A trio from Kingston Ladies Swimming Club have been crowned 2009 masters synchronised swimming national champions for the third time, writes Helen Conway.

Surbiton-based Francesca Stevens, 23, and Louise Chambers, 21, plus Harriet Mutlow, 23, from Stoneleigh, won the trio competition in the 20-34 age category at Southgate Leisure Pool to add to victories at Leicester in 2007 and Southgate last year.

They produced two synchronised swimming routines - a technical one and one choreographed to the music of TV sports theme tunes including Ski Sunday and Wimbledon.

Francesca said: “We love the routines which are fantastic fun to do.

"It was a fantastic feeling when we heard that we had won the competition in London and retained our title.

“We have all been with the club since we were about seven years old and it has been brilliant fun for us. We kept going throughout the time when we were off at university studying.

“It is keeps us really fit and we have a good time when we get together.”

Harriet is now a marketing executive with British Gas, Francesca is a section manager for Marks & Spencer in Surbiton, while trainee solicitor Louise recently completed the Legal Practice course at Guildford College of Law, but the trio intend to continue competing.

Francesca said: “There is a 70-plus age category in the Masters competition, so who knows?”

KLSC, based in New Malden, is one of only four synchronised swimming clubs in London and the only one in Surrey.

Chairman Don Harden said: “It is our highest honour to date and we are really proud of the girls.”

KLSC train in the Malden Leisure Centre pool and at Lady Eleanor Holles School in Hampton. The club has 50 members, but is actively seeking more.

The club also took part in the Middlesex Championships in February this year winning first, second and third in the figures section.

At the end of March, the club took first second and third slot in the figures section at the London Championship as well as the first and second in the team routines.