Fareham Nomads swimmer Peter Hall triumphed at the National Schools Championships held in Sheffield over the weekend.

Fourteen-year-old Hall, who is a Year 9 pupil at Crofton School in Stubbington, has been a member of the Fareham based swimming club from a very young age.

Competing in the junior 100m backstroke, Hall demolished the previous record of 1min 6.21sec to set new figures of 1:04.78 and take the gold medal in style over 1.5 seconds ahead of his nearest rival. The teenager also improved his own personal best by some 1.69 sec which was established at this year's National Age Group Competition.

Although he is not the first Nomads swimmer to compete at this level, he is the first to win a gold medal. Coach Stewart Crowe said: "Peter's performance must rank as one of the best individual swims in the club's history.

"It is now hoped that selection for an international schools event will follow on from this achievement."

Graham Holland also competed in the junior 100m breaststroke and recorded a time of 1:23.50, this was below his best but understandable after returning to swimming after a short illness.

Both boys also swam in the medley relay with Hall competing in the freestyle event thus assisting the Division 12 squad to win the overall title.

On Sunday, Holland swam in the Inter-County Gala and performed much better recording a personal best time of 1:19.50 for the 100m breaststroke.