FOR a second week in succession swimmers from Okehampton Otters Swimming Club were involved in competition ? this time in the Inter Club gala at Exmouth. Against stiff opposition the Otters put on an impressive performance to make it a three team contest for third place. The host team Exmouth finished in first with Tiverton close behind. Okehampton finished a close fourth behind Sidmouth. With such impressive opposition and longer event distances first places were hard to find however victories fell to Vicky Medlyn in Open 100m butterfly, a consistently improving Tom Aylen 50m Backstroke and Alex Hurley swimming most impressively in the 50m breastroke. Both Tom and Vicky?s performances were even more impressive as they were both swimming above their own age groups. The Otters had five second places going to Charlotte Rowe x 3, Kimberley Balsdon, Rebecca Chapman and Vicky Medlyn. Of the 37 individual swims 19 were personal bests. Six Otters age group records fell to Charlotte Rowe and Matthew Wise 200m freestyle, John Radnor 200m backcrawl, Vicky Medlyn and Paul Biddle 100m breastroke and Joe Rice 100m butterfly. Other swimmers making valuable contributions included Michael Aylen, Kieran Mitchell, Martha Bright, Luke Wonnacott, Josh Speak and Elona Wonnacott. Master?s swimmers Caroline McNeil and Mandy Page swimming for the first time for the Otters gave valuable performances in the Open age group events. Other team members Sam Collett, Hannah Cox, Amelia Allen, Scarlett Geering, Rebecca Ewen and Ellen Bright were all kept busy on the night. The Otters are in action again on June 18 at Bude. The club is thrilled to be able to send in excess of 25 talented swimmers to the Devon Development Galas at the end of June. Next home gala is July 16 at Parklands Leisure Centre.
