FERNDOWN Otters got off to a winning start with a comfortable victory in the opening round of the Hants and South Coast League at Guildford.

Many of their 17 wins were achieved by sizeable margins and they also recorded an impressive 13 second places.

The under-14 age group proved especially profitable with eight individual wins and three in relays, plus three second places.

Lydia McManus was a triple winner, taking the u/14 100m breaststroke (1:21.32), butterfly (1:13.14) and individual medley (1:13.84).

Matt Cummings and Steven Simpson won two events each. Cummings took the u/14 100 breaststroke (1:23.24) and medley (1.13.41), Simpson the 100 butterfly (1:12.60) and backstroke (1:16.10).

Other winners in this age group were Cathy Close in the 100m backstroke (1:13.62), the girls' 4 x 25m relay team of Close, McManus, Anna Chong and Naomi Fursdon-Welch (medley 1:03.92, freestyle 58.89).

The boys' medley team of Simpson, Cummings, Craig Freeman and Ben Fellows (1:06.23) were also triumphant.

Other winners were u/13 swimmers Alice Jenkins (50 freestyle 32.53) and Craig Freeman (50 butterfly 35.29), Ellen Horner in the u/11 50 backstroke (44.85), Alex Sampson in the u/12 50 breaststroke (45.63) and the girls' u/11 medley team of Jacey Mayall, Ellen Horner, Nancy McManus and Jenny Burry (1:22.95).

Second places: Boys u/12 Chris Allen 50 fly 40.19. U/13 medley relay (Tom Tiller, Neil Hamp, Craig Freeman, Josh Smith 1:12.29); free relay (Hamp, Smith, Chris Allen, Tom Tiller 1:03.86). U/14 Ben Fellows 100 free 1:10.72; free relay (Matt Cummings, Fellows, Josh Smith, Hamp (1:00.78).

Girls u/11 Nancy McManus 50 free 37.63; free relay (N McManus, Jenny Burry, Ellen Horner, Emily Parsons 1:11.66). U/12 Jacey Mayall 50 free 35.30; free relay (Mayall, Emily Fellows, Emily Parsons, Fran Hughes 1:07.08). U/13 medley & free relay (Alice Jenkins, Fran Crompton, Anne-Marie Taylor, Sammy Toombs 1:10.52 & 1:01.94). U/14 Naomi Fursden-Welch 100 free 1:11.06.

Result: Ferndown Otters 232, Locksheath 207, Winchester Penguins 206, Guildford City 155, Farnham 150, Ringwood Seals 109.

Poole's Karen Yendole, 24, won five gold medals and a silver in a profitable meeting at the Basingstoke open masters meet.

Her wins came in the 100 and 200m breaststroke, 100 and 200m freestyle and 50m butterfly. She was also second in the 50m breaststroke.

Joyce Wilcox, a former secretary and president of Poole SC, has died after a short spell in hospital. She was 87.

Mrs Wilcox was a daughter of Ernest Skerman, one of the club's founder members in 1931.

Various members of her family have been involved with the club throughout its 73-year history and her daughter Gina Wilcox is currently Dorset's swimming development officer.

Many members of the local swimming community were among those at the funeral in St Mary's Church, Longfleet.