestyle.

Thompson had for a long time hit the wall of not beating her PB of 34 seconds, but on the day swam a personal best time of 32 seconds.

Canvey's girls won both their freestyle and medley relays in the open and under 11 age groups in great style.

In the under 11s team were Maisie Jones, Lauren McElroy, Alice Pasley and Kirsty Fehily, and in the open sisters Aimee, Hannah and Sophie Drake and Phillippa Bennett.

There where also numerous individual first placings from both the boys and girls, with wins from Phillippa Bennett, Todd Harding, Sophie Drake, Maisie Jones, Sam Rose, John Bushell, Nathan McCabe and Ryan Campbell-Webster Canvey Island Swimming Club would like to thank Thurrock Swimming Club for donating the use of their poolside equipment, Southend Sports and Trophies for their donation towards the trophies and a big thank you to all who helped on the day.

The Canvey club can proudly announce their newly appointed official sponsors Brown & Carroll (London) Ltd.

If it were not for the directors of this company, Paul Carroll, Steve Brown and Steve Perkins, it would have meant certain closure of the club Following the long-term closure of Waterside Farm Swimming Pool, all funds had been exhausted due to a drop in membership and higher alternative pool hire.

Canvey are still in communication with Castle Point Council on this matter.

If you would like to swim, either as a beginner or competitively, contact chief coach Paul McNeil on 07904302113 or Julie Fehily on 07915603546.