ROUND One of the Southern Junior League saw the Tornadoes competing at Weymouth Swimming Pool.

With a number of members away for the Easter holidays and some of the more experienced swimmers at a training camp, this gave others the opportunity to step in and sample league competition for the first time.

Kate Faley, Emma Horwood, Louis King and Georgia Wood all produced personal best times on their debuts.

Faley, who has not yet moved to the training squads, put in a sterling performance in the nine years 50m backstroke, gaining a superb fourth place with a personal best.

Similarly, King entered the 12 years 50m freestyle and he too finished in fourth.

Horwood also gained a personal best in the 12 years 50m freestyle , while Wood racked up two personal bests in the 12 years 50m butterfly and 50m breaststroke.

The nine years boys’ relay team of Aaron Griffin, Ty Penny, Zack Griffiths and Charlie Rowe were in fine form, winning the freestyle relay and coming second in the medley relay.

Rowe also went on to win the individual 50m freestyle and backstroke races, while Griffin won the 50m breaststroke and was second in the 50m butterfly.

Scott Greaney continued his good form by winning the 11 years 50m freestyle and Jacob Baldwin came home in second place in the 10 years 50m backstroke.

Another second-placed finish followed in the next race with Abigail Barnes earning a personal best time in the 50m butterfly.

Other personal best times:

Abigail Barnes – 11 years and under 50m backstroke

Jessica Gale – 11 years and under 50m breaststroke

Scott Greaney – 11 years and under 50m breaststroke

Emily Hanger – nine years 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly

Harry Hutchinson – 12 years and under 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly

Max Richardson – 10 years and under 50m butterfly

Commenting on the team’s fifthplaced finish overall, Nigel Holmes, Southern Junior League coach, said: “All the swimmers were absolutely fantastic and they swam really well against strong opposition.

“I was also very impressed by their support for each other, everybody enjoyed themselves, and we are looking forward to the next round in May.”

Anyone wishing to join the Tornadoes can send an email to tornadoessecretary@btinternet.com to arrange an assessment.

Former Tornado Jay Lelliott finished second in the 1,500m freestyle and fourth in the 400m freestyle at the British Championships.

Lelliott is currently studying at Bath University and could feature at the Commonwealth Games.