OKEHAMPTON Otters Swimming Club were hosts to visiting teams of Chard, Launceston and Dawlish in an inter-club gala recently.
The pool was packed with many supporting parents and this created a good atmosphere to encourage the teams.
The Otters succeeded in winning five of the events on the programme with Jenny Rice gaining a double in the open 4 x 25m im and open 100m free.
Johanna Cade also won the 100m backstroke in the same age group. Vicky Medlyn, competing for the first time since breaking her collar bone, swam well all night with a victory in the 14/u 50m free. The time was getting back to near her best so recovery looks like going well.
The only male winning swim was by Tom Bradley who easily won the 12/u 50m breaststroke in a new age group club record time
Two other records were made by Gareth Jones, 14 years 50m free, and Paul Biddle in the seniors' 100m free.
In total, 18 personal best times came from the following swimmers;
Michael Aylin, Gavin Best, Paul Biddle x 2,Tom Bradley, Alex Dennis, Kate Dennis, Rebecca Jarvis x 2, Gareth Jones, Paul Lawrence, Connie Shackleton x 2, Ellen Squire, Rebecca Vile, Matthew Webber and Alex Wooldridge.
In some of the swims the margins of improvement were several seconds.
The final result placed the Otters in fourth position with Launceston the victors.
Coach Nigel West said it looked like having the age groups set at the gala date favoured the other teams more than the Otters, but the swimmers gave their best.