King Edward VI pupil Emma Wicks took the Southern Counties Championships at Crystal Palace by storm, taking gold in five out of her six events.

Even more astoundingly, the 14-year-old, pictured, also bettered Championship-BEST times in four of her races.

Swimming in the dual 14/15-year band, Wicks started with a clear victory in the 400 metres Individual medley, her time of 5:09.22min knocking seven seconds off the previous championship best.

Having set the standard, Wicks clocked records in heats of the 200 metre freestyle and butterfly to ensure pole position for the evening finals. And she did not disappoint in the finals - her wins in the 200 free (2:07.61) and 200 fly (2:19.43) being three and five seconds respectively ahead of her nearest rivals - and both improved on the championship-best marks set earlier in the day.

Wicks continued her record-breaking run the following day in the 400 metre freestyle. In a thrilling finish she managed to catch 16-year-old Natalie Prince in the final length to record the fastest time for all age groups of 4:25.21 and clock record number four.

Despite concentrating on longer distance events she reached 100 metre butterfly and freestyle finals - victory number five coming in the 100m fly, just touching out Lauren Cogdale (East Essex) in a time of 1:06.38.

At the end of a gruelling weekend came the 100m free, and a three-horse race to the finish. This time Wicks had to settle for bronze in a time of 1:00.38.

With these kind of performances - and eight national times already under her belt - Wicks can look forward with confidence to the National Youth Championships in Sheffield in July.