Hanna Bardell made a double sacrifice to lead Hangleton to glory at the Brighton and Hove Schools Relay Championships.

The 11-year-old captain delayed a family holiday to Ibiza and pulled out of the Shiverers team competing at the Southern Counties Championships.

Hangleton were crowned top junior school and Hanna won the girls' Year Six and mixed age group girls' Holman Cup events.

Coach Ann Bolton said: "Hanna was going to represent Shiverers at Crystal Palace and got some stick from her coach, understandably, for chosing her school. It was great for us that she put the school first and did so well. I hope her family didn't mind the holiday hold up."

Hangleton won the boys' crown and lost the girls competition to Windlesham after disqualification.

Bolton said: "The girls had won the Year Four, Five and Six races and the mixed age group Squadron Challenge, with Hanna in the team, which would have secured the title. But we were disqualified in the Challenge because of a faulty changeover. It was disappointing for them.

"But we did very well. It was one of our best years.

"I think we have a very good reputation for giving sport a high priority at the school.

"We have a lot more depth in talent and a lot of our top swimmers are club swimmers who go to clubs like Shiverers."

Hangleton also triumphed in the first race for the Ian McLean Shield.

It was a 6x25m event for a mixed age boys and girls team in memory of the Whitehawk teacher who died last year.

The team received the shield from National Union of Teachers' president Dick Hubbard.

The competition was close to the heart of Bolton.

She said: "It was very poignant. Ian and I were together at college at what is now Brighton University. He was very active in swimming. His mother also donated a £30 voucher and we are looking for a book on swimming to put in our library."

Hangleton: Grace Dreay, Chloe Phillpott, Melissa Gates, Emma Gill, Amy Maggs, Lucy Greest, Tierney Harman, Sarah Tullet, Hanna Bardall, Katie Bristow, Laura Robertson, Charlotte Pook. Alison Emery, Laura Drewitt, Claire Warner.

Boys: Andrew Best, Richard Taylor, Ben Watson, Joe Knight, Edward Sansom, Sam Bristow, Sean Lewis, Jack Vine, Alex McCarthy, Allister Taylor, Matthew Jackson, Daniel Maggs. Reserves: Alan Warner, Jason Hollick, Stuart McCarthy.

Windlesham revealed their girls title victory was against the odds.

Head Aofe Bennett-Odlum said: "We only have about 20 pupils per year group and were up against schools with five times that number. The win has given the school a tremendous lift."

Westdene won the Year Six boys' race with an impressive 1min.11.15m for the 100m.

It was a time only bettered in the parents and teachers team event won by Windlesham in just under one minute.

Patcham swept the board in the senior schools events despite being unable to use their pool for four months.

Coach Kevin Laundon said: "The team was keen to prove it was worth giving the pool back. They certainly did that.

"It has been closed for re-development, but some of the team were able to practise as members of clubs in other pools."

Patcham won the boys and girls' freestyle and medley titles and the Ottaway Trophy in a mixed age group race.

Their boys medley team of Chris Sutton, Luke Holmes, Charlie Nobbs and Scott Walker and the girls' quartet of Holly White, Charlotte Woodman, Natalie Berry and Hayley Rathbone were rated the school's star performers.

Coach Kevin Laundon said: "Those eight, plus Philip Shelly, Jack Smith and Suzy Hunt were outstanding but all the team did well.

"The only trophy we've won in the past is the Ottaway Trophy.

"I think the victories were sparked a little by the success we had in the national relays.

"We managed to stop a winning run of four years by Brighton College in the boys' event and did the same by defeating Roedean in the girls."

Captain Chris Sutton, 16, added: "The swimmers we had who were juniors last year helped."

Patcham: Holly White, Rosa Gargan, Flo Ellis-Martin, Charlotte Woodman, Anna Barrett, Chloe Buckland, Lisa Barnes, Lucy Greenhoff, Hannah Godwin, Lauren Holness, Jamie Stevens, Nathalie Berry, Hayley Rathbone, Suzy Knight.

Boys: Jack Smith, Jamie Walker, Josh Barton, Callum Soraghon, Jack Dainty, Andrew Sutton, Paul Stevens, Richard Brookes, Luke Holmes, Scott Walker, Lawrence Smith. Charlie Nobbs, Philip Shelly, Alec Barrett, Chris Sutton.

Organiser Margaret Simmonds (Brighton Dolphin) believes it is still the biggest district schools event in the country.

She said: 'We had around 700 youngsters, 382 medals, 11 trophies and a packed balcony of 340 filled with relatives and friends. There were also 50 helpers.

"I've been I was working on it from last August and had to take a week off work in the run up to organise it.

"It's a lot of work but when you see the faces of the kids and the parents getting excited it makes all the effort worthwhile."

The Brighton Council and Active Kids, which encourages healthy activities for youngsters, sponsored the Championships.

Meanwhile, Daniel Richards won three races and broke a hat-trick of club records for Brighton Dolphin at the Bournemouth Open.

Clubmate Harriet Dack triumphed in two races and also set three new record times for Dolphin at the meeting. Michael Case created two new records and gained one victory while Victoria Dowd secured four personal bests.

Prince Regent Roll of Honour:

Junior: Boys - Hangleton. Girls - Windlesham.

Holman Cup: Boys - St Martin's. Girls - Hangleton.

Most improved school: St Margaret's.

Ian McLean Memorial Shield: Hangleton.

Secondary Boys: Patcham. Girls: Patcham. Sixth Form Boys: Cardinal Newman. Girls: Brighton College.

Schools Juniors: Westdene, Elm Grove, Balfour, Patcham, St Martin's, Hangleton, Somerhill, St Mary's, Bevendean, Windlesham, Cottesmore, Middle Street.

Senior: Brighton College, Cardinal Newman, Dorothy Stringer, Patcham, Varndean, Roedean.

Sixth Form: Brighton College, Cardinal Newman, Roedean, Brighton, Hove and Sussex.