THE Dorset County Amateur Swimming Association Championships were held over two weekends at Bournemouth’s Littledown Centre and a third weekend at Dorchester Leisure Centre.

Twenty-six members from the Tornadoes of South Dorset competed, having achieved the qualification times at club trophy galas.

They went with the aim of achieving personal best times (PB), regional qualification times (RQT), regional consideration times (RCT) and to win medals.

The Tornadoes did not disappoint and achieved the aims superbly with 113 PBs, 19 RQT, 24 RCT and 19 medals.

Jenny Scott broke both the championship and club record for the 50m backstroke, winning the 17-and-over event.

Club captain Rebecca Beal broke a club record in the 200m breaststroke in the same age group, securing a bronze medal.

Scott backed up her success in the 50m backstroke with a further five RQTs in the 50m freestyle claiming a bronze medal, the 100m freestyle (silver medal), the 100m backstroke (silver), the 50m butterfly (bronze) and in the 100m butterfly (silver).

She completed her swims with a bronze medal and a RCT in the 200m backstroke. Beal secured bronze medals and RCT in the 50m and 100m breaststroke.

Tabitha Samouelle achieved three RQTs for breaststroke in the 50m, 100m and 200m in the 12-years age group. Also in this age group, Eve Hewett continued to impress with an RCT for the 800m freestyle, 50m and 100m backstroke.

In the 11-years’ age group, Jessica Gale swam in six events and achieved RQT in 100m and 200m backstroke winning gold medals for both. Her third RQT – and a silver medal – came in the Individual medley.Jessica achieved RCT in 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 50m backstroke and she won a silver medal in the backstroke.

Her team-mate Abigail Barnes had a busier programme of 14 events. She won the 100m butterfly in a RQT and also booked her place at the regional championships with RQT in the 800m freestyle and RCT in the 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 200m and 400m individual medley.

For the boys, 14-year-old Josh Frampton led the way with five RQTs in the 50m freestyle, 1,500m freestyle, 50m and 100m backstroke and the 50m breaststroke. He also achieved five RCT in the 100m and 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 200m individual medley.

Josh Rowe will be joining him at the regional championships after gaining a bronze medal and RCT in the 1,500m freestyle and another RCT in the 50m backstroke in the 13-years’ age group.

In the same age group, Oliver Mills won two bronze medals in the 100m and 200m breaststroke and is getting close to a RCT for the 100m distance. In the 10-year-old age group, Aaron Griffin also claimed RCT in the 100m breaststroke.

Also presented were the British Age Group Categories awards (BAGCATS), based on points being given for times in certain events and these points added together.

Five Tornadoes swimmers came in the top eight in the county in their age groups.

Aaron Griffin was sixth in the 10 years’ age group, Charlie Rowe was seventh. Josh Rowe was sixth in the 13 years’ age group, Josh Frampton was eighth in the 14 years’ age group and Abigail Barnes was sixth in the 11 years’ group.

PERSONAL BEST TIMES

Abigail Barnes (10), Rebecca Beal (1), Jazmine Callaby-Jackson (2), Bethany Firth (4), Josh Frampton (11), Jessica Gale (6), Lizzy Gant (4), Aaron Griffin (8), Eve Hewett (9), Phoebe Jones (1), Lewis Limm (7), Oliver Mills (3), Phoebe Mills (2), Chloe Perkins (10), Emma Perkins (6), Emily Robinson (1), Charlie Rowe (7), Josh Rowe (9), Tabitha Samouelle (4), Jenny Scott (2), Eleanor Smith (2), and Freya Stanger (3).