FERNDOWN Otters extended their recent run of success as Dorset's five leading clubs began the year with a battle between themselves.

Shannon Horton led Otters' points scoring, winning the 13/u 50m freestyle and breaststroke in 30.42 and 39.11 and also sharing in two relay wins.

Her successes were among 17 Ferndown victories, eight of which came in relays.

The 15/u age group produced three individual wins - from Martin Dunn in the 100m freestyle (1:00.67), Josh Smith in the 100m backstroke (1:26.32) and Deb Cure in the girls' 100m breaststroke (1:26.32).

In the 9yrs age group, Spencer Wilks won the 25m butterfly in 19.74 and Thomas Jacobs won the 50m backstroke in 45.92.

Other winners were Ellen Horner in the 13/u 50m backstroke (36.13) and Chloe Morris in the 11/u 50m back (40.25).

Fourteen wins helped Bournemouth Dolphins to second place just one point ahead of Christchurch and New Milton Seagulls.

Connor Sleightholme and Megan Chapman were each involved in three wins for Seagulls, who fielded two teams which registered 12 victories between them.

Sleightholme won the 15/u 100m butterfly in 1:09.03 and shared medley and freestyle relay wins with 15/u team-mates Taylor Priest, Anand Vaithlingham and Aleksey Lopez.

Chapman won the 11/u 50m breaststroke before joining Rachael Awcock, Emma Lalor and Ellie Kerslake to win the girls' 11/u medley and freestyle relays.

Other winners for the Seagulls White team were Oliver Maddock in the 13/u 50m freestyle (30.68), Ross Bradfield in the 9yrs 50m breaststroke (53.39), Sam Webber in the 13/u 50m backstroke (35.98) and Melissa Bennison in the 13/u 50m butterfly (34.85).

Seagulls Blue had two wins - from Stefan Wyper in the 15/u 100m breaststroke (1:20.77) and Kizzy Smith in the 11/u 50m freestyle (34.94).

Wins proved elusive for Poole, whose best results were five second places on their way to fifth overall.

Result: 1 Ferndown 235, 2 Bournemouth Dolphins 198, 3 Seagulls White 197, Tornadoes of South Dorset 177, 5 Poole 112, 6 Seagulls Blue 98.

RECORD BREAKERS

THREE Seagulls swimmers broke club records in the South West 1500m freestyle time trials in Millfield's 50m pool.

Peter Griffiths met his target of holding 43 seconds every 50m to stop the clock at 21:29.37 which, when converted to short course, takes 36 seconds off the club record for 11-year-old boys, held by Chris Chamberlain.

Sophie Duffell and Isabelle Frampton both went under the 12yrs girls' record with times of 21:55.32 and 22:12.13 respectively, Frampton setting her time just six days after her 11th birthday.

Alice Brown was just outside her previous best after a lay-off from training and hopes to bounce back to retain her Dorset title at next month's county championships.

FIRST VOLUNTEERS

ELEVEN teenagers took part in Dorset County ASA's first Young Volunteers Development Day, the first step in training motivated young people in the skills needed to become swimming's next generation of officials and administrators.

The day, held in partnership with ASA South West, included an Introduction to Timekeeping, Practical Fundamental Skills in the pool, Team Manager Training Module 1 and The Young Aquatic Organiser.

The students, who were also able to share ideas, are now ready to begin putting their new-found skills to use for their Swim 21-accredited clubs.

The 11 are Seagulls' Alice Black, James Rogers, Connor Sleightholme and Emma Duffell, Poole's Danni Callahan and Carl O'Brien, West Dorset Warriors' Emily Hitchcott, Susan Warden and Craig Hewitt and Blandford's Jack Murray and David Charlston.

ASA regional development officers Kelly Gaffney and Kate Smith praised the dedication of the young people, who are already looking at how they can organise events for their clubs and what future courses for officials they can attend.