SWIMMING comes as naturally to Fern Davies as breathing.

"She jumped in the pool and swam as a toddler," said her father Matthew. Now aged 11, Fern from Little Hereford is beginning to amass a collection of trophies.

Competing against 150 girls of the same age at the Cheestrings ASA National Age Group Champion-ships in Sheffield, Fern scooped four medals in seven finals. She won silver in the individual medley and bronzes in the 800m freestyle and the 100m and 200m butterfly. She also won a BAGCAT award with third place for overall swimming ability among the 11 year olds.

"When I looked at the rankings to start with, I thought I would be lucky if I could just get a bronze medal. I'm amazed to come out with three bronzes, a silver and my BAGCAT award," said Fern.

Enormous help

According to her father, "She remains very low key about clattering in with medals all the time." Fern would rather talk about "the enormous help and support" she receives from numerous sources.

These include Chris Dunkerley, head of Orleton Primary School and his staff, for their flexibility in letting Fern train around eight times a week, and the coaches and parental helpers at Ludlow Swimming Club, for giving large amounts of free time.

Fern, who starts at Wigmore High School in September, is also thankful to South Shropshire Leisure Centre where she can have extra training during public swimming sessions and "have provided me with an excellent environment in which to train."

There is also a really big tribute to Paul Taylor of Ludlow-based Landmark Management Services, who sponsored her kit and enabled her to swim at Sheffield.