FOURTEEN young swimmers from Tornadoes of South Dorset travelled to Dorchester Leisure Centre to compete in the West Dorset Open meet and came away with one South West Region qualifying time, 14 medals and 25 personal best times.

Leading the way was the experienced Samantha Dunning who won the 14/15 years 100m butterfly in a South West regional qualifying time of 1.12.22mins.

She completed a great day by winning the 50m butterfly and 100m individual medley, picking up a silver medal in the 100m freestyle and two bronze medals in the 100m backstroke and 50m freestyle.

In the same age group, Emily Robinson swam personal best times to collect bronze medals in both the 50m and 100m breaststroke.

Twelve-year-old Chloe Perkins had a fantastic swim in the 100m butterfly to claim a silver medal in the 12/13 years age group.

For the boys, Luke Bassett showed his quality by winning four bronze medals in the 14/15 years 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 100m individual medley, all swum in personal best times.

Josh Rowe swam a fine 50m backstroke to win a bronze medal in a time of 39.69secs at 12/13 years.

For some of the swimmers it was a chance to gain some experience competing in an open meet against their peers from a number of different clubs.

Luke O’Dowd had a fantastic swim in the nine years age group, almost clinching a bronze medal with a personal best time in the 50m breaststroke.

Lee Penny and Reece Dade both recorded personal best times in the 50m freestyle in the 10/11 years age group.

Tornadoes coach Nigel Holmes said: “The swimmers have done extremely well.

“It was very pleasing to see them putting into practice the things we have been working on in training in regard to their techniques and skills.

“To come away with the medals and personal best times is an extra bonus.

“I am delighted for Samantha gaining her regional qualifying time and hope there will be some more in the future.”

Boys’ Results

9 years – Luke O’Dowd 4th 50m breaststroke.

10/11 years – Reece Dade 24th 50m backstroke and 25th 50m freestlye. Scott Greaney 12th 100m backstroke, 8th 50m breaststroke, 11th 100m freestyle, 15th 50m backstroke, 7th 100m breaststroke, 11th 50m butterfly, 9th 100m individual medley and 9th 50m freestyle. Lee Penny 25th 100m freestyle, 19th 50m butterfly, 31st 50m freestyle and 20th 50m backstroke.

12/13 years – Josh Rowe 5th 100m backstroke, 8th 50m breaststroke, 9th 100m freestyle, 3rd 50m backstroke, 7th 100m breaststroke, 10th 50m butterfly, 5th 100m individual medley and 16th 50m freestyle. Oliver Mills 6th 50m breaststroke, 10th 100m freestyle, 8th 50m freestyle.

14/15 years – Luke Bassett 3rd 100m backstroke, 7th 50m breaststroke, 3rd 100m freestyle, 3rd 50m backstroke, 3rd 100m individual medley and 4th 50m freestyle.

Girls’ Results

10/11 years – Phoebe Jones 23rd 50m breaststroke and 29th 50m freestyle.

12/13 years – Amy Jackson 6th 100m backstroke, 8th 100m freestyle, 4th 100m individual medley and 7th 50m freestyle. Abigail Hamilton 14th 100m backstroke, 11th 50m breaststroke, 16th 100m freestyle, 16th 50m backstroke, 9th 100m individual medley and 16th 50m freestyle. Chloe Perkins 12th 50m backstroke, 8th 50m breaststroke, 2nd 100m butterfly, 9th 100m freestyle, 11th 50m backstroke, 4th 50m butterfly, 5th 100m individual medley and 12th 50m freestyle. Emma Perkins 7th 100m backstroke, 6th 100m freestyle, 6th 50m backstroke and 8th 50m freestyle.

14/15 years – Samantha Dunning 3rd 100m backstroke, 1st 100m butterfly, 2nd 100m freestyle, 1st 50m butterfly, 1st 100m individual medley and 3rd 50m freestyle. Emily Robinson 5th 100m backstroke, 3rd 50m breaststroke, 4th 50m backstroke, 3rd 100m breaststroke and 4th 100m individual medley.

Anyone wishing to join Tornadoes Of South Dorset can contact the club secretary to arrange an assessment – tornadoessecretary@btinternet.com