THE annual STEPS gala held at Osprey Leisure Centre on Portland offered the chance for the Tornadoes’ Top Improvers to participate in a club gala.

For many this was their first experience of competition and they all rose to the challenge with some impressive performances.

Seven-year-old Erin Gowers excelled to win gold in the 25m backstroke and 25m freestyle as well as bronze in the 25m breaststroke. Picking up silvers in the backstroke and freestyle was another young seven-year-old, Freya Stanger.

Swimmers aged nine and over also had the opportunity to qualify for age group finals and nine-year-old Ella Day proved one of the star performers. Having secured a silver for 25m breaststroke, bronze in the 25m freestyle and a fourth place ribbon for 25m backstroke in the Top Improvers section, she qualified for the age group final for each event winning gold in the breaststroke, silver in the backstroke and bronze in the freestyle.

In the boys’ races another seven-year-old, Kai Luke, showed his potential in the freestyle leading the race from start to finish to win gold and following this up with another great swim in the backstroke to add a bronze medal.

Ten-year-old Jacob Boyle won gold in the 25m backstroke and 25m breaststroke and silver in the 25m freestyle. He qualified for the age group finals producing an excellent swim in the breaststroke event to add another silver medal to his haul for the day.

The age group finals were open to all club members aged 12 and under as at the end of June this year. These provided Southern Junior League coach Sue Aitken and team manager Trudy Goode with an opportunity to assess swimmers and select the squad that will compete in the league through April, May and June.

Notable performances included Charlie Samuoelle winning all four nine-year-old boy events and breaking the nine years’ age group club records for 25m freestyle and 50m freestyle.

Jordan Davie won gold in the 12 years’ breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle and also broke the club record over 25m breaststroke for the 13 years’ age group. (Club age group records are based on age as of December 31 in the year of competition).

For the girls, Ellie Harvey won all the 12 years’ events, and Jaz Hepburn won all the 11 years’ events. Meanwhile, in the 10 years’ events, the gold medals were shared with Lucy Goode winning backstroke and breaststroke, Rebekah Dashwood winning the butterfly and Jessica Lelliott the freestyle.

Tornadoes offer swimming opportunities for all levels of swimmers from beginners through to masters and also run a successful diving club. For more information please contact secretary Sharon Howe on 814105 or email secretary.tornadoesdorset@virgin.net

FULL RESULTS FOR TOP IMPROVERS

25m Backstroke, Girls: 1 Erin Gowers, 2 Freya Stanger, 3 Ella Day, 4 Charlotte Longshaw, 5 Ruby Boyall, 6 Louise Davie. Boys: 1 Jacob Boyle, 2 Richard Plummer, 3 Kai Luke, 4 Tommy Lockwood, 5 Jordan Snarey, 6 Jake Rankin.

25m Freestyle, Girls: 1 Erin Gowers, 2 Freya Stanger, 3 Charlotte Longshaw, 4 Ellla Day, 5 Louise Davie, 6 Ruby Boyall. Boys: 1 Kai Luke, 2 Jacob Boyle, 3 Jordan Snarey, 4 Jake Rankin, 5 Tommy Lockwood, 6 Richard Plummer.

25m Breaststroke, Girls: 1 Louise Davie, 2 Ella Day, 3 Erin Gowers. Boys: 1 Jacob Boyle, 2 Dominic Morris, 3 Tem Griffiths.