TORNADOES of South Dorset enjoyed resounding success in their first season back in the Southern Junior League.

The Tornadoes finished as the fourth top Dorset club and 13th out 31 competing teams, much to the delight of head coach Phil Daniels, who also paid tribute to the hard work put in by the coaching staff.

He said: “It’s a very good start and one which the juniors need to build on for 2011.”

The South Dorset contingent of 24 swimmers travelled to Keynsham, near Bristol, eager to impress in the last round of the Junior League.

Sadly, due to illness, the team had to travel without two of its more senior swimmers – Max Gilmartin and Emily Gover.

Last minute changes meant Frankie Arrowsmith, 10, was asked to swim with the 11-year-olds, as was Richard Plummer in the freestyle relays.

However, the girls managed to come fourth while the boys placed third.

Nine-year-old Charlotte Longshaw performed well in the medley and freestyle races while Alex Jones earned fourth and third-placed finishes in the 50m breaststroke and backstroke.

James Mules, 11, was also asked to compete in the 12-years age group but coped well to take fourth in the 50m backstroke.

Arrowsmith helped the 11-year-old girls to fourth in the medley relay while Thomas Davidge, 10, pulled out all the stops as the 12-year-olds came fourth in their freestyle relay.

There were some excellent individual swims from Jamie Richards (nine), Davidge (10), Charlie Samouelle (10), Arrowsmith (10), Lucy Goode (11), Jessica Lelliott (11), Jones (11), Mules (11), Starr Sams (12) and Hope Stanger (12), who all achieved first, second and third-placed finishes in their events.

The best of the relays came from the boys’ 10-year medley team of Davidge, Dominic Morris, Samouelle and Plummer, who took bronze.

The 12-year-old girls’ medley relay team – Rebekah Dashwood, Goode, Sams and Stanger – were not to be outdone and they also finished third.

The injury jinx continued to hamper the Tornadoes as nine-year-old Kirsty Holmes became unwell during the gala and Sams was also forced to pull out.

Emma Bishop, nine, stepped up to the mark and covered for Holmes in the 25m breaststroke and butterfly.

Sophie Wallis later filled in for Holmes in the cannon event.

Leanne Holmes, 11, took Sams’ place in the 12-year freestyle relay, helping them to fourth position.

Sam Allen, Kane Law-Smith, Ella Day and Emma Perkins also produced creditable performances as well as contributing to the relay teams in their age groups.

The following swimmers also achieved 25 personal best times between them: Allen, Arrowsmith, Emma Bishop, Day, Goode, Leanne Holmes, Jones, Law-Smith, Charlotte Longshaw, Mules, Emma Perkins, Plummer, Jamie Richards, Ciaran Richards, Samouelle, Stanger and Wallis.

Team manager Trudy Goode said: “The team has worked hard in training since February, and the results speak for themselves. Credit for that not only goes to the swimmers but also to the coaching staff.”

Alison Holmes, junior team coach, added: “Thanks go to the support team of poolside coaches, officials and chaperones – Pete Goode, Paul Dashwood, Nigel Holmes, Julie Samouelle, Andy Mules and Colin Stanger – who all gave support and encouragement to the swimmers throughout the campaign.”