performances as Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association got their winter national age group championships underway at the Saltus pool on Saturday.

Competing in the 13-14 age group, Madeiros of the Sharks club posted three personal bests on her way to upsetting pre-race favourite Elisha Miller of Harbour in both the 200 metres backstroke and 400 metres individual medley.

Also swimming well in that age group were Lyndsay Taylor of Sharks, who took 15 seconds off her personal best to finish third in the 400 free behind Miller and Madeiros, and team-mate Jessica Sousa who had two third place finishes in the backstroke and individual medley, and was also fourth in the 400 free.

In the 15 and over bracket, national team member Stephen Fahy, as expected, blitzed the field in both the 400 free and individual medley while behind him in the overall points standings is Stephen Troake of Harbour after a first place in the 200 back and second in the 400 free.

Sarah Titterton leads Zoe Roberts in points in the girls 15 and over as she entered all three of Saturday's events, scoring a first in the 200 back and a second to Roberts in the 400 free and individual medley.

Altogether some 80 swimmers took part in Saturday's competition with some of the younger competitors slicing huge chunks off their previous best times.

Candace Marson knocked 25 seconds off her entry time to win the girls 11-12 400 free as did Kiera Aitken in the same event, finishing fifth.

Roy Allan Burch, in the boys 9-10 group, took 40 seconds off his PB in the 200 backstroke, finishing first in 3:14.42. He also won the 200 IM in 3:26.9, an improvement of 30 seconds.

At the end of the first 26 events, Emma Fenton of Sharks in her first swim meet, leads the points in the girls eight and under with Cameron McDonald of Triangles leading the boys' same age division.

In the 9-10 group, Kiera Aitken of Harbour grabbed first in both the the 200 back and medley races with personal best times.

Jonathan Herring of Sharks holds down top spot in the boys 11-12 after winning the 400 free and 200 back and placing second in the 400 IM. He's pursued by Graham Smith of Triangles who was first in the 400 IM and second in the 400 free.

In the girls 11-12 competition was keen with rivalry between Sharks team-mates Rebecca Hanson, Candace Marson and Emma Rego. Hanson leads the points after two firsts in the 200 back and 200 IM and a second in the 400 free. She's followed by Marson who had a first and two seconds, and Rego who had three thirds.

Ronald Cowen of Sharks swam to three first place finishes in the boys 13-14 group. He's followed by Paul Fox and Michael Pantry of Harbour.

The championships continue this weekend.

ABIGAIL MADEIROS -- Three personal best times in age group championships.