STAR swimmer Ciara Droy swept the board with half a dozen medals in the Essex Age Groups Championships earlier this month.

Fifteen-year-old Ciara, a member of Redbridge Borough Swimming Club, who lives in Highwood Lane in Loughton, proved her all-round talent by winning gold in the 200m backstroke, 400m freestyle and 400m individual medley and silver in the 100m backstroke, 200m butterfly and 200m freestyle.

A thrilled Ciara said: 'I have been swimming in the Essex age groups since I was ten and I have won a few medals before but this was by far my best performance.

'I'm looking forward to the Southern Counties Championships in Crystal Palace next week where I expect the competition will be very tough.'

Ciara, a pupil at Brentwood Ursuline High School for Girls, began swimming competitively at age nine. She now trains nine times a week.

Last year she was awarded a bursary by Epping Forest Sports Council to help with training costs.

She also represented the Essex squad in a tournament in Canada.

Ciara, who feels that the 200m backstroke is her best event, aims to improve her best times at Crystal Palace next week in order to qualify for the National Age Group Championships which take place in the summer.Ciara's a splash hit

STAR swimmer Ciara Droy swept the board with half a dozen medals in the Essex Age Groups Championships earlier this month.

Fifteen-year-old Ciara, a member of Redbridge Borough Swimming Club, who lives in Highwood Lane in Loughton, proved her all-round talent by winning gold in the 200m backstroke, 400m freestyle and 400m individual medley and silver in the 100m backstroke, 200m butterfly and 200m freestyle.

A thrilled Ciara said: 'I have been swimming in the Essex age groups since I was ten and I have won a few medals before but this was by far my best performance.

'I'm looking forward to the Southern Counties Championships in Crystal Palace next week where I expect the competition will be very tough.'

Ciara, a pupil at Brentwood Ursuline High School for Girls, began swimming competitively at age nine. She now trains nine times a week.

Last year she was awarded a bursary by Epping Forest Sports Council to help with training costs.

She also represented the Essex squad in a tournament in Canada.

Ciara, who feels that the 200m backstroke is her best event, aims to improve her best times at Crystal Palace next week in order to qualify for the National Age Group Championships which take place in the summer.