Junior swimmers dived in at the deep end to give Tavistock Swimming Club’s 2026/27 season an impressive kickstart.

TSC joined in a sprint gala hosted by Okehampton Otters over the October 17-18 weekend at Parklands Leisure Centre, Okehampton.

Nineteen Tavistock swimmers took part over 74 events, including newcomer Harris Barclay (8) who was competing for the first time. He showed himself to be more than ready for it, successfully completing all three of his events and swimming an excellent 50m backstroke to earn himself a bronze medal in the 8-9-year boys’ category.

The rest of the team between them posted 36 personal bests and won 15 gold medals, 15 silver and 16 bronze.

Star performers were Scarlett Blackmore and Lily Shutt, who won medals in all six of their events, closely followed by Lottie Squire with five medals over five events. Phoebe Brittan, Eloise Patrick and Joe Wingfield all produced personal bests of more than 14 seconds.

Medallists (coached by Jacob Cacchione) were: Nell Balment, Harris Barclay, Scarlett Blackmore, Sophia Brayne, Alleyanna Campbell, Keeley Campbell, Cora George, Sophia Lewis, Issy Moon, Eloise Patrick, Dom Shearman, Lily Shutt, Illithia Smerdon, Lottie Squire and Rosie Warren-Green.

Many of those swimmers, this time accompanied by the experienced Evie Palmer and Charlotte Walker, were in action again two weeks later at the Life Centre in the annual City of Plymouth swim meet (over three days, October, 3,4 and 11). This was a step up, competing against swimmers from Mount Kelly and Plymouth Leander.

Charlotte led the way, with medals in all her events and set a 800m freestyle club record. Evie followed her example with a PB and bronze medal in the girls’ 17-plus 50m butterfly.

At the other end of the experience scale, Ada Spiller, 9, the youngest Tavistock competitor and on her Life Centre debut, improved her 100m freestyle time from two weeks earlier by an impressive 14.78 seconds and was rewarded with second in the 9-year girls category.

Meanwhile, Lottie Squire (12) is in magnificent form. In the 400m individual medley (the most challenging of all the events), for the first time, she won her age group and achieved a county championship consideration time.

Other notable performances included Nell Balment who, coming back after illness, could be pleased with her four personal bests over four events, including a county consideration time in the 100m breaststroke; Macie Creber who posted the biggest personal best of the team with 31.39 seconds off her 400m free time; and young swimmers Phoebe Brittan (9) and Rosie Warren-Green (10) who both won their first medals at this level.

Medallists (coached by Jacob Cacchione): Arabella Boxall-Leggett, Phoebe Brittan, Mary Brogden, Megan Kelly, Evie Palmer, Dom Shearman, Lily Shutt, Ada Spiller, Lottie Squire, Charlotte Walker, Rosie Warren-Green.

All seventeen swimmers in the team went home with at least one personal best time.

On poolside, Caroline Furze passed her practical assessment, attaining her British Swimming Judge Level 2 Starter qualification, the second highest level of British Swimming official after referee. Congratulations to her and to all the swimmers.

Tavistock Swimming Club will be running a free ‘Introduction to Club Swimming’ six-session taster course after half term. Look out for details on their website and at Meadowlands or contact the club.