WEST Dorset Warriors produced 208 personal best times at their first Steps Gala of the year at the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre in Dorchester.

More than 70 swimmers took part in the event and competition was high with no one winning more than two events.

In total there were 23 different winners on the day with club captains Hayley Rooks and James Ross given the honour of handing out the ribbons.

For many swimmers this was their first competitive gala and in the Minnows, the youngest age group, both Warwick Dabbs and Stella Winnard each won the 25m freestyle and 25m backstroke.

Steps One also saw many swimmers competing for the first time and after some enthusiastic swimming the winning girls were Eleanor Southern (25m freestyle), India Furness (25m breaststroke) and Lizzie Beth Pugh, who knocked 10 seconds off her previous best time in the 25m backstroke.

Meanwhile for the boys, Ethan Robinson showed good technical skills in his first gala to win the 25m breaststroke.

Steps Two girls saw a close contest between Rosie Musk and Rosie Jones in the 25m backstroke with the former coming out on top.

Jones then won the 25m freestyle and the 25m breaststroke before Musk came out on top in the 25m butterfly.

Also in the category, Thomas Brock claimed a 25m backstroke and freestyle double while Shem Martin was victorious in his favoured event, the 25m breaststroke.

Steps Three was arguably the most competitive section on the day with less than two seconds separating the first six girls in the 25m backstroke and freestyle, with Bethany Trewartha winning both events, which included a tie with Ava Wickham in the backstroke.

Minnie Foice (25m breaststroke) and Grace Sheehy (25m butterfly) were also victorious along with George Maslen (25m freestyle and butterfly), Jack Hayward (25m backstroke) and Daniel Warland (25m breastroke).

Equally enthralling was Steps Four where Lucy Delamere pulled off a double in the 50m freestyle and 25m butterfly, and Katie Cramp triumphed in the 50m breaststroke by 2.5 seconds.

Abigail Rule (50m backstroke), George Kelman-Johns (50m backstroke and 25m butterfly) and Nick Voss (50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle) were the other winners.

Amongst the many personal best times achieved, Phoebe Kelman-Johns (Steps Three) improved her 25m butterfly time by 4.5 seconds from a time only recorded earlier the same month.

Whilst for the boys, Luke Wheeler showed continuing improvement by improving his personal best times in the 25m freestyle and breaststroke by six and seven seconds respectively.

West Dorset Warriors train at both the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre in Dorchester and Bridport Leisure Centre and also do long course training at Millfield School.

New swimmers and athletes of all levels are welcome. If you are interested contact Janet Hewitt on 266175 or visit wdwarriors.org.uk