DEDICATED skaters brought home a haul of medals in "highly competitive" British championships.

Essex Speed Skating Club, made up mainly of residents from the Maldon district and South Woodham Ferrers, competed in the British Indoor Inline Speed Skating Championships last weekend and came home triumphant.

The youngsters won a whopping 17 medals with three skaters coming out as British champions.

Sophie Cook was the first to be crowned in the pupil girls category, securing three gold medal places to put her in first place overall.

Despite still recovering from Covid her teammate Ella Bennett, from Great Totham, also brought home a bronze medal.

In the competitive class of cadet girls, Sophie Debenham secured two golds and a bronze to become the Cadet Girls Indoor British Champion.

Presley Hughes achieved her best performance of the season with three silver medals and Rebecca Vale, from Maldon, achieved the fastest time in the Dobbin Sprint and a bronze in the 500m.

Also from Great Totham, Izzy Judge won a well-deserved bronze in a 1000m race.

Jessica Markey won all three of her races to become the Youth Girls Indoor British Champion.

The day finished with Sophie Debenham and Presley winning gold and Rebecca and Izzy taking the silver in the 2000m cadet girls relay.

This was the final race of the season where the team brought home a haul of 48 British Championship medals and three overall British champions - Sophie Cook, Sophie Debenham and Jessica Markey.

Jon Morrison, their head coach, said: “It was a gruelling few months as the pandemic hit the racing calendar and these athletes had to squeeze in multiple races to catch up and get all the 2021 titles out the way.

"I’m so happy with the team. Their resilience to get back to full fitness when during such a difficult few years has been amazing. The team is looking forward to great things in the 2022 season.”

The club used to train at Madison Heights before Covid made them change plans.

Anyone interested in joining the club can see the skaters in action at Rollerworld Colchester at 9am on Sunday mornings.

For more information email jonathanmorrison@hotmail.co.uk.