8:21am Wednesday 23rd May 2007
Swindon Dolphin returned from the Swansea 2007 Long Course Open Meet at the Wales National Pool, Swansea, as the best visiting club.
After three days of competition, Dolphin's 15 swimmers finished ahead of the 30 visiting clubs by bagging 40 medals (16 gold, 15 silver and nine bronze).
Ben Matthews and Cathal Westman secured new long course National Qualifying Times (NQTs). Matthews clocked 24.62 in the heats of the men's open 50m freestyle and won gold in the final, while Westman, having achieved his NQT in the heats of the 14 years 100m breaststroke, improved it further on his way to gold in the final in a time of 1.12.70.
Westman and Melanie Agius were both well inside their NQTs, winning the 14 years 200m breast and 16/17 years 400m free finals respectively. Mark Tanner also achieved a NQT in the men's open 50m free.
Sam Wells (15/16 yrs) took the boy's 100m butterfly but missed his NQT by 0.28 of a second, while his sister Rosie (13 yrs) missed her 200m backstroke long course NQT by a similar margin.
Other gold medal winners were Mel Agius (16/17 yrs 50m fly and 400m IM), Tim Berry (14 yrs 100m and 200m fly), Katie Hall (16/17 yrs 50m and 800m free), Mark Tanner (boys' 17/18 yrs 200m IM and 400m free ), Ed Jefferies (boys' 17/18 yrs 200m breast), Elizabeth Beckett (14/15 yrs 100m breast) and Jose Prunty (13yrs 100m fly).
Meanwhile, Dolphin youngsters booked their place in the grand final of the Southern Junior League in June after an impressive performance in round two of the competition at Horfield.
Without two key swimmers, Dolphin finished second behind favourites Ferndown and were only outside the top three in four of the 49 events.
Noah Kirby, Liam Jefferies, Alex Chantler-Mayne and Adam Coleman were unbeatable in the boys' 9 yrs 4 X 25m free and IM relays as were Sam Lofts, James Clark, Mat Sambrook and Liam Tubb in the boys' 12 yrs 4 X 25m IM relay. Dolphins had to settle for second in the 12 other relays.
Samantha Berry won the girls' 11 yrs 50m fly and free and James Clark was victorious in the boys' 12 yrs 50m breast and fly. Alex Chantler-Mayne, Noah Kirby, Maddie Easter, Sam Lofts and Liam Tubbs were also individual winners.
Craig Lofts, Niall Westman and Mat Sambrook had two individual second places each while Georgina and Charlotte Pitts, Liam Jefferies, Magan Jones and Katie Carter also touched second.
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