OKEHAMPTON Otters Swimming Club were in action again last weekend at Okehampton Pool for the second of this year's North Devon Mini League meetings against Torridgeside, Barnstaple and Ifracombe.

Fielding a strong squad amid a noisy environment packed with swimmers and supporters, the Otters were determined to reduce the points difference between themselves and the third-placed club in last month's gala.

Okehampton's swimmers competed well in the early stages to find themselves level third after 20 events, ahead by five points after 40 events and at the close a frustrating few points adrift third slot.

The conclusion may have been so different if a number of very close finishes had fallen in the Otters' favour.

Otters will be keen to make amends when they travel to Ilfracombe on Saturday March 13 in the third gala of this year's series.

New club captains Rebecca Rowe and Paul Lawrence, together with their vice-captains, performed their new duties brilliantly on poolside in maintaining team morale and by encouraging young and inexperienced squad members.

Otters swimmers finished first in eleven events with more than 12 second places in this 60-event gala.

Matthew Westlake, Vicky Medlyn, Jenny Rice and Charlotte Rowe bagged two first places each with Rebecca Rowe having one individual win.

Twelve personal best performances were swum and three age group records broken.

Maximum points were gained in the boys' 12/13 years 100m breaststroke and 100m backstroke (new personal best and age group record) by Matthew Westlake, girls' 14/15 years 100m butterfly and 100m breaststroke by Vicky Medlyn, ladies' open 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly (new age group records) by Jenny Rice, girls' 12/13 years 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle by Charlotte Rowe (new personal bests). The girls' 14/15 years 100m backstroke event went to Rebecca Rowe.

The girls' 14 /15 years medley relay squad of Rebecca Rowe, Stacey Endacott, Vicky Medlyn and Scarlet Geering and the boys' 14/15 years Freestyle relay team of John Radnor, Joe Rice, Matthew Westlake and James Kelly also swam impressively to attain first positions.

Further personal bests went to some rapidly improving younger swimmers: Sam Collett 50m backstroke, Eloise Allen 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle, Oliver Kirby 50m breaststroke, Sam Hill 50m freestyle, Kim Stanton 50m backstroke, Lucy Dixon 50m freestyle and Rebecca Chapman 50m breaststroke. John Radnor swam a personal best in the boys' 13/14 years 100m butterfly.

The ladies' full squad was Jenny Rice, Rebecca Rowe, Charlotte Rowe, Vicky Medlyn, Abby Hill, Stacey Endacott, Holly Dennis, Rebecca Chapman, Kim Stanton, Eleanor Oakey, Chloe Sanders, Abbie Stocks, Lucy Dixon, Eloise Allen, Katherine Manchip, Gemma Jachnik, Scarlet Geering, Rebecca Ewen, Charlotte Radnor, Rebecca Jarvis and Amelia Allen.

Boys' full squad: Paul Lawrence, Matthew Westlake, Matthew Webber, Michael Aylen, Tom Aylen, Gavin Best, John Radnor, James Kelly, Janek Jachnik, Joe Rice, Matthew Wise, Sam Collett, Kieran Mitchell, George Speak, Sam Hill, Oliver Kirby, Jack Cherrington, Kieran Endacott and William Leech.

l A record number of Otters club members, having achieved county qualifying times, will be competing over the coming weekends in the annual Devon County Championships at Tiverton and Plymouth.

Club membership is currently thriving. Anyone interested in joining should contact the membership secretary on 01 837 840362.

Okehampton Otters annual meeting is scheduled for the evening of Saturday February 28 at The White Hart Hotel, Okehampton. The Otters Committee are hoping for plenty of support at this event from its members.

Masters swimmers are now accounting for a fair proportion of the Otters membership, so much so that sessions are nearing full complement. Anyone interested in joining or coming for a trial session should contact Kevin Jones on 01837 880140 before turning up on poolside. The Masters are now training twice a week on Fridays and Tuesdays from 8pm to 9pm.