A SMALL number of swimmers from Tavistock Swimming Club competed in the first round of the Devon County Championships and Age Groups 2005 at the weekend. Although Tavistock is a relatively small club compared to many others throughout the county, they nevertheless brought back a total of five medals. James Lake got Tavistock off to an excellent start in the first event, the 50m breaststroke, winning Silver in the 17/over Age Group in a personal best time, which gave him a place in the Championship Final in which he gained 4th place medal, improving his time yet again. Chris Ralph, swimming in the 16 years Age Group 50m breaststroke took bronze and Michael Best narrowly missed a bronze in the 15 years Age Group by a few hundredths of a second. A further bronze came Tavistock?s way when Rachael Kelly swam in the 16 years 50m Backstroke. Rachael just missed another bronze in 100m backstroke in which she matched exactly her entry time to the hundredth of a second. An additional bronze was won by Chris Ralph in the 400m individual medley. Chris also reached the Age Group Final of both the 100m individual medley and 100m freestyle, swimming to 5th place in both events. Kirsty Best sliced several seconds off her entry time in the 13 years 200m breaststroke to finish 11th in her age group. The 100m breaststoke was more successful for Kirsty who swam a one second personal best to reach 7th place in her age group. Yet another personal best time gave Ross Williams 11th place in the 13 years 100m individual medley. Anyone wishing to join Tavistock Swimming Club should contact head coach, Paul Chinn on 01822 613181.
