SOME 19 local primary schools swam their hearts out at the fifth Brooks Shopping Centre-sponsored Primary Schools gala.

With 275 children and a full gallery of supporters, the event was both exciting and noisy, especially for Pilgrims school boys, who started with a bang by taking the freestyle relay in a record breaking time in their first visit to the gala.

Previous record holders Ridgemede came in a close second and were also the bridesmaids in the girls mixed stroke relay, which was won by a strong Charlton House team.

In the small schools' competition, village schools Curdridge, Upham and Wherwell tried hard but could not match the well- drilled St Swithun's squad fresh from their success at the independent schools championships.

St Swithun's girls won both the freestyle and medley events.

But the top swim of the morning came from Hilt-ingbury's girls in the freestyle relay as they knocked over three seconds off the previous fastest time.

The Twyford Prep girls came in second, also beating their old record with Prince's Mead and South Wonston also doing well.

The individual year four sprint event gave everyone a good look at the emerging swimming talent and Penguins junior coach Allan Whelan said: "We've seen there is no shortage of youngsters with the potential to be good county standard or higher with the right coaching and training."

The final relay was a handicap event designed to set up a blanket finish.

The girls of St Swithun's topped a great day's swimming to win by a finger tip from Hiltingbury and Pilgrims.

Charles Hilling from Pilgrims took the boys silver salver for his final swim of 18.22. He was followed in by William Barlow (also Pilgrims) and Edward Jeffreys of Hiltingbury.

It was Oliver's Battery pupil Helen Stride who received the silver salver with Oriana Halford-Guerra, from Nethercliffe, collecting a second place rosette and Sarah Anderson, representing St Bede, finishing third.

The other cups and rosettes were presented by the Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Jean Hammerton, and by Sue Lambert, the president of Hampshire Amateur Swimming Association.

All of the participants won a commemorative T-shirt and hat with a certificate and other goodies as part of the SportsMatch Scheme.