MATTHEW Calver, of Hopton, won the overall boys' U11's title at the Suffolk County Championships held at Ipswich during the first three weekends in March.

MATTHEW Calver, of Hopton, won the overall boys' U11's title at the Suffolk County Championships held at Ipswich during the first three weekends in March.

Matthew, who had come second to his rival Calvin Coe of Stowmarket the previous two years, started with a personal best in the 200 backstroke on the first Saturday, a race he was expected to win.

But he then won the 50 butterfly which had been Calvin's best stroke the previous two years.

The next weekend, as expected, Calvin won the 200 fly but then came the 400 individual medley,

Matthew had been beaten the previous two years in the medleys but this year he pulled out the race of his life, winning with an 18-second personal best, a time only two seconds short of a national qualifying time.

By the end of the final weekend Matthew had finally won the title but next year it appears the competition will be tougher as a boy from Ipswich came second and is very strong in the freestyle events.

Matthew has trained continually for the last three years with the Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Swimming Club under the watchful eye of his coach Brian Rivett, training six times a week.

A good week was completed with Matthew joining his school friend at Hopton Primary School and helping them win the Great Yarmouth Primary Schools Gala.