TORNADOES of South Dorset claimed third place in the first round of the Southern Junior League.

The Portland club, sponsored by Stylish Stitches, were drawn alongside Swim Bournemouth A, Yeovil, Weymouth Swimming Club, Bridport Barracudas and West Dorset Warriors, and put in a great performance to bag a top-three place.

Starting with the relays, the nine-year-old girls’ freestyle team of Abigail Barnes, Jessica Turrell, Phoebe Mills and Tabitha Samouelle finished in fourth place. The nine-year-old boys, Scott Greaney, James Faley, Theo Byrne and Jacob Byrne went one better to claim third, a feat emulated in the next race by the 10-and-under girls’ medley team of Freya Stanger, Samouelle, Chloe Perkins and Abigail Hamilton.

Further third places were achieved by the 11-and-under boys’ freestyle team of Josh Frampton, Kane Law-Smith, Callum Mullins and Khai Locke-White and the 12-and-under boys’ medley quartet where Mullins and Law-Smith joined captain Rudy Sawtell and Luke Bassett in a highly competitive race.

In the 32 individual events, Tornadoes secured top-three finishes in 19 events – three first places, eight second and eight third.

The first place finishes were achieved by younger members of the team. Nine-year-olds Samouelle and Greaney both won their age group 25m breaststroke races and Josh Rowe, 10, won the 50m backstroke.

Later in the gala, Rowe swam up two age groups in the 12-and-under 50m backstroke and demonstrated his ability by securing third place.

Second place finishes: Tabitha Samouelle, (nine years’ 25m freestyle), Hannah Marklew (12-and-under 50m fly); Josh Frampton (11-and-under 50m freestyle); Phoebe Mills (nine years’ 25m fly); Scott Greaney (nine years’ 25m fly); Freya Stanger (10 years’ 50m freestyle); Khai Locke-White (10 years’ 50m freestyle); Frankie Arrowsmith (12-and-under 50m backstroke).

Third places: Freya Stanger (11-and-under 50m backstroke); Callum Mullins, (11-and-under 50m fly and 11-and-under 50m breaststroke); Frankie Arrowsmith (12-and-under 50m freestyle); Luke Bassett (12-and-under 50m freestyle); Khai Locke-White (10 years’ 50m fly); Hannah Marklew (12-and-under 50m breaststroke); Josh Rowe (12-and-under 50m backstroke).

The final set of relays saw third place finishes from the nine-year-old girls and boys’ medley teams, the 10-year-old girls’ freestyle, the 11-and-under boys’ medley and the 12-and-under boys’ freestyle teams. The final race of the event, the cannon relay consisting of one girl and one boy from each age group, was superbly contested.

The Tornadoes’ team of Samouelle, Greaney, Stanger, Locke-White, Eleanor Simpson, Frampton, Frankie Arrowsmith and Sawtell swam a brilliant race and were hot on the heels of Swim Bournemouth during the initial stages.

The latter stages of the race saw Bournemouth pull away and a very close finish between Yeovil and Tornadoes, with the former just having the edge at the touch.

Junior squad coach Ali Holmes said: “The swimmers were a credit to the club. “Everyone put in their best effort for the team for which I am very pleased and very proud.”

Junior team manager Julie Samouelle added: “I am delighted for all the junior swimmers who all put in 110 per cent.

“I would particularly like to say a huge well done to James Faley who was our youngest swimmer and has only had a couple of weeks’ squad training.

“He coped with the pressure amazingly well.

“Many thanks also to Luke Bassett who trains with Tornadoes whenever he can and always tries to support us in galas.

“Finally, I would like to thank Stylish Stitches who kindly sponsored the team’s T-shirts.”

Final scores: Swim Bournemouth 281, Yeovil 208, Tornadoes of South Dorset 181, West Dorset 164, Bridport 97, Weymouth 82.

* If you are interested in progressing your swimming further why not drop an email to head coach Phil Daniels on pbkd52@hotmail.co.uk and arrange an assessment.