WITHOUT doubt it was the most impressive outing for many of the younger swimmers in the Okehampton Otters Swimming Club when they took part in Bodmin open meet.

Their enthusiasm was more than rewarded with the amazing times that they all produced.

The club took 14 swimmers to the meet and altogether they managed to notch up 212 seconds of personal best times.

The most outstanding of these was Rachel Stocks (11yr) who managed to knock 18 seconds off of her 100m individual medley – a superb achievement. Chloe Blackmur (12yr), Molly Petherbridge (11yr) and Izzy Ewen (12yr) all managed to knock off around 10 seconds each in the same event. Not to be outdone Chloe Rutley (10yr) managed to beat her own time by nine and a half seconds in 50m fly, and did almost as well in her 50m free. Megan Higgs (12yr) swam the race with her goggles between her teeth but still. she produced an outstanding personal best time. Sarah Thomas (13yr) was the only girl swimming 100m events for the club and she did herself proud – bringing home personal bests in her 100m breast and 100m free, the first time that she had swum these distances in competition so this was a really good result for her and the club.

In the boys' the only event that George Roberts (12yr) didn't win was the 50m free where he still managed a respectable third. He managed to knock on average eight seconds off of most of his events and secured a Devon qualifying time into the bargain; hopefully the first of many to come. But he was not alone as Kieren Mitchell (13yr) swam in an impressive personal best for his 100m breast and pbs in his free, back and individual medley. Will Cooper (13yr), who with his birthday falling on the day, meant that he was undoubtedly the youngest in his age group as well as having to compete at 100m distance for the first time.

Callum Hughes (9yrs) knocked eight and a half seconds off his free event before having to withdraw from the day due to illness, unfortunately the same happened to Jacob Knight but not until he managed a pb in his 100m back.

Daniel Squire also lost his goggles to a fast start but still swam a pb in his 50m back time as well as bettering his times in his free and breast. Jon Aylen's (12yr) patience came good and his pb in the individual medley made his day worthwhile! The same happened to Finn Fallon-Clarke (10yr) with pbs in the freestyle and backstroke.

Deborah Squire from the club said: 'The swimmers trained hard, many for months to get the results that they deserved and I was proud to stand as their coach on pool-side. I would also like to say a big thank you to the staff of Ashbury Hotel and the Manor House Hotel – it costs an incredible amount of money to enter swimmers into events (it's not just a costume and goggles these days) and without their support we wouldn't have been able to take the squad to Bodmin this year. If any organisations out there can help support in any way please step up, please don't let their enthusiasm and talent go to waste.

l For membership please contact Karen Adams or pick up a leaflet at Parklands Leisure Centre. For anyone who wishes to assist the club through volunteer work, fundraising or sponsorship please contact Debbie Webber on 01837 82166.