Samantha Shines at Speedo Round One

Date: Saturday 13 October 2007 Location: Pyramids Leisure Centre, Exeter Event:National Speedo League – Western Premier Division, Rd 1

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Swindon Dolphin opened their 2007/8 National Speedo League – Western Premier Division campaign with a fourth place finish in a competitive gala at the Pyramids Leisure Centre in Exeter . In third spot behind favourites Plymouth Leander and City of Cardiff at the half way point, they were overhauled by Bridgend in the final stages.

It was the Dophin youngsters that caught the eye on the night. Samantha Berry was the most successful Dolphin swimmer with 2 individual wins (10-11 year 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly) and 2 relay successes in the girls’ 9-11 year age group. Berry and team mates Charlotte Pitts, Victoria Jennings and Charlotte Gardo dominated their age group relays and were unbeaten in both the 4x50m freestyle and medley. Not to be outdone by the girls, the boys’ 9-11 year medley relay quartet of Jack Janicki, Niall Westman, Craig Lofts and Matthew Sambrook were also triumphant.

Samantha Berry

Dolphin’s other first place finishes both came in the 100m breaststroke, with victories for James Clark in the boys’ u13 event and Chris Jones in the men’s open.

Other impressive individual displays saw second place finishes for Niall Westman (u11 50m Breaststroke), Matthew Sambrook (u11 50m freestyle), Jon Audis (men’s 100m backstroke) and Chris Jones (men’s 200m individual Medley). Dolphin also came second in the boys’ 9-11, 4x50m freestyle relay and the men’s open 6x50m freestyle and 4x50m medley relays.

Dolphin, who finished third in the Western Premier division last year, will be looking for greater consistency in the second round.

Result:

1. Plymouth Leander – 260

2. City of Cardiff – 206

3. Bridgend – 172

4. Swindon Dolphin – 163

5. City of Exeter – 146

6. Truro City – 100
   

Source: Swindon Dolphin Press Team