Brighton have won their own Open for the first time.

The hosts lifted the Tom Handley Memorial title after series of scintillating performances in the 19th staging of the oldest and biggest event in Sussex.

Over 450 competitors converged on the Prince Regent pool from across Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Essex, Middlesex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, London and even Sweden.

Brighton beat them all with 189 points ahead of Beckenham (Kent) on 167 and Crawley with 139.

Brighton president Margaret Tuppen said: "It's fantastic. Our swimmers did extremely well and are carrying on the progress this club has made over the last year.

"We were founded in 1860 and are the oldest club in England. But, in my time, this is the best standard of swimmers we've had in terms of all-round displays."

Brighton pair Emma Eaves and Holly White, both county performers, were the club's star turns with nine victories in record times.

Emma, 11, a pupil at Cottesmore St Mary's, triumphed in the 50m freestyle (31.5sec), 50m backstroke (37.23sec), 200m backstroke (2min.46.29sec), 100m medley (1min.18.03sec) and 200 medley (2min.46.19sec).

Holly, 13, scored in the 100m butterfly (1min.09.29sec), 200m butterfly (2min.37.01sec), 200m backstroke (2min.33.54sec) and 200m medley (2min.35.95sec).

Clubmate Claire Manton, 14, the national schools title winner from Hove, won four titles as expected in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke and 200m breaststroke.

Brighton coach Nigel Carrucan, who also coaches the Sussex squad, said: "I thought the standards were pretty good overall considering it is only the beginning of the year and came after a break.

"Emma and Holly were outstanding and showed their real potential.

"All of Emma's times qualify her for the National Championships and she should be in the top ten in the country for her age group when they take place in the summer. She is so versatile and talented.

"Holly is the same. She is by far the best in the county at her age and is in the top two in the South and another top tenner for the Nationals. I believe they can both follow in the footsteps of Claire Manton, who has made it into the world class performance programme for youngsters earmarked for internationals .

"Claire has set some good club records, and got another at the meet, but Emma and Holly are starting to beat them."

Emma surprised herself. She said: "I had plenty of turkey and Christmas pudding like everyone else and I didn't think I would be swimming as fast as I did.

"But I enjoyed it and am pleased I helped my club win. I would like to do as well as Claire is doing now when I'm 14.

"I train five nights a week and on Saturday morning. I'm going to start training on Tuesday mornings as well. I don't have much time for anything else in my spare time but I love swimming."

Holly added: "Fitting in homework is the hardest thing! I was pleased with how I swam. I haven't stopped getting better yet."

Clubmates Tom Rooke, 11, and Jack Smith, 13, fellow pupils at Patcham High, managed to secure a hat-trick of butterfly triumphs for Brighton. The club had 17 wins, with Isobel Rogers and Amy Kent scoring one apiece, and 13 of them came in record times.

Spokesman Brian Smith said: "It was a great couple of days for us. Holly and Emma are definitely rising stars to take over Claire's mantle, but Claire herself proved what she can do. Claire has now begun to specialise and the Brighton Open showed the latest part of her development is on course."

Hastings finished fourth on 79 points, Bognor seventh with 55 and Haywards Heath eighth on 45.

Ben Duke, ten, from Bognor, sealed four victories in each stroke over 50m.

Crawley pair Alexa White and Adam Jones each completed a hat-trick of victories, while Trevor Gaunt (Hastings), Alex Brown (Crawley) and Chelsea Gumbrell (Haywards Heath) each claimed two titles.

Other Sussex winners included Nick Gale (Haywards Heath), Lauren Hemsley (Eastbourne), Rebecca Collard (Crawley), Jemma Lowe (Bognor), Danny Sivers (Eastbourne). Other clubs from the county were Brighton Dolphin, Shiverers (Hove), Worthing, Littlehampton, East Grinstead and Burgess Hill.

Sussex president Deedee Pickering handed out the prizes.

The Sussex County Championships will take place on March 10 and April 7, but there is a doubt about the venue.

The Prince Regent pool, Brighton, may have to be dropped because work on the new library will limit car parking. The opening County Championship meet is on February 23 and March 23 at Crawley and March 2 at Hastings.