LAST Saturday will live long in the memories of Okehampton Otters Swimming Club members who travelled to Plymouth to compete in the Devon Inter Club Competition.

This was the first time the club had competed in this gala, with several of the swimmers not tasting an atmosphere in a swimming pool environment like it before.

The format of the gala is that 18 teams compete in 11/u,13/u swimming 50m events and the 15/u and open age groups 100m. First place receive 18 points, 17 points for second place etc.

The Otters had no 15/u swimmers in the girls? age group so Vicky Medlyn and Rebecca Rowe doubled up their efforts to swim against competitors as much as two years older than themselves.

They also swam in the relay events, so were kept busy throughout the day. Both contributed greatly to scoring high points for the club.

Becky produced the highest performance of the day by finishing fifth in the 13/u 50m backstroke, with a seventh in the 15/u 100m backstroke and10th in 100m free for 15/u girls. Vicky was eighth at 13/u 50m breast, seventh at 50m fly and gained a tenth and eleventh in the 100m corresponding events in the 15/u age group.

Jenny Rice swam to a couple of sixth places in the open 100m fly and freestyle events.

The boys also pitched in with several good strong performances of their own.

Matthew Westlake came seventh in the 11/u 50m back and 10th at fly. Returning Tom Bradley secured seventh in the 13/u 50m breast, with Janek Jachnik gaining a Western Counties qualifying time for his swim in the 15/u 100m breaststroke.

The relay events were swum as 4x50m medley of two males and two females in any order.

These turned out to be a bonus for the Otters as some determined and strong swims produced a ninth place for the 15/u team of Becky Rowe, Janek Jachnik, Vicky Medlyn and Paul Lawrence. The 13/u swimmers of Becky, Tom, John Radnor and Charlotte Rowe swam to a good eleventh. Rebecca Jarvis, Matthew Webber, Matthew Westlake and Charlotte Radnor swam to a 17th place.

With the results coming a little slow the open team of Jo Cade, David Dennis, Jenny Rice and Robert Aubry and the 8x50m freestyle relays are not known.

The overall results saw Okehampton Otters placed 12th.

Coach Nigel West thanked all the support from the travelling parents.

Results as follows: pb= personal best, cr = club record.

Girls? 11/u all 50m Rebecca Jarvis free 17th and back 16th, Amelia Allen fly 16th pb and breast 18th pb.

Boys? 11/u Matthew Webber free 15th pb breast 10th pb, Matthew Westlake back 7th pb cr and fly 10th pb.

Girls? 13/u Rebecca Rowe back 5th pb cr , Vicky Medlyn fly 7th pb breast 8th pb cr .

Boys? 13/u John Radnor fly 13th pb and back 12th pb, Tom Bradley breast 7th pb cr and free 14th pb.

Girls? 15/u all 100m Vicky Medlyn fly 11th pb cr and breast 10th pb cr , Becky Rowe free 10th pb cr and back 7th pb cr.

Boys? 15/u Janek Jachnik breast 9th pb cr and back 11th pb cr, Gavin Best fly 16th pb cr and free 15th pb.

Open all 100m girls, Jenny Rice fly 6th pb cr and free 6th pb cr , Jo. Cade back 15th and breast 16th pb.

Boys, David Dennis breast 14th and fly 18th, Robert Aubry free 18th pb cr and Janek Jachnik 16th pb.