GRAVESEND & Northfleet Swimming Club’s members started in spectacular fashion at the first two meetings of the 2010 Kent county championships last weekend.

The first Gravesnd gold medal winner was 11-year-old Nicole Parish, who was quickly followed by Louise Todd, 13, as both took first place in the 100m backstroke for their age groups.

Todd also clocked up a national qualifying time in her race.

GNSC’s youngest swimmer, nine-year-old Taku Chaza, won two gold medals on the first day in 200m breaststroke and 50m freestyle at his first Kent championships.

Chaza’s time in the 50m freestyle of 32.04s ranks him as the fastest nine-year-old in the country. Day two saw Taku pick up another pair of gold medals in the 50m breaststroke and 200m freestyle.

Parish also won another gold medal in the 200m freestyle and Jacob West, 12, won gold in the 50m breaststroke.

Luck DeClerk, 12, also picked up two silver medals, while Emma Bannister, Jacob West and Dan Chandler all finished in the top six.

Jack Todd and Phil Bradley just missed out on medals finishing in seventh in their races, while Cameron Ingram, John Allen and Ailsa Daley all also competed well over the weekend.

These results are welcome proof to GNSC’s coaching team of the progress made by themselves and the swimmers over the past 12 months and everyone is looking forward to the next set of races at the championships.

For more information on the club, visit gnsc.co.uk