OKEHAMPTON Otters Swimming Club members were involved in a duo of closely contested galas held over consecutive weekends.

The first gala at Axminster pool against Ilminster, Bridport, Sid Vale and Wincanton witnessed a close fought contest with the Otters never more than six points adrift top spot. By the close only a mere three points separated them from the eventual victors Sid Vale.

Despite having only recently been back in full trainingthe swimmers dismissed any concerns about lack of fitness as almost 50% of individual swims resulted in personal bests.

Of the fifty one events swum Okehampton took nineteen first positions of which eleven were individual wins with thirteen runner up slots.

Individual firsts went to Jenny Rice (3), Charlotte Rowe (2), Vicky Medlyn, Rebecca Vile, Matthew Westlake, Abigail Hill, Gemma Jachnik and Matthew Webber.

Further maximum point swims went to the combined efforts of the following relay squads. Mixed Open 4x 25m medley relay (Joe and Jenny Rice and Gemma and Janek Jachnik); mixed 15 and under medley (John Radnor, Stacey Endacott, Vicky Medlyn and Luke Wonnacott); boys 13 and under 4 x 25m freestyle (Matthew Westlake, Matthew Webber, Gabriel Aguileria and Michael Aylen); boys 12 and under 4 x 25m freestyle (Tom Aylen,Gabriel Aguilara, Kieran Mitchell and Matthew Webber); boys 13 and under 4 x 25m freestyle (Tom Aylen, Michael Aylen, Matthew Westlake and Matthew Webber); mixed Open 4x25m freestyle (Gemma and Janek Jacknik and Joe and Jenny Rice); mixed 15 and under 4 x 25m freestyle (Luke Wonnacott, Matt Westlake, Phillip Harding and John Radnor) and the 8 x 25m freestyle mixed Cannon squad.

Personal best swims were made by Matthew Westlake, Matthew Webber (2), Phillip Harding, Janek Jachnik, Joe Rice (2) Abigail Hill, Rebecca Vile (2), Rebecca Chapman, Elona Wonnacott, Amelia Allen, Charlotte Rowe, and Scarlet Geering.

The following weekend the Otters were at the Honiton IMPS Gala restricted to nine, ten and eleven year old swimmers. Against opposition from Exmouth and Honiton the Otters finished a mere six points adrift from the victors Honiton.

First gala performers were Robert O?Neil, Sandy Vile, George Roberts, Martha Bright, Lee Hughes, Diggory North and Isabelle Ewen.

Of the twenty nine individual swims a massive twenty four were personal best performances. There were eleven first places and sixteen seconds.

Maximum point individual performances went to Martha Bright (3), Rebecca Vile (2) Lucy Dixon, Rebecca Chapman, Eloise Allen, Kieran Mitchell, and to the relay squads, mixed 9 years and under 4x 25m medley (Robert O?Neil, Eleanor Oakley, Martha Bright and George Roberts) and mixed 11years and under 4x25m medley ( Tom Aylen, Oliver Kirby, Rebecca Vile and Rebecca Chapman).

Personal best fell to Martha Bright (3), Sandy Vile (2), Sam Collett, Eloise Allen (2), Thomas Adams, Rebecca Chapman, Robert O?Neil, Diggory North, Lucy Dixon (2), Charlotte Radnor, Isabelle Ewen, Kieran Mitchell (3), Oliver Kirby, Martyn Allen, Chloe Sanders, Tom Aylen and Rebecca Vile.