Tough opener for Dolphins

The league is the UK’s premier event, made up of seven regions involving the vast majority of competitive swimming clubs in the country.

Worksop Dolphins are in Division One of the East Midlands Region and Saturday saw the first league fixture of 2012.

Head coach Andy Thompson took a team of 26 to Cambridge for an opener made more difficult in that each swimmer can only compete in two events in their own age group.

The open swimmers Ian Wrigley, Matt Dobson, Elliott Clarke, Alex Hunter, C.J Smith, Megan Berridge and Carina Sabbatini all played their part in encouraging their younger team mates, and spurred on by cheering parents the Dolphins swam out of their skins.

The nine to 11-year-old girls relay team of Hannah Butler, Hannah Webb, Holly Anderson and Abbie Conroy came second, as did the boys quartet of Finlay Allison, Luke Higginbottom, Owen Smith and Niall Goy.

Megan Berridge came second in the open 200 IM, Lorna Milligan was second in the 15 and under 100 back stroke and Holly Anderson was runner-up in the 10 to 11-year-old 50 butterfly.

Jade Platts took second in the 13 and under 100 backstroke, while C.J Smith came first in the 15 and under 100 freestyle in a time of 1.02.56

There was also a first for Charlie Humphrise in the 13 and under backstroke and 100 freestyle, when he swam 59.98, his first time under a minute.

Matt Dobson was second home in the open 100.

The final race of the night saw the boys open freestyle relay team clinch second place in a thrilling finish.

Dolphins were placed fourth on the night in a closely fought gala.