ON carnival Saturday Okehampton Otters Swimming Club headed off to Sidmouth to compete in an inter-club gala involving four other clubs.
The club had its own carnival at the pool with great team spirit generating from the cheerleading of Keith Webber and Paula Allen. Their enthusiasm with the rest of the parents encouraged a depleted team to swim to a fantastic third spot, only 15 points off what would have been an unbelievable second.
What made the result even more encouraging was that the swimmers never gave up all night to come from a deficit of 20 points at halfway to beat fourth placed Honiton by 14 points.
More than half of the 62 events were contested by swimmers who swam out of age group. John Radnor and Matthew Westlake swam event after event for the cause of the club. They were rewarded by gaining first places in 12/u 50m fly and free by John and 12/u backstroke by Matthew.
Vicky Medlyn came away with a further three victories in the 13/u fly,breast and free to enhance her reputation. Jenny Rice won the open free and fly and Jo Cade the 15/u backstroke as well as the open event and the 15/u free.
The boys? 12/u medley team of John, Matthew, Michael Aylen and Matthew O?Neil, and the girls? 15/u medley team of Jo, Holly, Vicky and Natalie Bowles were relay winners.
Where the club made large inroads on the scoreboard was in the final series of breaststroke events where Holly Dennis, Paul Lawrence and Matthew Webber came away in the last five metres to record victories. Michael Aylen and Amellia Allen swam to second places. Devon county times were swum on the night by Holly Dennis, Jenny Rice and Jo Cade.
The open female freestyle and medley relay teams of Jo, Gemma Jachnik, Vicky , Jenny, Holly and Hayley Jones swam to relay best times dating back to 1993.
Otters? ten second places and 14 thirds helped them to keep in touch with the other clubs. The best of them being the boys? 15/u medley relay where Matthew Westlake, 11, John Radnor , 12, Gavin Best and Paul Lawrence swam to a brilliant second.
In total, 16 personal best times came from; Robert Aubry x 2, Michael Aylen, Natalie Bowles, Nick Bowles, Holly Dennis x 2 , Paul Lawrence, Vicky Medlyn, Charlotte and John Radnor, Jenny Rice , Ellen Squire, Matthew Webber x 2 and Matthew Westlake.
Jenny swam the only club record from the open 50m butterfly. First-time swimmers who contributed to the team effort were Keiran Endacott, Matthew O?Neil and Scott Wilson.
Club coach Nigel West thanked all who gave up a local event in the yearly calendar to swim at Sidmouth and excel in what can be described as one of the best third places in the club?s history.