A TRIP to Millfield to swim in a 50m pool for the first time was the draw for five of Okehampton Otters' young swimmers.

Girls' captain Jenny Rice swam in four events in the 16 and over age group. Her first swim came in the 200m free, her time of 2.23.67 was a pb and club record to place her eleventh.

Better was to come as she came home with three medals. The 100m free,1.04.97, placed her in a good third place, again in a pb and club record. Her favoured stroke of fly proved to be a good swim. Not only did she gain second place, she swam a life-time best in any pool to achieve the time of 1.15.70, again a club record swim. Lastly she swam the 200m i m, primarily to get a Devon qualifying time for 2002.

This was successful and she gained another medal to finish fifth, pb and club record.

Over the whole day points were gained for Bagcat awards. With the achievements from the above swims Jenny finished a worthy second in age group to stop Swim Swansea from gaining the top five places.

Holly Dennis was the only other swimmer to gain a club record. Her time of 1.34.34 in the 100m breast gave her a finishing place of 17th in the 14/15 age group. Her challenge must now be to achieve the Devon standard in a 25m pool in the next few months.

Her other swim was the 100m free, where a pb was swam 1.16.98, 32nd.

Also in this age group was Hayley Jones. She swam the gruelling 100m fly and finished in 13th place in a pb time of 1.39.20. She also did the 100m free, again in a pb time 1.19.16, 38th.

Lastly in this age group was Johanna Cade. She entered two events, her favourite stroke of 100m back and the 100m free.

In the backstroke Jo finished 14th, 1.21.12 in the free event she swam a pb in 1.14.33 to finish 27th.

Two of the up and coming boys entered. Being only ten years old Alex Wooldridge and Matthew Westlake swam in the 11 and under age group.

They had never experienced anything like this before. Both swam in the same three events. In the 50m breast Alex finished in 28th, with Matthew in 26th place in a pb .

The 50m back was next. Matthew and Alex both swam pbs here as well, finishing 40th and 45th respectively.

Lastly, it was the 50m free — in a large field Matthew was 44th and Alex 46th.

Alex unfortunately had an injury caused from playing football, but he was not going to miss this for nothing.

Coach Nigel West travelled to watch the swimmers perform to a high standard.

• At the Western Counties Championships, Western Super Mare, Jennifer Rice, with four qualifying times, flew the flag for the Otters.

The times gained were from three different strokes, which shows her all-round ability in swimming.

With attending a club gala the night before she missed out on the 50m fly so her first swim was the 50m free. Although not gaining a pb she swam a time not far off her best.

Later were the 4x25m individual medley and the 100m free. Again no pb swims were gained but her times were consistent to previous swims.