Five more lifetime bests

MATTHEW ALLEN'S fantastic 2004 has ended on a high. The 13-year-old Beau Sejour Barracuda member could not resist the temptation of competing in one more event before the end of the year.

He has dominated his age group, topping the rostrum at island, Channel Island and Hampshire county level under the British Age Group Category Awards scheme.

To top the year off, he competed in five events at the Hampshire County ASA 50-metre Open Meet at Aldershot Garrison Pool and produced five lifetime best performances.

With tough opposition coming from teams from the UK, he won gold in the 200m backstroke in a time of 2-35.06, silver in the 500m freestyle and 400m individual medley in times of 4-37.66 and 5-24.89 respectively and bronze in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 3-04.26.

Although he missed out on a medal in the 200m freestyle, finishing in fourth position, he produced another personal best of 2-12.34 to round off a very successful weekend of competition.