Brighton were the top team at the Sussex Swimming Championships.

The club retained their overall age group title in the final meet at Crawley. The girls were first (226 points) and the boys second (130 points).

The aggregate points total of 356 gave them a 67-point margin over Crawley. Hastings finished third.

Brighton also came out top overall in the girls' and women's open events.

Their international Claire Manton, 14, completed a 200m double in freestyle for girls and women, to make it an impressive 13 victories in the Championships overall, including ten in open races and three in the age groups.

Brighton had the first three home in the women's and girls' 50m breaststroke events at Crawley, with Amy Kent holding off Claire and Kirsty Hedge third.

The three teamed up with Holly White to win the women's 4x100m medley relay In the age groups, Hannah Belameh (1991) won her 100m backstroke to bring her overall total to five. Emma Eaves was on the winners' rostrum in the girls' born-1990 backstroke.

Official overall positions in the men's and boys' open events are still to be announced, but Brighton are certain to figure in the top five in each.

Tom Rooke was first in the boys' born 1990 100m breaststroke and clubmate Daniel Maggs was second.

Club spokesman Brian Smith said: "We have proved we are the best in the county again and our boys did slightly better than last year. It shows we're getting everything right as far as training is concerned. We're very pleased.

"It is very difficult to retain top spot because there's always another club coming along to knock you off. It's marvellous."

Ben Hutchinson (Crawley) was the most successful male swimmer. He swept to open titles in the men's and boys' 50m butterfly and 200m freestyle at the last meet to double his haul at the Championships.

The club won the boys' age group crown with 117 points and claimed second spot behind Brighton with 112 in the girls. Coach Tim Hartley said: "We have won the boys' title and almost certainly the men's. We're delighted.

"Ben has made lot of improvements this year but we've been pleased with the development of a lot of our swimmers in this year's Championships over the past few months. They've produced a lot of personal bests.

"What I've been particularly pleased with is the phenomenal improvement over the longer distance our girls and boys have made.

Rachel Gilbert (Worthing) was top girl performer in the age groups. The born-1992 ace secured the 50m freestyle and 100m backstroke to increase her gold medal tally to six.

Eastbourne's Lauren Hemsley (born-1984-or-1995) won her 100m backstroke to bring her total up to five.

Leading boy was Richard Thorne (East Grinstead), who also claimed half-a-dozen titles after victory in the born-1992 100m individual medley.

Trevor Gaunt Hastings) and Ben Duke (Bognor) ran him close with five wins each. Gaunt took the boys' born-1984- or-1985 100m breaststroke as Duke triumphed in the born-1991 race.

International Simon Burtenshaw (Shiverers, Hove), who has been resting, fuelled talk of a full-time comeback with victory in the men's 50m freestyle to add to the 100m crown he lifted recently.

Championship organiser Margaret Tuppen said: "It was a successful Championships. I think Claire Manton's total is one of the biggest we've ever had. It ranks alongside previous year's efforts by Simon Burtenshaw and Lisa Chapman."