SIX youngsters from Dorchester and Weymouth secured a coveted place in the Dorset squad to compete in the British Gas-sponsored National County Team Championships at Pond’s Forge, Sheffield.

Tornadoes of South Dorset’s Tom Mules, Tom Crew, Tom John and Rebecca Beal, Weymouth Swimming Club’s Rebecca Man and Peter Thornton of West Dorset SC all contributed to Dorset’s best ever result of 12th place out of 20 in Division One.

This was a remarkable achievement given that their opponents included much bigger counties such as Lancashire and Yorkshire, and combined teams such as Northumberland and Durham, and Berks and South Bucks.

Throughout the competition the Dorset swimmers fought for every point to consolidate last year’s promotion to Division One.

Team manager Sue Smart said: “The team swam exceptionally well and supported each other enthusiastically.

“We couldn’t take our eyes off the scoreboard as we moved in and out of the relegation places.”

In the end it was 11th, eighth and second places in the last three relays which finally secured Division One status.

“These results came from the boys’ 12-13 yrs medley team with Thornton and Mules doing the backstroke and fly legs, and the girls’ 14-15 yrs medley team with Man as anchor in the freestyle finish.”

Mules also starred in the final event, the 6x 50m cannon freestyle team which finished in second place.

Mules topped the individual scoring with Dorset’s only race win in the 12-13 yrs 100m butterfly in a personal best time and he came second in the 100m freestyle.

Other results from the super six: Thornton: 10th, 100m backstroke, 11th 200m medley relay team John: 19th, 100m breaststroke, 9th 200m medley relay team Beal: 18th, 100m breaststroke, 17th 200m medley relay team Man: 8th 200m medley relay team Crew: 16th 200m medley relay team Crew, Mules and Man had been selected for the county team in previous years but for Thornton, John and Beal, it was their debut appearance.

Janet Hewitt, head coach at West Dorset and County Coach for 12 years till 2008 said: “It’s fantastic that between them West Dorset, Tornadoes and Weymouth got six of the squad places.

“The standard is the highest – you have to be the best in the county to get your place. That’s a particularly good achievement for swimmers from the smaller clubs. We’re up against the likes of Bournemouth and Ferndown who have so many more swimmers to draw from.

“All these six youngsters can be very proud that they helped Dorset to secure its best result ever.”

Sheila Short, honorary secretary of Weymouth SC, agreed that the three local clubs should be proud of their swimmers’ performances at Ponds Forge, while Tornadoes’ chairman, Kelvin Dawe, added his congratulations to the individual swimmers for their selection to the team and their contribution to its achievement.