KELLY College swimmer Sam Calcutt took on the might of British swimming recently, when she competed with the British team at the 2001 National Shortcourse (25 metres) Swimming Championships in Norwich on August 9-12.

Sam produced a very creditable performance, making the semi-final of the 50m butterfly.

Kelly college swimming coach Robin Brew said: 'Sam has gained invaluable experience at this extremely high level. To make a semi-final in this type of company shows she has what it takes to do well next year.

'We have a lot of hard work ahead of us and I know Sam is looking forward to working hard over the winter.'

World, Commonwealth and British records went tumbling at the Championships.

Robin said the new performance director of British swimming, Australian Bill Sweetenham, has produced a hardline 'get tough' attitude to British swimmers which is proving successful.

Sweetenham insisted that the British team, after producing their best-ever medal tally at the recent world championships in Japan, were to go on to take on swimming giants Australia in the Australian short course championships, before returning to the UK for their own national championships in Norwich.

Despite the hectic travelling programme, the British team were still in top form. The womens 4x200 freestyle relay set a new world record and Rebecca Cook, the distance specialist, added the British and Commonwealth record for the 800 m freestyle to her collection.