OKEHAMPTON Otters travelled to Torridge for the second gala in the Mini League.

The Otters came last again, but not by so much as before. They achieved 32 faster times, mainly due to a near full strength team competing. Also, everyone is working harder in training and doing more distance interval training.

First places: Rebecca Rowe, 11 years, 50m freestyle. Johanna Cade 12 and 13 years, 100m backstroke (1.21.59)

Second places: Janek Jachnik 12 and 13 years, 100m breaststroke (1.32.55).

There were nine new club records: Johanna and Janek's swims,the boys' 10 years relay team (Alistair Davies, Alistair Felton, Tom Bradley, Cameron Huxtable) achieved two new records in the freestyle and medley relays, Simon Medlyn 12 years backstroke (1.21.72), Jenny Rice, 15 years, 100m freestyle (1.15.83), Johanna Cade 13 years 100m freestyle (1.16.29), Catherine Souness 9 years 50m breaststroke (57.63), Alistair Davies 10 years 50m butterfly (50.72).

Chief coach Nigel West says keep up the good work and even more achievements will come.

l Okehampton Otters were proud to have four swimmers fast enough to compete in this year's Devon County Championships. Each swam very well to achieve personal best times and good placings.

Jenny Rice swam 15 years 50m butterfly in 35.10 to finish 12th, a person best. Johanna also swam 100m backstroke in 1.24.73; this placed her 24.

Janek Jachnik, 11 years, swam two distances in breaststroke 50m and 100m. In 50m he had a personal best time of 43.84 to come eighth. In 100m Janek came 10th in a time of 1.36.37.

Rebecca Rowe, age 11, gained a new club record in the 50m backstroke, 40.26; she gained 11th place, Rebecca also had a personal best in the 50m freestyle, 35.93, where she came 17th.

These successes represent progress made not only by these four swimmers but by all who train more than once a week.