RELAY success proved key to Colchester Swimming Club's performance in the fourth round of the Essex Mini League, at South Woodham Ferrers.

They finished third in the fourth-round meeting with 155 points, just behind winners Southend (170 points) and runners-up Rochford (166 points).

There were a number of notable impressive individual swims, where maximum points were secured.

Colchester SC team manager Chloe Rudkin said: “The team competed well and there was a good mix of impressive individual and team performances, particularly by our youngsters.

"Once again there was a fantastic atmosphere with team members and spectators cheering the swimmers on.

"Overall it was a very solid display so soon after returning from the summer break and I’m already looking forward to our final Mini League fixture at Clacton.”

Josh Bleck (46.16) and Mark Milburn (36.28) won their 50 metres backstroke races, and Massimo Girolami (41.40) and Hannah O' Malley (36.01) also came first in the 50m butterfly.

However, as has been the pattern throughout this year’s Mini League tournament, it was the relay races that saw Colchester really hit form.

In the 4x1 medley relay, Gaby Troman, Sophie Ryan, Freya Cowley and Isabella Stratton-Thomsett came first in the nine year old girls’ race (1.33.72).

And Jude Leigh, Seth Belshaw, Nik Baltsezak and George Scalan took the honours, in the equivalent boys’ race (1.33.31).

The points continued to add up as the girls 6x1 butterfly relay team won in 1.5518 (Freya Cowley, Anjali Tuckwell, Sadie Rowe, Keziah Cornish, Nuha Van Der Schyff and Ana-Victoria Anderson).

Colchester also won both the girls and boys nine years 4x1 free relay.

The girl’s team (Isabella Stratton-Thomsett, Gaby Troman, Freya Cowley and Sophie Ryan) took the spoils in a time of 1.22.04 and the boys also came first in 1.22.16 (Jude Leigh, Seth Belshaw, Nik Baltsezak and George Scalan).

Further relay success came in the girls' 6x1 breaststroke (Sophie Ryan, Aila Manning, Sadie Rowe, Nurayni Van Der Schyff, Anola Jordan and Ana-Victoria Anderson) who won in 2.11.85 and 13&U 4x1 freestyle relay (1.03.47, Amy Johnson, Nurayni Van Der Schyff, Keziah Cornish and Hannah O'Malley).

One of the highlights of a competitive evening was the double win in the ten and under 4x1 freestyle relay.

The girls (Gaby Troman, Aila Manning, Daisy Himsworth and Anjali Tuckwell) won in 1.15.85 and the boys won in a rapid 1.11.25 (Harrison Brook, Elliot Whitehouse, Josh Bleck and Eoin Ledwidge).

Colchester SC squad: Ana-Victoria Anderson, Nik Baltsezak, Seth Belshaw, Josh Bleck, Harrison Brook, Hayden Chamberlain, Gabby Cornish, Keziah Cornish, Freya Cowley, Antonio Girolami, Massimo Girolami, Joseph Guild, Daisy Himsworth, Amy Johnson, Anola Jordan, Eoin Ledwidge, Jude Leigh, Aila Manning, Jack McCarthy, Amy Milburn, Mark Milburn, Hannah O'Malley, Charlie Pryke, Sadie Rowe, Sophie Ryan, George Scanlan, Isabella Stratton-Thomsett, Felix Szpakowski, Gaby Troman, Zak Troman, Anjali Tuckwell, Suranna Tuckwell, Nuha Van Der Schyff, Nurayni Van Der Schyff, Elliot Whitehouse.