SIX swimmers from Tornadoes of South Dorset competed at the Regional Age Group Championships.

Freya Stanger, Hannah Marklew, Joshua Rowe, Samantha Dunning, Jenny Scott and Jay Lelliott all flew the flag and they would have been joined by club-mate Francesca Arrowsmith had the young swimmer not been struck down by illness.

Head coach Phil Daniels said: “Freya was slightly unfortunate not to have made the final in the 200m backstroke, but gaining regional qualification in your first year, then achieving personal best times, is testament to all her hard work in training.

“Hannah has worked extremely hard this season to achieve her regional time in her number one stroke of butterfly and we are all very proud of her.

“Josh achieved his first regional time in his first year. He has advanced a great deal this season in his swimming, showing he will be a force to be reckoned with as he progresses in competitive swimming.

“Samantha has made noticeable improvements this season in her settled training, which has allowed her to show her true potential. Her marked daily improvements are a credit to her tenacity.

“Jenny is one of those who quietly gets on day by day, working steadily in the background. She produced a very relaxed championship best swim and a British Qualifying Time.

“Jay added another British QT to his growing number. Distance, middle distance or sprint doesn’t matter to Jay, he trains on the whole programme and excels at each event. “Unfortunately, Francesca, who qualified in her first year at regionals, fell ill just prior to the competition so was unable to compete.”

Tornadoes of South Dorset have three swimmers qualified for this year’s British Youth Nationals at Ponds Forge in Sheffield – Scott, Lelliott and Elliott Smart.

RESULTS Freya Stanger (10 years): 14th 100m backstroke 1:28.99 long course (3rd Dorset swimmer); 24th 200m freestyle 2:58.04 long course (3rd Dorset swimmer); 9th 200m backstroke 3:04.87 long course time (1st Dorset swimmer); 20th 100m freestyle 1:18.36 long course time (3rd Dorset swimmer).

Hannah Marklew (12 years): 10th 200m butterfly 3:05.36 long course time (4th Dorset swimmer).

Joshua Rowe (10 year): 13th 100m backstroke 1:28.38 long course time (2nd Dorset swimmer); 14th 200m backstroke 3:07.13 long course time (2nd Dorset swimmer).

Samantha Dunning (13 years): 22nd 400m IM 5:58.72 long course time (4th Dorset swimmer); 21st 100m butterfly 1:18.66 long course time (3rd Dorset swimmer); 15th 200m butterfly 2:51.45 long course time (2nd Dorset swimmer).

Jenny Scott (15 years): Time Trial 100m butterfly 1:06.01 long course time (1st Dorset swimmer).

Jay Lelliott (17 years): Time Trial 1,500m freestyle 16:17.88 long course time (1st Dorset swimmer).