A TEAM from the Winchester City Penguins Swimming Club became national champions for the second successive year at the National Biathlon Championships in Manchester.

In the club's strongest age group, the 13-14-year-old girls' team of Fenella Langridge, Hannah Rafferty and Louisa Warwick won the team event .

Warwick was the individual winner, Leonie Stewart was fourth, Fenella Langridge ninth, Hannah Rafferty 14th and Laura Sharpe, competing in her first national biathlon, 20th.

Fourteen Penguins qualified for the run and swim.

In the ten-years-and-under age group, Alexa Dymond took 22nd place and Christopher Sharpe was placed an excellent third in his first national biathlon.

In the 11-12 year group, Simon Mooney won the silver medal and there was a good team performance from the girls in this age group. Emily Butcher was seventh individually and, with teammates Lauren Phillips and Ellie Jones, were the seventh-placed team.

In the 13-14 year group and 15 year group Tom Varley and Ashley Pike were both 31st.

Winchester's only Masters Ladies representative, Pip Varley, was a creditable 14th.

For further information see www.wcpsc.org.uk.

l Penguins also won the second and final round of the Hampshire and South Coast Premier League competition at Waterlooville.

Against strong competition from Locks Heath Swimming Club, the Penguins pulled out all the stops and claimed the shield for winning Division One, Group Two.

Penguins' excellent performances included many impressive personal bests in an exciting gala, which was not decided until the very last race, the squadron relay.

Winners Nine years: Oliver Heath (boys' 50m backstroke and breaststroke), Sally Goodhand (girls' 50m breaststroke). Under-11: Alexa Dymond (girls' 50m backstroke). Under-12: Ellie Jones (girls' 50m backstroke), Lauren Phillips (girls' 50m freestyle and breaststroke), Joel Frank (boys' 50m backstroke), Nick Courtney (boys' 50m breaststroke and butterfly), Sebastian Haw (boys' 50m freestyle). Under-13: Simon Mooney (boys' 50m freestyle & butterfly), Tom Mills (boys' 50m backstroke). Under-14: Sophie Jenkins (girls 50m freestyle and butterfly).

Other swimmers: Isabel Rafferty, Isabella Talbot, Sebastian Ward, Adam Crompton, Eleanor Cross, Laura McDonough, Christopher Sharpe, Luke Kay, Beth Harvey, Emily Butcher, Laura Sharpe, Natasha Perriam, Joanne Phillips, Greg Soper, Stuart Baker and Justin Craig.

Results: Winchester City Penguins 236pt, Locks Heath 235, Hart A 183.5, Wey Valley 182, Wandsworth 135.5, Havant & Waterlooville 90.