KELLY College swimmers did themselves proud at the second and third sessions of the Devon County Championships and Age-groups at Central Park Pools, Plymouth, coming away with 35 medals: 14 gold, eight silver and 13 bronze.

Matthew Langman, 9, won the 200m freestyle in his age-group in a personal best of 2.42.48, giving him a Western Counties qualifying time. In the ten years age-group Thomas Worth did a 14 second pb of 2.55.25 to come in fifth and achieve a WCQT.

The eleven years age group saw Matthew Henry take gold in 2.20.98 in the 200m freestyle, a nine second pb and a WCQT. He also won the 400m freestyle in 4.53.58, another pb and WCQT and a national qualifying time for 12 year olds, the age-group Matthew will swim in the Western Counties and the nationals.

Joshua Lake, 11, came fifth in the 200m freestyle in 2.33.43 and fifth in the 400m freestyle in 5.24.12. Both times were pbs and WCQTs for him. Will Cummings, 11, with a pb of 2.53.68 in the 200m freestyle was placed 14th.

Thomas Howe, Daniel Kidwell and Nye Levett were Kelly College's representatives in the 12-year age-group for boys. The 200m freestyle saw Nye Levett take his first ever gold medal in the Devon Age-groups with a pb and WCQT for 13-year-old boys of 2.14.76.

Thomas Howe came third in the 200m freestyle in 2.14.62, a NQT, WCQT and a pb. Daniel Kidwell finished fourth in a pb and WCQT of 2.19.24. The 400m freestyle had Thomas equal first with Patrick Friel, Exeter City in 6.42.26 (pb,WCQT and NQT), Nye third in 4.43.77 (pb, WCQT) and Daniel Kidwell fourth in 4.49.94 (pb and WCQT).

Jack Cockerton, 13, took three gold medals in his age-group, all in National and Western Counties qualifying times and all personal bests. 200m f/c - 2.06.41, 400m f/c 4.29.11 and 400m individual medley 4.59.48.

In the boys' 14-years age-group Kelly had four representatives: Jonathan Wills, Saul Rogers, Gavin Stokes and Healthy Wong. Wong in the 200m f/c swam 2.16.11(pb) to be placed fourth in the heats, but withdrew from the final. Wills in a pb and WCQT of 2.08.65 came second in the 200m f/c with Rogers 2.09.33 third. The 400m f/c saw him take third place yet again in 4.38.94(pb), Wong fourth in 4.43.63(pb) and Stokes sixth in 5.08.57.

The Open Championships had Robert Pratt and Peter Freedman of Kelly swim team taking third and fourth in their age-group (17/over) and the Open Championship in the 200m f/c, both in pbs and WCQTs. Peter also took fourth in the 400m f/c 17/over and fifth in the open in 4.15.01(pb and WCQT).

Kelly College girls had Melanie Crick, 10, take a splendid third place in the 200m f/c in a 14-second pb of 2.44.69 which gives her an 11-year-old WCQT. This was Melanie's first ever Devon Championships and she thoroughly deserved her medal.

Brikitta Batten, also swimming in her first Devon's, came fourth in the girls' 12-year-old group in the 400m f/c in 5.20.31.

In the 14-year age-group Beth Campbell-Boseley came first in the 200m f/c in 2.15.25(WCQT), and second in the 400m f/c in 4.43.83(pb and WCQT). This swim also placed her fifth in the 400m f/c championship. Sarah Reader, 14, came fourth in both the 200m f/c in 2.22.66 (pb) and 400m f/c in 5.00.65(pb). Louise Amery swam 5.08.18 to finish seventh in the 400m f/c for 14-year-old girls. Sarah Thomas won two golds, the 400m individual medley in 5.07.51 (NQT,WCQT and pb), which also placed her third in the Open Championship and the 400m f/c, 4.35.39 another pb and WCQT, which placed her fourth in the open.

Jemma Coates, just back into training after several months of illness, performed a pb in the girls' 15-years 200m f/c of 2.18.03 placing her fourth, then in the 400m f/c in a time of 4.55.99 took a bronze, making an excellent comeback. Lauren Foster(15) took tenth in the 200m f/c in 2.28.75(pb).

The 16-year age-group found Jacqui Couch in good form to take first place in the 400m f/c in 4.47.84 (pb and WCQT) and second in the 200m f/c in 2.16.12 (WCQT) and third in the 400m individual medley in 5.26.63(pb).

Two girls represented Kelly College in the 17/over age-group, Samantha Calcutt and Rachel Banfield. Sam took her first open and 17/over age-group championship in winning the 200m f/c in 2.07.59(pb and WCQT), with Rachel third in both ages in 2.10.61 (pb and WCQT). The roles were reversed in the 400m f/c with Rachel second in the 17/over and third in the open in a time of 4.33.25 (pb and WCQT) and Sam fourth in the 17/over and sixth in the open in 4.44.31 (WCQT). Rachel also swam the 400m individual medley where she placed second in both her age-group and the championship in a time of 5.00.70, a pb, WCQT and a NQT.

Altogether, Kelly College achieved eight National qualifying times, 32 Western Counties qualifying times and 37 personal bests.

February 10 was a day of relay team events. Kelly again were among the medals, 14 team medals in all, eight team gold (32 medals), two team silver (eight medals) and four team bronze (16 medals).

The girls' 9/10 year relay team put on a good show with three, Charlotte Spicer, Philippa Murphy and Amy Bayliss making their debut at the Devon County Championships. Melanie Crick was the fourth member and although they won no medal, all gained valuable experience.

The boys' 9/10 years team, Thomas Wylie, Thomas Worth, Matthew Langman and Joe Crick, came third in the medley and freestyle relays.

A superb demonstration of swimming was given by the boys 11/12 years and 13/14 years relay teams. Nye Levett, Daniel Kidwell, Thomas Howe and Matthew Henry (11/12) and Saul Rogers, Jack Cockerton, Jonathan Wills and Jack Williams (13/14) won the medley and freestyle team events.

The girls' 13/14 years team of Sarah Reader, Jenny Onyon, Sarah Thomas and Beth Campbell-Boseley placed second in both relays being beaten by less than a second in each event.

The girls' Open Championship saw Rachel Banfield, Jacqui Couch, Sarah Thomas and Samantha Calcutt take both trophies for the second year running, while the men's team of Russell Page-Dove, Jack Cockerton, Peter Freedman and Robert Pratt (medley team) and Russell Page-Dove, Jonathan Wills, Peter Freedman and Robert Pratt (freestyle team), took third in both events.

The schools freestyle relay trophies were both won by Kelly College, the boys' team Jack Cockerton, Jonathan Wills, Nye Levett and Saul Rogers and the girls' Jemma Coates, Beth Campbell-Boseley, Jenny Onyon and Sarah Thomas.