SWIMMERS from York City Baths Club aim to make a big splash in the national championships.

All ten (pictured left) have qualified for a series of high-profile events after great displays at county level. "We have prepared really well and are looking to get more swimmers to finals," said coach Andrea Ellis.

Sophie Calpin, 12, will be hoping to go one better in the 100metres breaststroke at Sheffield in the National Championships tomorrow after winning silver in the event last year.

She will also tackle the 100m breaststroke, 200 and 400 individual medley events.

Alice Sunderland, 13, will anchor York's freestyle team after a busy programme of 100m freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and 200m butterfly and IM races.

Also in the relay squad are Hannah Petts, Rachel Eastough and Michelle Moffat.

Petts (12), like Sunderland, has a hectic schedule with 100 and 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly and 200 and 400m IM races. Eastough is in the 100 and 200m backstroke.

Others in action at Sheffield are Andrew Fowler, 14, (100m freestyle), Christopher Burns (200m IM), Philip Graves (1,500m freestyle) and Lewis Porylo, 17 (100m breaststroke).

Mandy I'Anson will be looking to improve on the 11th place she achieved in 50m butterfly the National Senior Long Course Nationals at Manchester when she tackles the same event in the Short Course Championships at Stockport on August 14-16.

Updated: 10:52 Saturday, July 26, 2003