WITH the season in full flow, Tornadoes of South Dorset took 12 members to the Swim Bournemouth open meet.

The island club came away with 17 medals – nine gold, three silver and five bronze, recording 22 pbs from their 38 races, with regional times improved and a new club record set.

Rebecca Beal claimed five gold medals from five events, the breaststroke specialist saving her best until last where she lowered her own 200m club record in the last event of the weekend by three seconds.

Jenny Scott has returned to Tornadoes and was keen to show she is on the way back to form, she took four gold medals from her four events with fast times all weekend.

Ciaran Richards claimed three medals, and some very impressive pbs, his recent training levels being rewarded, with almost three seconds being chalked off both his 100m and 200m backstroke times, and a sub 30 second 50m fly.

He is now looking forward to the regionals with a boost in confidence and speed.

Luke O’Dowd is still in the junior ranks, but he put in two great looking performances in the 200m and 50m breaststroke events, a pb in the 50m was the reward for his effort.

Charlie Rowe, another junior swimmer, is improving and looked strong in both his backstroke events, despite just missing pbs, the control of the swim was most encouraging for the future.

Josh Rowe had an excellent weekend, having been strugg- ling for a while, he returned to form with a massive seven seconds off his 200m backstroke time.

He then swam even better in the 100m event, going within 0.6 seconds of his age group regional qualifying time.

Chloe Perkins started the day with a good pb in the testing 400m IM, she continued her recent good form for the rest of the weekend picking up more pbs as the meet progressed. Emma Perkins also had a great weekend, with pbs in every event, the best a superb 10 seconds in the 400m freestyle, hitting the tough target she had been given.

Frankie Arrowsmith has been struggling with an injury for some time, but she put in a great first 75m, in her 100m backstroke starting to show good speed again, proving she still has the ability to reach regionals once more.

Bethany Firth has only just moved to the top squad, and produced a good swim to show her potential for the future.

Freya Stanger had recently been on the Dorset county talent camp, and was looking to claim age group regional times, unfortunately it was not to be her weekend and despite great effort she narrowly missed out on the times she needed Sam Dunning had missed counties following a serious injury, but with regionals fast approaching, she had her first competitive outing of the year.

She came through all of her races looking in good shape, picking up medals, giving her the confidence to raise her training levels for the next few weeks.

Coach Chris Beal was very impressed with the swimmers skills and resultant speed all weekend.

He said: “Some of the fast times so soon after counties were truly exceptional, and with the senior swimmers soon heading to Plymouth for the regional championships, things are looking in good shape.

“Let’s hope they continue in similar form.”

TTSD medallists Josh Rowe: Silver 200m back; bronze 50m back; bronze 100m back.

Ciaran Richards: Silver 50m back; bronze 200m back; bronze 50 fly.

Sam Dunning: Silver 50m fly; Bronze 200m IM.

Jenny Scott: Gold 50m fly; 50m back; 50m free; 100m free Rebecca Beal: Gold 200m breast; 100m breast; 50m breast; 200m IM; 200m Free.

* Anyone wishing to join Tornadoes of South Dorset to either learn to swim, swim competitively, or wishing to access extra training can contact the club secretary to arrange an assess ment – tornadoessecretary@btinternet.com