WEST Dorset Warrior Peter Thornton gained national qualifying times in the 100m and 200m backstroke at the Bournemouth Dolphins Level Two Open Meet at Littledown.

The event attracted 49 clubs, including heavyweights Kelly College, Lincoln Vulcans, City of Bristol, Ferndown and Plymouth Leander, but the Warriors more than held their own.

Thornton, aged 12, took gold in both backstroke events and also earned Western qualifying times in the 400m individual medley and the 200m breaststroke.

Thornton's times place him firmly in the top ten in Britain, in both long and short course in the backstroke events, and take his tally of WQTs up to eight.

Head coach of West Dorset, Janet Hewitt said: "I'm delighted for Pete. He deserves his national qualifying times as he's worked hard and his recent training in Malta has given him that extra boost.

"Getting his NQT at this stage of the season is a bonus as the pressure is now off, he's got his ticket for Sheffield in the summer and he's got plenty of time to concentrate on getting even faster."

West Dorset Swimming Club as a whole enjoyed great success at the meet by taking home 24 medals, comprising of six gold, five silver and 14 bronze medals.

Fifteen-year-old Kim Roberts contributed the most to the tally by winning three golds, two silvers and a bronze. Roberts also finished fifth in the Skins, an event where the eight fastest qualifiers swim 50m freestyle again and again with the slowest swimmer being knocked out each time.

Liv Thornton, 14, also had a good competition, earning herself a bronze and a place at the Western Youth Champion-ships in the 200m backstroke.

She also bagged two further bronze medals in the 200 IM and the 100m backstroke and finished fifth in the 100m butterfly.

Charlie Hitchcock, 10, was delighted with his performance, taking home a silver and two bronzes, while Victoria Halford finished fourth in several events but deservedly cracked the medal barrier with great swims in the 50m butterfly for silver and in the 100m freestyle for bronze.

Meanwhile Chris Brock, 12, continued his impressive rate of improvement with some huge lifetime bests and won bronze in the 50m butterfly and the 100m freestyle. Ryan Knott celebrated his 13th birthday by winning silver in the 200m freestyle and bronze in the 50m butterfly. Knott also achieved fourth place in the 200m butterfly Open event, where Scott Civil earned bronze.

James Dawson, 17, captured gold in the 200m freestyle while ten-year-old Will Taylor earned bronze in the 50m butterfly. Meanwhile, Amie Buttle and Craig Hewitt captured bronze in the 200m freestyle and the 200m breaststroke respectively.

Hewitt said: "It wasn't all about the medals though. Some of the West Dorset swimmers got tremendous personal best times at the meet.

"Jordan Trewartha in particular stood out as someone who's really improved.

"He sliced four or five seconds off some of his 100m events, which is impressive. I'm very pleased with Jordan and hope he continues to train well.

"Amie Buttle, Lucie Fry, Gemma Wellman, Martha Howlett, Katie Paul and Rachel Foad have also had some very good pbs."

West Dorset swimmers are now setting their sights on the Junior League and the Western Regional Championships.