Olympian Nicola Jackson (Durham Aquatics) scored a hat-trick of wins in the women's 100m freestyle, 50m and 100m butterfly at the NE Counties senior and junior long course championships at Sheffield, which also doubled as trials for the GB team to go to the World championships in Japan, to easily win the women's open category points award, writes ERIC WILKINSON.

Newcastle's Julie Fort, winner of the 100m backstroke and 200m individual medley, had the third top points. Her club mate Chris Cook, first in the 100m breaststroke, was runner-up to James Hickman (Leeds) for the men's award. Fellow club member Paul Woodley won the 200m backstroke.

Stephanie Proud (Durham Aquatics), junior 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke and club mate Chris Wilson, junior 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke also had winning hat-tricks.

Other junior gold medallists included Natasha Crawley (Middlesbrough) 100m butterfly, Joanne Jackson 200m butterfly, Chris Alderton 800m freestyle and Tara Johnson 800m freestyle (all Durham Aquatics), Andrew Thirlwell 100m backstroke, Richard Savage 200m butterfly (both Newcastle).

The NE Counties long course age group relay teams and 50m individual sprints are staged at Leeds this weekend when three Twin Counties swimmers head the qualifiers in two events. These are Natasha Crawley 15-16yrs breaststroke and butterfly; Stephanie Proud 13-14yrs backstroke and freestyle; Andrew Thirlwell (Newcastle) 15-16yrs butterfly and freestyle.

Among the other top seeds are James Benson (Stockton) 11-12yrs butterfly; Matthew Guthery (Newcastle) 13-14yrs breaststroke; Andrew Sixsmith 11-12yrs breaststroke; Chris Wilson 15-16yrs breaststroke; Robyn Neeley 11-12yrs freestyle; Olivia Hope 13-14yrs breaststroke (all Durham Aquatics).

Hummersknott kept up its long unbeaten sequence of wins at the 84th Darlington Senior Inter-Schools Gala when it won the boys points trophy for the 20th year scoring 159 points to Longfield's 140. It also gained its 21st success in the girls section with 161 points to Longfield's 136. As a result, it also easily won the combined points trophy for the 21st time.

The Northumberland and Durham men and women's three metres diving championships along with the age group and masters events, will be competed for at Tynemouth on Sunday (6.30pm).

Sedgefield lost 12-6 at Cheltenham in an ASA mixed Under-17 waterpolo championship semi-final. They were up against an older and stronger side who led 4-0 after the first quarter, but Sedgefield pulled back to 8-6 after the third quarter, but could not maintain the pressure. British internationals Angie Winstanley-Smith and Carol Mohan, who are still juniors, were outstanding for Sedgefield.