SWIMMING: St Felix School swimmer Marcella Aris, of Beetley, returned from the ASA National Youth Championships in Sheffield with a hard-earned silver medal.

She qualified and took part in seven events during the week plus two relays with her team, but it was her favoured 400m freestyle in which she excelled.

On day two Marcella had to roll up at the pool for a 6:30am warm-up. Her 400m freestyle heat took place about 10am. She put in a good time, 4:25, and qualified fourth for the final that evening. Ten were in the final but after the first 100m, four – including Marcella – had made a break. Kristina Neves from Guernsey then made a break at 200m, which Marcella covered.

It was then down to the two of them for gold. Neves pulled away but in the last 100m Marcella came back at her with her typically-strong backend strength. On this occasion Marcella ran out of pool and was pipped into second place by less than a second.

On day four, a very tired Marcella came fourth for the second year running in the 800m freestyle.

She said; 'It was great getting a silver medal. I came for a gold, but it was just not my day.'

After three well deserved weeks off, she be back in training as she is representing the East of England in the Sainsbury's UK Schools games on September 2-4, again in Sheffield.

This year Marcella (pictured below) received funding from the Norfolk Cultural and Sports Foundation, and thanked them for their support.