OKEHAMPTON Otters travelled to Ilfracombe in May for the third gala in the mini league. They came last but this time they were much closer to third place Ilfracombe.

It is difficult to compare times for this gala, because Ilfracombe pool is 33m in length.

First places went to: Jenny Rice, open girls 4x1 length IM; Jo Cade, girls' 12/13 years 100m back.

There were 12 second places: Janik Jachnik 12/13 years 100m breast; Jenny Rice 14/15 years 100m back; Sue Walker open 100m free; Jenny Rice open 100m fly; Jo Cade, open 100m back; boys' 12/13 years 4x1 length free relay; girls' 12/13 years 4x1 length free relay; Jenny Rice 14/15 years 100m free; Sally Young 11 years 66.6m back; Gavin Best 12/13 years 66.6m fly; Cameron Huxtable 10 years 33.3m free; girls' open 4x1 length free relay.

Club records were obtained by Jenny Rice freestyle (1.12.29), Robert Souness (1.22.98); and Simon Medlyn backstroke (1.21.61).

Chief coach Nigel West was heartened by this results as it shows that Otters are getting faster and because so many Otters turned up to swim despite the gala clashing with a special football match.