THREE extremely talented swimmers from Okehampton Otters Swimming Club have qualified for this year?s Devon Championships. Yet again major success fell to Matthew Westlake recording personal best performances in all but one of his six events and finishing in above top ten positions in his age group in all the events. His best position, fourth was in the 100m backstroke. Not only was this an Otters Age group record but also a new Club Record. Not satisfied with one new record his 200m backstroke performance also rewrote the Otters Club record books. Knocking nearly three seconds off his submitted time and finishing sixth in age group Matthew also achieved a Western Counties qualifying time in his 100m breastroke event. Other age group records went in the 100m breastroke, 200m breastroke and 200m Individual Medley. Despite qualifying to swim in five County events Charlotte Rowe was only available to compete in the 200m freestyle event recording a new Otters age group record. Probably the Otters? most talented youngster, nine-year-old Martha Bright also gained valuable County event experience by qualifying and competing in the 200 freestyle and backstroke events in her age group. Inter Club Gala and Time Trials DESPITE the absence of a number of key squad swimmers the Otters managed to field a motivated and enthusiatic squad to compete in an Inter Club Gala held at the Parklands Leisure Centre in Okehampton against Tavistock and Crediton. Finishing second behind Tavistock the team gave a spirited performance resulting in eighteen personal best swims from the forty individual event programme. Personal bests went to Rebecca Chapman (2), Rebecca Ewen (2), James Kelly (2), Chloe Sanders, Tom Aylen, Charlotte Radnor, Rebecca Jarvis, Eloise Allen (2), Sam Collett (2), Matthew Westlake (2), Matthew Webber and John Radnor. Matthew Westlake also took an Age group record in his 100m butterfly swim. New member Jake Jenden also swam well in his first gala for the club. The late withdrawal of a fourth club gave the Otters selectors an excellent opportunity to trial a number of swimmers in a competitive environment. The Otters were almost able to fill the vacant lane for every event. Again eighteen personal best performances were recorded from Ben Hurley (3), Thomas Adams, Abigail Westlake, Matthew Harding (2), Isabelle Ewen, Claire Squire, Robert Chapman, Tanya Mitchell, Kelly Holter, Eleanor Oakley, Alex Hurley, Emma Jackman and Mia Fallon Clarke. Bronze Medallion Parklands Leisure Centre Okehampton OKEHAMPTON Otters are not only a swimming club but also run courses in Life Saving. Over the last few months seven youngsters have been taking part in the Bronze Medallion Course. Congratulations go to Luke Wonnacott, John Radnor, Phillip Harding, Laura Humphries, Vicky Medlyn and Paul Lawrence who have all successfully passed the course. Devon Sprints Plymouth ELEVEN Okehampton Otters swimmers represented the club at Central Park Plymouth for this year?s Devon County sprint gala. For Abigail Stocks, Clemency Tilley and Kim Balsdon this was the first time they had competed in a County level event and they did themselves and their club proud by taking substantial amounts off their seeded entry times. In many cases they achieved impressive personal best times along the way. In fact of the forty-four individual swims a massive thirty-five were personal best performances. All swims were over 50m and all swimmers had to compete in all four competitive strokes. Okehampton?s youngest entrant Martha Bright, after swimming recently in the County Championships, followed up with some more good swims finishing a commendable 7th in butterfly, 8th in backstroke and 9th in freestyle. Rebecca Ewen, who had been instrumental in calming down the very nervous younger swimmers, swam well in butterfly and backstroke setting new personal best times. The Otters? great day continued when the boys took to the water. The ever enthusiastic Sam Collett and Kieran Mitchell swam well, shaving off huge amounts of time, winning their heats and achieving new personal bests along the way. Tom Aylen broke new ground with his freestyle and breaststroke performances while Michael Aylen, recovering from illness, swam particularly well in the breaststroke. Matthew Webber had a successful day winning all his heats in new personal best times and finishing an impressive 4th in breaststroke in age group. Meanwhile, Matthew Westlake collected an impressive 3 medals - 2nd in backstroke, 3rd in breaststroke and 3rd in butterfly and well placed in his age group. The ever improving swimmer also took yet another Club Age group record in the 50m backstroke. The next big Devon County event is the Development galas at Tiverton during June and July. The Otters are looking forward to repeating their successes from the last few months. The Otters will again be busy with their young talents in early May at an Imps gala and an Inter club gala in mid May hosted by the Otters.
