Swindon Dolphin’s Charlotte Pitts took the first opportunity of the season to achieve the national qualification time in the 400m freestyle at the recent Portsmouth Northsea Level 1 Open Meet, doing so in a club record time.

The 17-year-old swam a restrained first half of the race, leaving enough in reserve to maintain her speed in the speed in the second 200m.

Sophie Bartlett secured her first national qualification in the 100m freestyle. Bartlett has been performing well in early season competition and had already clocked up numerous regional qualifying times. Committing to the swim from the outset Bartlett clocked an impressive 31.24 seconds at the 50m split, returning in 33.20 seconds to dip under the national qualifying mark.

Olivia Flack just missed out on joining Pitts and Bartlett as a national qualifier as the 12-year-old stopped the clock just a few tenths of a second over the required 1:04.63. Flack also came within one second of the 100m backstroke time and made inroads in the 200m freestyle Boys’ team captain Mathew Sambrook’s set a new club record in the 200m freestyle in a time of 1.59.62, also lowering his personal best and own club record in the 400m freestyle.

Fraser Durston’s portfolio of regional times continues to grow as he added the 400m freestyle and 100m backstroke to the list. There was also best times from others including Jake Hancock, swimming in his first meet for Dolphin.

The national qualifying swimmers featured heavily in Dolphin’s medal success with Pitts winning a gold and two bronze and Bartlett winning a gold and bronze. Olivia Flack also collected a gold, silver and bronze whilst Jon Audis picked up a silver.