SURVIVAL in Division One of the National County Team Championships proved a step too far for a Dorset team missing seven first choice swimmers.

The county youth team - promoted last year - put on a brave fight against star-studded opponents who included British record-holders Fran Halsall and Jemma Lowe, world youth medallist Xavier Mohammed and many other internationals.

At the end of the 31-event programme in Sheffield, Dorset were 20th and last and will be back in Division Two next year, along with Nottinghamshire, Scotland West and Essex, who are also relegated.

Dorset team organiser Jill Beard said: "The team battled with pride and determination to stay in the top division but, against this level of competition, points were hard to come by.

"Many of our team were in the younger half of the two-year age bands but out of 24 individual swims they managed a fantastic 12 personal best times with another seven within 100ths of a second of their PBs.

"Next year, if a full team is available, Dorset should easily return to Division One."

Ferndown Otters' Chris Campbell achieved Dorset's highest placing with eighth in the 16-17yrs 100m butterfly in 58.44.

Bournemouth Dolphins' Joe Poynter was the top 12-year-old as he came ninth in the 12-13yrs 100m breaststroke in 1:14.22.

He was also 11th in the 100m freestyle in 59.25.

Jay Olenicz, who recently switched from Poole to Bournemouth Dolphins, was the top 12-year-old in the 12-13yrs 100m backstroke in which he finished 10th in 1:07.08.

Ferndown's Emily Freeeman was 11th in the 16-17yrs 100m butterfly (1:06.90).

Twelfth places went to Tom Crew (Tornadoes of South Dorset) in the 14-15yrs 100m back 1.02.96 and Dolphins' Jasmine McCormack in the 14-15yrs 100m freestyle (1:00.06) and Natalie Moore in the 12-13yrs 100m free (1:01.65).

Result: 1 Lancashire 525, 2 Northumberland & Durham 496, 3 Yorkshire 439, 4 Scotland East 391, 5= South Wales 383, 5= Hertfordshire 383, 7 Middlesex 378, 8 Suffolk 333, 9 Berks & S Bucks 324, 10 Kent 317, 11 Cheshire 300, 12 Sussex 290, 13 Derbyshire 280, 14 Somerset 271, 15 Hampshire 270, 16 Surrey 265, 17 Nottinghamshire 253, 18 Scotland West 234, 19 Essex 202, 20 Dorset 179.

Full race results are on the website: www.britishswimming.org.