A DARLINGTON student produced a personal best performance recently to retain a national swimming title.

Matthew Bowden, a student at Queen Elizabeth sixth form college, successfully defended his 100m breaststroke title at the National Schools Swimming Championships in the Isle of Man. The 17-year-old won with a personal best time of 1 minute 4.83 seconds.

He said: "I was really pleased with my time and I managed to beat somebody from the English junior team.

"My time is the fastest in the country and I hope it means I will now be considered for the national team. It's great to be champion again."

Julia Atkinson, head of sport at Queen Elizabeth, said: "Matthew's dedication, talent and hard work bring him the results he deserves."

The second year A level student from Woodham Village is a member of the college team which hopes to again clinch a place in the national finals when they compete in the heats of the Schools Teams Championships.

Matthew, who is studying history, geography, German and general studies, hopes to win a place at University College, London where he has applied to read for a degree in Chinese and politics.

He has also represented his country in water polo and is a member of both Sedgefield and Newcastle swimming clubs.