THERE was more success for members of the Basildon-based Phoenix Club at the third weekend of Essex’s premier event, the County Championships.

Once again Phoenix’s swimmers travelled to Braintree to compete in more events with fine results that maintain the Essex Auto Group-sponsored club in an overall ninth place.

Harvey Brown, 12, added a further championship title and gold to his growing tally with a stunning swim in the 100 metres freestyle.

Setting a fierce pace in the heat, Harvey went even faster in the final later in the day to take top spot and record a personal best and East Region Championship qualifying time of 61 seconds.

He added a bronze in the 100 individual medley, a sixth in the 200 and a seventh in the 100 butterfly.

Kathryn Pearse, 13, maintained her dominance of the backstroke events in her age group, sweeping away the competition with a blistering final length in the 200 to take gold in an improved National Champ-ionship qualifying time of 2mins 22.71secs.

The weekend also saw Kath-ryn take silver in the 200 individual medley, bronze in the 200 breaststroke and fourth in the 1,500m freestyle. Kathryn has maintained a clear lead for the overall 13 years county title going into the final weekend.

Another one of Phoenix’s youngsters, nine-year-old Har-vey Jolly, experienced the podium in his first county championship.

Swimming in the 50 breaststroke and 50 freestyle, Harvey swum personal bests to secure places in the final of each.

He finished in fourth place in the breaststroke and collected bronze in the freestyle.

Lewis Cooper, 11, again demonstrated that he is one to watch for the future, swimming in the 200 and 400 freestyle events.

He recorded big personal bests to see himself easily qualify for this season’s forthcoming East Regional Championships in Norwich.

Michael Grace, 16, continued his medal-winning form, taking bronze in 400 freestyle.

He followed this with fourth in the tough 1,500 freestyle in over a 45 second personal best time.

In an event carried over from the first weekend, 16-year-old Samantha Mullender produced a personal best swim in the 50 butterfly, just missing out on a place in the final.

Other swimmers competing were: 12- year-old Rachael Moore; 13-year-olds Maisie West, Caroline Mellor and Lily Mann in the 200 backstroke; Patrick Rourke, aged 11 - 200 freestyle, 14-year-old Keri Stroud – 100 backstroke and 15-year-old Jack Byfield – 50 freestyle and breaststroke.