AN Okehampton Otters Swimming squad lacking a number of key swimmers but nethertheless full of the usual enthusiasm and anticipation were at Ilfracombe on Saturday for the third of this year?s North Devon Mini League galas. Opponents were Torridgeside, Barnstaple and Ilfracombe.

The Otters had hopes of maintaining the pressure on their nearest rivals following their closely fought for final positions in last month?s gala. The combination of swimmer injury, conflicting sporting events plus a strong home side presented the team with a difficult task on the evening.

Despite all this, plus the added complication of competing in a pool over 8m longer than Okehampton?s, the Otters maintained a high level of team spirit and enthusiasm, managing to win six events and finish second in a further seven.

By the exceptional efforts of the team selectors the club was able to field a swimmer for every event. At the close the Otters were still a few points adrift of their nearest opponents, finishing fourth behind Barnstaple, Ilfracombe and Torridgeside.

A number of young swimmers were kept busy helping to ensure the Otters had a team in every relay event. A special mention therefore goes to young swimmers Eleanor Oakley, Abi Stocks, Lucy Dixon, Eloise Allen, Kim Stanton, Chloe Sanders, Rebecca Vile, Jack Cherrington and Kieran Mitchell.

Impressed by the eagerness of the younger swimmers, boys? captain Paul Lawrence nominated Jack Cherrington as his swimmer of the gala. Jack not only swam the anchor legs of many relays but also agreed to swim at short notice. Girls? captain Rebecca Rowe chose Chloe Sanders as her swimmer of the night, who heroically volunteered to swim the butterfly leg of the girls? medley relay in such fantastic style.

Impressive individual wins went to Matthew Westlake in the boys? 12/13 years 100m backcrawl and breastroke, Charlotte Rowe in the 12/13 years freestyle and backcrawl plus Rebecca Rowe in the girls? 14/15 years 100m backcrawl.

Full squad: Rebecca Rowe and Paul Lawrence (captains) Matthew Wise, John Radnor, Matthew Westlake, Matthew Webber, Jack Cherrington, Gabriel Aguilera, Oliver Kirby, Kieran Mitchell, Kevin Jones, Luke Wonnacott, Michael Aylen, Tom Bradley, Rebecca Vile, Charlotte Radnor, Holly Dennis, Gemma Jachnik, Elona Wonnacott, Kim Stanton, Chloe Sanders, Abi Stocks, Eleanor Oakley, Eloise Allen, Mia Fallon Clarke, Charlotte Rowe, Scarlet Geering, Rebecca Ewen, Lucy Dixon, Hayley Jones, Amelia Allen, Rebecca Jarvis.

l A number of swimmers will travel to Plymouth this weekend for the Devon Sprint and Relay galas. The next gala in the Mini League series will at Barnstaple on May 8, closely followed by the Otters Masters competing at the Devon County Masters event at Tiverton on May 22. The Otters have a friendly gala at Honiton on April 17.