DORSET’S recent stranglehold on the Southern Junior League came to an end as Swim Bournemouth came up against strong teams from the north of the region in the final at Hutton Moor.

After three titles for Ferndown Otters, two for Bournemouth Dolphins and one for Tornadoes of South Dorset in the last six years, the trophy finally left the county as host club Weston-super-Mare regained a title they won four years running between 1999 and 2002.

It was a close contest at the top end with only 24 points separating Weston, Swindon’s SX3 squad and Swim Bournemouth, who paid the price for a handful of low-scoring sixth, seventh and eighth places.

Coach Mark Corben said: “This was our first final as Swim Bournemouth and there was a great team spirit. It was a fantastic night’s swimming and we now look forward to taking those extra steps that will enable us to get our hands on the winners’ trophy.”

Ethan Bell led the scoring for Bournemouth, not only winning the 50m breaststroke and backstroke in his own 10yrs age group but stepping up to add maximum points in the 11yrs breaststroke.

Other individual winners were Jasmine Holmes in the 12yrs 50m freestyle, Grace Kingsley in the 11yrs 50m backstroke, Matthew Collins in the 11 yrs 50m freestyle and Morgan Long and Ben Samuels in the girls’ and boys’ 10 yrs 50m freestyle.

Bournemouth also won the boys’ 10yrs and 11yrs medley and freestyle relays and added a winning finale with victory in the 8x25m mixed cannon relay.

Christchurch Seagulls, competing in their third final in four years, achieved a best-ever fifth place, one better than in 2008 and 2010.

“This was a tough final with some really fast swimming but our swimmers did not let this faze them and raced hard and fast until the final event,” said coach Adam Parfitt.

“Our highest-ever placing in this league highlights the ongoing improvements the club is making.”

Seagulls’ winners were Andrew Botros in the 12/u 50m butterfly (32.11) and Christian Tai in the 10yrs 50m butterfly (35.32).