OKEHAMPTON Otters Swimming Club's masters section took to the water at Exeter in the Devon masters championships recently.

This year saw the introduction of the 19-24 years age group. Masters usually start at the age of 25 upwards.

The Otters can boast to having one of the largest teams entering the championships and the team did not disappoint when the results were announced.

Paul Biddle concentrated on his specialist stroke of breaststroke. Here he swam to a new pb and club record to win the event and become Devon champion in the 19-24 years age group.

Also becoming Devon champion in the 30-34 years age group at 50m breast was Sue Walker. She also became runner up in the 50m freestyle. Both of the swims were pb times.

The busiest swimmer on the night was Nick Bowles - he swam four of the five events available in the 35-39 years.

His best swim came in the 50m fly where he swam to a second place with a new pb . He also got pbs in 50m breast fourth , 50m free seventh, and finished fourth in the 100m im.

Swimming in this age group was club coach Nigel West. He had some inspiring swims, achieving a lifetime pb in the 100m im to finish second. His other events of 50m fly was a ten-year best time fourth and 50m breast an eight-year best time to finish again in second place.

Nick Bradley, 45-49 years, kept up the good run in the breaststroke by returning with a second place and finishing fifth at 50m free.

Sue Rice, 40-44 years, was consistent in the 50m fly where she matched the previous year's result by coming second and then a fourth at 50m free.

Paul Hammett, 40-44 years, had two good swims with both being pb times. 50m free fifth, 50m back fourth.

Kevin Jones in the same age group swam a pb in 50m free, seventh, and to sixth in the 50m back.

Robert Aubry swam a pb in the 19-24 years to swim under the 30 second barrier, the fifth club swimmer to do so. He finished in fifth place.

Ross Medlyn swam to a third place in the 50m back 45-49 years.

Alison Kimber, 40-44 years, entered for the first time and swam all pb times. She also had a third place in the 50m breast, sixth 50m free and fourth in the 100m im.

Lastly, Katie Richards was another newcomer, 19-24 years, who gained fourth 50m back and sixth 50m free.

Because of the team size the Otters were able to enter several relay races. Ross, Kevin, Paul Hammett and Nick Bradley entered the 180 years + and swam to third place in the freestyle and medley .

The Otters also had an A and B team in the 120+ relays. The A team finished in fourth place in both relays and the B team were seventh in the freestyle, the only club from Devon to do this.

The ladies' team swam to fifth place in both of their events.

To summarise the evening the club returned with two Devon champions, six runners-up spots and three third places.

To join the masters section or any other part of the club contact Nigel West on 01837 53431.