THIS bank holiday weekend saw several Kelly swimmers swimming at their best in the Exeter City Open Meet 2003 held at Millfield for the

first time.

This enabled many swimmers to face the challenges of long course competition producing a number of personal best times.

The junior swimmers were especially dominant, with Annie Tinsley (10) bagging 6 medals, 3 golds for 50m Freestyle (32.29), 200m Freestyle (2:40.56), and 200m Individual Medley (3:06.53), 2 silvers for 50m Backstroke (40.65) and 50m Butterfly (37.69) and a bronze medal for 200m Breaststroke (3:35.18) as well as taking the top Bagcat award for her age group.

Joe Clark (10) also took home six medals, with first places in 50m Freestyle (32.72) and 50m Backstroke (39.86), second places in 200 Individual Medley (3:06.11), 200m Backstroke (2:58.07) and 200m Freestyle (2:43.50) and a third place in the 200m Butterfly (3:34.64).

Adam John had the top haul of gold medals with four out of his five medals for top places, in 200m Individual Medley (2:48.59), 200m Backstroke (2:44.41), 50m Backstroke (35.65) and 200m Freestyle (2:26.31) to add to his bronze for a third place in 50m Freestyle (31.10) in the 11 year old boys age group. His 200 Individual Medley time was a National Qualifying time for this year?s championships coming up in July. He also received the top Bagcat award for that age group.

Ben Clark was the top Bagcat award winner in the Boy?s 12 year old category, winning a gold medal in the 50m Freestyle (30.29) and a silver medal in the 200m Individual Medley (2:53.43) producing some of his best swims this season. Other junior girls competing were Amy Bayliss (11), Melanie Clark (12), Rebekah Meachin (12), Charlotte Spicer (11), Megan Tinsley (12) and Holly Yeo (12). Holly?s time of 2:35.69 in the 200m Freestyle event gave her a last minute qualifying time for the Age Group Western Counties competition starting next weekend. In the boy?s events Will Cummings (13), Matthew Henry (13), Joshua Lake (13), Oliver Smallwood (13), Christopher Wylie (13) and Liam Yeo (11) all had some personal best performances.

All the senior swimmers competing took home medals. Sophie Stanford (15) just returning from her triumphs in West Wales added 3 more medals to her collection with golds in 100m Breaststroke (1:20.61) and 200m Breaststroke (2:56.75) and a silver in 200m Individual Medley (2:44.19). Sarah Reader (15) and Jack Cockerton (15) both took home gold medals in each of their events. Sarah for the 100m Butterfly (1:12.07) and 200m Butterfly (2:42.46). Whilst Jack qualified for another event at the ASA Youth Championships with a gold medal winning time of 2:17.61 in the 200 Individual Medley, following his earlier win in the 200m Breaststroke (2:35.98). Despite not being in her best form Rebecca Smith (15) swam into silver medal position in 100m Backstroke (1:61.81).

There were 46 visiting clubs participating in this event and the team?s many creditable performances all contributed to Kelly College?s award of Top Visiting Club.