Seagull duo star for Sussex

Harry Kilbane and JJ Choron were selected to represented Sussex at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield last weekend.

The event is one of the highlights of the British junior swimming calendar and both boys were selected following time trials in their respective age groups. Kilbane was picked to swim the 100m butterfly in the 12/13 age group and Choron the 100m backstroke in the 16/17 age group.

After travelling up by coach with the rest of the Sussex squad, the boys enjoyed some team bonding and a spot of retail therapy, as well as a slap up meal the night before the event. As Sunday dawned, they donned their Sussex shirts and headed to the pool.

The carnival atmosphere of this event is just electric with its colourful procession, face painting, blasting horns and 3,000 spectators cheering as the country’s top 1,200 young swimmers gather together on behalf of some 36 counties.

Choron was first to swim the 100m backstroke and after being ranked 12th going into the event, came home a magnificent ninth in a time of 59.92, beating his PB by a second. He then took part in the medley relay and helped the Sussex squad clinch a closely-fought sixth place finish.

Kilbane took to the water in super style, coming home an impressive 11th for his 100m butterfly followed by a storming and crowd-pleasing fourth in the 12/13 medley relay.

Sussex finished the meet in seventh position overall.