THE strong opposition Tavistock Swimming Club encountered at their home gala held at Meadowlands on Saturday gave them the incentive to go for some outstanding personal best times.
Port of Plymouth, fielding a very strong team, took first place followed by Launceston, Okehampton and Tavistock.
Jake Broome, knocking an impressive 4 seconds off his 50m Freestyle time, came first in the 12/under event and went on to be awarded ?Swimmer of the Gala?.
Richard Freedman (Boys? Captain) swimming in the Open 100m Back and Matthew Lake in the Open 100m Breast both had comfortable wins to boost Tavistock?s points.
The most exciting race of the evening proved to be the Open Mixed 4 x 50m Freestyle with the team of Philippa Smith (Girls? Captain), Matthew Lake, Alison Kelly and Richard Freedman refusing to be beaten and doggedly holding on to first place with just over a second separating the teams in a nail-biting finish.
Paul Chinn (Head Coach) remarked that he was pleased to see newer, younger members compete and the older swimmers battle hard for their places.
Squad members (with number of personal best times achieved) - Nick Jarman (2), Richard Freedman (1), Rebecca Mills (1), Philip Webb (1), Isabel Grose (1), Tom Crocker (1), Kirsty Best (1), Ross Williams (1), Ellyn Megicks (1), Adam Browner (1), April Holbrook (1), Francesca Gould (1), Joshua Stephens (1), Jake Broome (1), Laura Radgick, Amy Warnett, Alison Kelly, Rufus Gould, Michael Best, Matthew Lake, Philippa Smith, Rachael Kelly, William Crocker, Alice Warnett, Tamar Preston, Hattie Sparks, Jessica Cooke, Sebastian Lee, Millie Chinn.
Anyone wishing to join Tavistock Swimming Club should contact Paul Chinn - 01822 810168 - for further details.
THIS event was the third gala in as many weeks for the Otters swimming club.
It was always going to be the hardest competition of the three galas and so it proved with the Otters finishing in 3rd place overall trailing Port, who are one of the top clubs in Devon, and Launceston and ahead of Tavistock.
With the other clubs providing stiff opposition the Otters only managed three outright wins. These all came from Jenny Rice who swam away from very good swimmers to gain personal best times and senior club records in the open 100m fly and individual medley.
Her other victory was the open 100m free, where she showed maturity and patience to pull away on the 3rd 25m to win comfortably. The fly and free times gave Jenny additional Devon times.
Although the first places were scarce, the swimmers showed great determination in gaining 12 second places.
Three of these came from Janek Jachnik who mangaged this feat in the 14/u individual medley, backstroke and the breaststroke.
He showed that he is developing an all round ability in his swimming. Janek?s breaststroke became a club record and another Devon time.
Others who gained two second places were Matthew Webber in the 10years 50m breaststroke and 25m fly, Rebecca Rowe 14/u individual medley and backstroke. Once again she has gained a Devon time in the backstroke.
Single second places went to Matthew Westlake 12/u breast, Charlotte Rowe 12/u free, Alex Wooldridge 12/u fly.
Alex also gallantly swam the 14/u 100m fly. Here he swam smoothly to record an 11 years club record to go with the one he acheived in the individual medley.
Vicky Medlyn swam to second in the 14/u 100m free, this was once again a 13 years club record. This was repeated in the 100m breaststroke.
Vicky also gained 2 Devon times from these swims.
The mixed 14/u 4 x 50m relay team of Becky Rowe, Janek Jachnik, Imogen Maccullock and Paul Lawrence gave us a superb relay swim to record the final second place.
With the swimmers never giving up times gained by Holly Dennis (100m breaststroke), and Imogen (100m fly) were good enough to gain more Devon times.
Personal best swims totalled 17. Holly Dennis, David Dennis, Janek Jachnik x 3, Alex Law, Paul Lawrence, Imogen Maccullock, Vicky Medlyn x 2, Charlotte Radnor, Jenny Rice x 2, Rebecca Vile, Matthew Webber, Alex Wooldridge x 2 .
Coach Nigel West said: ?It?s been a while since the club has entered a gala that has included 100m events.
?This has given the swimmers the opportunity to gain extra Devon times and pb?s. They applied themselves to the task very well.
?To come away with seven more Devon times and seven new club records, all in the 100m events shows that the ability is there in abundance.?
The club now enters its annual club championships in the following week. With more events and distances this year , it is hoped that many more qualifying times will be swum.
The club?s annual meeting will be held at the Conservative club on Saturday December 7 at 7.00pm. This will be followed by a celebratory disco.