THIS year saw the largest ever contingent of Okehampton Otters swimmers at the Devon Development Galas in Tiverton during the weekends of June 25/26 and July 9 in Tiverton. Open to swimmers between the ages of 9 and 14, the events cover all the four strokes and individual medley (IM) for 100m and 200m, as well as 400m and 800m freestyle. The event is not open to those who have achieved county championship age group finals, or have obtained a Western Counties Championship qualifying time. A record 20 swimmers took part in the event which is open to all swimmers who want to pit their efforts against swimmers of a similar standard from all over Devon. Thirteen girls and seven boys made the journey to Tiverton over the two weekends and the results achieved were marvellous. A total of 81 events were entered of which 69 achieved personal bests - some running to several tens of seconds. Much credit should go to the four who were swimming for the first time. Once nerves were overcome, they performed incredibly well. In the nine-year-old age group, Ben Hurley and George Roberts did themselves proud. Ben knocked a staggering 43 seconds off his pb in the 200 breaststroke to finish 8th overall. He also bettered his 100 IM by 20 seconds, finishing 9th. George finished 6th in 200 backstroke with a pb improved by 20 seconds, and knocked 35 seconds off his 200 breaststroke. Alex Hurley and Hannah Cox, in the eleven-year age category, both competed in the 100 breaststroke and 100 IM finishing 16th and 11th in the Breaststroke, while both bettered their 100IM by 12 seconds. Another first-timer, Kim Stanton (12 years), knocked an incredible 40 seconds off her 200 Free time, 17 seconds off her 100 IM and finished 12th in 100 breast. A special mention also goes to the Aylen brothers - Tom and Michael - who entered ten events each. Tom, in the 12-year group, knocked an amazing 38 seconds off his pb to finish 6th in 400 free, and an even better 45 seconds off his 800 Free to finish 7th. Tom found himself in the top 10 in 200 free, 100 breast, 200 IM, and 200 back. Michael, aged 14, swam his 800 free to finish 6th bettering his pb by a wonderful 52 seconds. He also improved his 400 free by a creditable 22 seconds in 7th place. He was also in the top ten finishers in 100 breast, 200 free, 200 back, 100 back and 200 breast. Ten year-old Sam Collett came away from the gala as 400m freestyle age-group champion by finishing first and bettering his pb by a wonderful 40 seconds, as well as finishing 5th in the 200m free. He improved his 200m breaststroke by 36 seconds, and finished 6th in the 100m IM. Matthew Webber (13 years) was on consistently good form and finished in the top ten in each of the events he entered. His best positions were 3rd in 800 free, 4th in 100 breast, 400 free (bettering his pb by 26 seconds) and 200 breast. Matthew was placed 6th in 200 free (an improved pb of 14 seconds), 6th in 100 free, 5th in 100 back, and 7th in 100 IM. There were three other swimmers in the 10-year-old group. Martha Bright improved her times in both the 100IM and the 200m backstroke by 13 and 14 seconds respectively. Abigail Stocks knocked 10, 15 and 20 seconds from her 200m breaststroke, 200 Free and 100 IM. Eloise Allen gained two pbs in 200 breast (17 seconds) and 200 free (8 seconds). As well as Alex Hurley and Hannah Cox, Chloe Dunn and Kieran Mitchell were in the eleven-year-old age group. Chloe had pbs in 100 back, 200 breast, 200 free (improving by 23 seconds) and 100 IM. Kieran finished 5th in 400 free having wiped 42 seconds of his PB, 12th in 200 Free, improved his 200 back by 20 seconds, 8th in 200 breast and 12th in 100 IM. Three other girls were also part of the 12-year-old section. Charlotte Radnor finished 12th in 100 back with another pb. Rebecca Vile finished 9th in 200 breast and 15th in 100 free. Emma Jackman bettered her 200 breast by 25 seconds to finish 8th, took 7 seconds off her 100 free, and completed the gala by finishing 10th in 100 breast and 13th in 100 IM. Elona Wonnacott, Amelia Allen, and Hannah Packer completed the 13-year-old category. Hannah gained a pb in the 200 free. Amelia entered four events and got pbs in all of them: 100 free, 200 free with a pb improved by some 11 seconds, 100 breast and 100 IM. Elona also achieved pb in all her events: 100 back, 200 breast, 200 IM, 100 breast, and 100 IM. The usual training schedule has now finished for the summer and will start again in early September. The club hopes to run twice-weekly sessions for squad swimmers during the course of the summer holiday. Do you want to share in the Otters? success? For information on membership - junior swimming and life-saving call Miriam Fallon on 01409 221377.