NO FEWER than 56 personal best times were recorded between the nine members of Tavistock Swimming Club who competed in the Devon Development Galas held at Central Park recently.
Nicholas Jarman achieved an outstanding total of 14 personal best times with some determined swimming to clinch overall first place in the boys' 13 years age category with points accrued from the following: 200m fly 1st; 200 IM 1st; 50m fly 4th; 100m fly 2nd; 100m IM 2nd; 100m back 2nd; 200m breast 2nd; 800m free 2nd; 100m free 5th; 100m breast 3rd.
Kirsty Best took 10th place overall in the 10-year-olds, achieving two personal best times: 200m breast 1st; 50m breast 4th; 50m back 3rd.
In the girls' 11 years category, Alice Warnett finished 24th overall with nine personal best times and Samantha Jarman knocked an impressive 40 seconds off her 200m freestyle and, with another nine personal bests, finished in overall 31st position in a large field.
Ross Williams clocked eight personal bests out of nine events to finish 20th overall in the boys' 11 years category with most points being gained when he took 5th place in the 200m IM.
Amy Warnett (four personal bests) took 9th place for the girls' 13 years with points from 200m fly 1st; 100m fly 5th; 800m free 4th; 200m IM 6th;
Rachael Kelly (four personal bests), took 15th place in the 14-year-old age group 100m IM 5th; 50m back 5th.
In the boys' 13 years age group Will Crocker
finished 12th (four personal bests) 100m fly 2nd; 100m IM 6th;
Michael Best (one personal best) finished close behind in 16th position 50m breast 6th.
An incomplete squad was in action again at St Austell the following day but after leading after the first ten events then slipped back to third place in the final gala of the Cornwall and West Devon League. Vicky Evans notched up Tavistock's first win in the third race, the 11/u 50m freestyle. Another two first places quickly followed, Caroline Ball, swimming up an age group, took an impressive first in the 15/u 100m fly and 100m back.
Tavistock's only other first came from Richard Freedman in the open 100m back. Nevertheless there were a number of close finishes and many personal best times. Special mention to Tim Exley who swam at short notice and to all parents who officiated.
Squad members: Richard Freedman (boys' captain), Alison Kelly (girls' captain), Vicky Evans, James Hill, Amy Warnett, Michael Best, Caroline Ball, William Crocker, Kirsty Best, Ross Williams, Jessica Barnes, Tamar Preston, Melissa Taylor, Sam Broome, Sebastian Lee, Holly Chinn, Alice Warnett, Jake Broome, Rachael Kelly, Megan Fell, Christopher Ralph, Caroline Tuck, Tom Crocker, Hattie Sparks, Tim Exley.
Anyone wishing to join Tavistock Swimming Club should contact head coach Paul Chinn on 810168 for further details.