THE Tornadoes of South Dorset enjoyed a success-filled trip to the Bournemouth Dolphins’ annual Level Two Open Meet, returning home with an impressive 43 medals.

The Littledown Centre competition attracted 21 clubs from as far afield as Northampton, Crawley and Alton. Tornadoes had 10 boys entered in a total of 61 events and 13 girls competing in 88 events altogether with the club going on to secure eighth place and 23 gold, eight silver and 12 bronze medals in the process.

In the 16 and over age group, Tom Crew excelled with fantastic 200m and 100m freestyle swims, winning a gold and silver medal respectively, and a sensational 200m backstroke performance where he destroyed the opposition to win gold in a time of 2mins 10.40secs.

Crew achieved national qualifying times for all three events with both 200m swims setting new club senior records.

In addition he also won a gold medal in the 50m backstroke, silver in the 100m backstroke and a bronze for 50m freestyle.

Ten-year-old Lucy Goode was also on top form winning gold in the 100m and 200m backstroke, 100m and 200m butterfly, 100m and 200m individual medleys and bronze medals in the 100m and 200m freestyle.

Her 200m backstroke swim, in a club age group record time of 2:49.13, was described by head coach Ed Stevens as “brilliant” and she now has nine qualifying times for the forthcoming regional championships.

Tom Mules swam personal bests in the 100m butterfly (61.54secs) and 100m freestyle (56.67secs) and improved his previous bests in the 200m butterfly and 200m individual medley by three and four seconds respectively.

All four swims were national qualifying times and club records for the 13 years age group, giving him a medal haul of three golds and one silver.

Club records for the 14 year age group 100m and 200m breaststroke were once again broken by Tom John in gold medal winning performances and regional qualifying times.

He also showed his ability in the backstroke, securing a regional qualifying time in the 200m event.

Eleven-year-old Jaz Hepburn, who has already clinched her national qualifying time for the 1,500m freestyle, was in fine form, swimming regional qualifying times in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley events.

She also competed in the 50m freestyle and finished the competition in second place overall in her age group with two silvers and three bronze medals.

Jo Puckett led the way for the senior girls in the 16 and over age group, winning gold in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke and the 50m butterfly, and a bronze in the 50m freestyle – all in regional qualifying times.

In the same age group Asia Westwood won silver in the 200m backstroke, also in a regional qualifying time. Joining them at the Regional Youth Championships will be Alyce Westwood and Laura Goode.

Other medal winning performances include Georgia Eiles-Clarke scooping gold in the 12 years 200m backstroke.

Jay Lelliott won gold medals in the 14 years’ 50m and 200m backstroke, silver in the 50m butterfly and bronze in the 100m backstroke.

Ellie Harvey, 11, claimed gold in the 50m and 100m butterfly and silver for the 200m individual medley, Connor Aitken took home bronze medals for the 12 years’ 100m and 200m butterfly events while Emma Craft won a bronze in the 13 years’ 200m butterfly and Jordan Davie achieved bronze in the 12 years’ 50m butterfly.

Other swimmers competing at Bournemouth included Hope Stanger, Natasha Cain, Chris Perham, Tom Cain, Katy Robinson, Farron Aitken, Rebecca Beal, Harry Davidge and Sophie Dawe.

The Tornadoes offer swimming opportunities for all level of swimmers and also run a successful diving club. For more information contact club secretary Sharon Howe on 814105 or email secretary.tornadoesdorset@virgin.net