Dolphin 3rd in Southern Junior League Final

Swindon Dolphin Southern Junior League Squad

Event: Southern Junior League Final

Venue: Littledown Centre, Bournemouth

Date: Sat 23rd June

Swindon Dolphin young swimmers put in a magnificent performance in the final of the Southern Junior League on Saturday night at the Littledown Centre, Bournemouth, finishing third behind favourites Bournemouth and the 2006 champions Ferndown.

In the 49 event gala, Dolphin recorded nine first places and were in the top three twenty six times. >

Maddie Easter – won 9 year 1L Fly and Backstroke

Maddie Easter was outstanding for the 9 year girls winning the 25m butterfly and backstroke. Noah Kirby took the boy’s 25m breaststroke, Charlotte Pitts was triumphant in the girls 10 year 50m breaststroke while in the 12 year boys, James Clark and Sam Lofts were in top form securing the 50m breast and 50m back respectively.

There were excellent individual second place finishes from Alex Chantler Mayne (9 year, 25m free), Noah Kirby (9 year, 25 fly), Jack Janicke (10 year, 50m back), Craig Lofts (10 year, 50m free), Samantha Berry (11 year, 50m fly) and Tom Iles (12 year, 50m fly).

Unbeatable: Boys’ 12 year Relay Team

In the relays, the 12 year quartet of Sam Lofts, James Clark, Tom Iles & Liam Tubb were unbeatable in the 4 X 25m freestyle and Individual medley. The girl’s 9 year relay squad of Chiara Pascarella , Victoria Tainty, Maddie Easter, Georgina Pitts and Darcy James prevailed in the freestyle and were second in the individual medley as were Noah Kirby, Liam Jefferies, Adam Coleman and Alex Chantler-Mayne for the 9 year boys.

Other notable individual displays included third place finishes for 9 year olds Tainty, James & Jefferies, Charlotte Pitts (10) and Tubb (12).

The 10 year boys’ foursome of Niall Westman, Janicke, Craig Lofts and Jon Fouracre achieved a creditable third in both the 4 X 25m freestyle and Individual medley.

The final event of the night produced the most excitement with the mixed 8 x 25m team of Easter, Kirby, C Pitts, C Lofts, Berry, Matthew Sambrook, Kate Carter and Clark being narrowly beaten into second by an awesome Bournemouth octet.

Dolphin Swimming Development officer, Steve Cryer said afterwards: ‘I was really pleased with our performance tonight. Our skill base is continually growing and challenging Ferndown, who have made several national finals, is a good indication we are moving in the right direction. We still have a long way to go, but overall, I am very proud of all our youngsters’.