POOLE’S Harry Thorpe says he is delighted to be heading back to the national championships after missing out last year.

The 16-year-old became Poole’s 12th individual qualifier of 2012 when he struck gold in the 100m butterfly at the Exeter Open Meet.

His short-course time of 58.27sec improved his previous best by 0.1sec and took him inside the qualifying time for the ASA National Youth Championships in Sheffield in July.

Thorpe, who joined Poole from Swim Bournemouth last summer, said: “I couldn’t quite believe it when I saw the time on the board.

“I’m so pleased to be heading for my fourth nationals.”

It will, however, be the first time Thorpe has competed in butterfly at a national championship.

He qualified for the 100m backstroke for Bournemouth Dolphins in 2008, the 100 and 200m freestyle and freestyle relay in 2009 and the 100 and 200m freestyle and both freestyle relays in 2010.

Last year, when at the lower end of a two-year age group, he missed out altogether on qualifying times.

Poole’s national qualifiers are Henry Bramwell-Reeks, Emily Clarke, Fiona Hardie, Jasmine Holmes, Maddy Kemp, Todd Price, Courtney Rowan, Dan Speers, Harry Thorpe, Naomi Vides, Noah Vides and Alan Wong.

Vicky Joy and Katie Mills will join them in Sheffield in July after they, Naomi Vides and Fiona Hardie qualified for the medley relay at the youth championships.

The number of Poole qualifiers could increase again after next month’s South West age groups.

Summer Torkington and Jade Norman also struck gold at Exeter and recorded regional qualifying times. Summer won the 10yrs 400m individual medley in 6:08.97, 400m freestyle (5:30.04) and 200m backstroke (2:52.85). Jade won the 14yrs 200m medley in 2:38.57.

Leonie Wiehle’s silver-winning 2:24.11 in the 12yrs 200m freestyle also qualified her to swim the event in next month’s South West Age Group Championships.