Bicester Blue Fins’ Kieren Bird finished third in the boys’ age 14-15 100m butterfly in the British Gas ASA National County Team Championships at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.

Representing the Oxfordshire & North Bucks County squad, Bird broke the club record by a second and a half.

Oliver Inness and William Whitley were part of the boys’ age 12-13 4x50m medley relay team.

Inness set a personal best in the backstroke leg, while Whitley swam the breaststroke.

Both are now within touching distance of the respective club age group records.

Tom Thornley was also selected, but was unavailable.

The county squad, led by Blue Fins’ head coach Struan McNeil for the first time, finished 12th in the first division event.

McNeil will take on the role in addition to his club duties for the next two years.

He said: “It was an honour for me to be asked to lead the county squad.

“It’s very much a team effort here at Bicester, so for our small club to be recognised ahead of the big city clubs is a great endorsement of what we’re achieving.

“It was great to see four Blue Fins make the qualification for the championships.”