NAOMI Vides is the toast of Dorset swimming after powering to two titles on her first appearance at a national championship.

The 11-year-old from Ferndown Otters dominated the girls' 11yrs breaststroke events at the National Age Group Championships, leaving even her nearest rival more than two seconds adrift in her two heats and two finals.

Vides, from New Milton, had already fired her warning shots several weeks ago when she won the South West age group titles for the 100m and 200m breaststroke by the massive margins of eight and 15 seconds.

But at Sheffield's Ponds Forge pool, she slashed her personal best times again to qualify for the finals in 1:19.38 and 2:49.00, then improved them further to win double gold in 1:18.12 and 2:47.71.

So impressive were these times that they would also have placed her fifth and seventh in the age group above.

Otters coach Tony Watson said: "There is a tendency among younger swimmers to get over-excited when they come to the nationals.

"In breaststroke especially, there is a tendency to rush the stroke.

"But just as she did in the South West championships, Naomi controlled her swim magnificently.

"It was a mature and totally dominant performance which we are really excited about.

"We don't want to get carried away, because there is a long way to go, but she is a really exciting prospect."

Ferndown team-mate Craig Freeman added two bronze medals to Vides' two golds after dramatically slashing two and six seconds off his best times for the 13yrs 200m and 400m freestyle.

His bronze-winning times were 2:04.16 and 4:23.72 (heat 4:22.79).

They were his first medals at this level and he also reached the final of the 100m freestyle. He was placed 10th in 58.65 (heat 58.21).

Freeman said: "It's my best set of results by a long way. I think it's a mental thing. You've got to be in the zone."

Watson said the results were a reward for the hard work Freeman has put into his training over the last three or four years.

"Craig also showed a great amount of maturity, especially in the 200m against boys who were monsters compared to him.

"Technically he is very strong and he kept his head and came through strongly on the last 50 metres, moving up from fourth to third and almost snatching second place."

Otters' Fran Hughes overcame recent setbacks, including chronic asthma attacks and injuries from a scooter accident, to reach the finals of the 13yrs 100m and 200m breaststroke.

She finished sixth in the 100m in 1:18.66 and ninth in the 200m in 2:50.66.

NATALIE ON THE UP

Bournemouth Dolphins' 11-year-old Natalie Moore continued her dramatic improvement, recording personal best times in all nine of her swims at Sheffield, reaching three finals and finishing no lower than 13th in any of her six events.

Most impressive was her fifth place in the 11yrs 800m freestyle in a time of 9:58.81, which not only improved her PB by 18 seconds but took her to within two seconds of a medal.

Moore, who only a few months ago was struggling even to qualify for the South West championships, also came eighth in the 200m backstroke (2:35.31), ninth in the 400m freestyle (4:51.08), 11th in the 200m freestyle (2:21.31) and 13th in both the 100m freestyle and backstroke (1:06.09 and 1:14.80).

"Natalie got up there and raced. She has no fear of anybody," said Bournemouth coach Graham Bassi.

Dolphins' Chris Campbell was unable to repeat his title-winning form from 2005 after having his preparations hampered by illness and injury.

But he showed his class by reaching the finals of all five of his events in the 14yrs age group.

His best placings were fifth in the 200m and 400m individual medley in 2:17.02 and 4:56.92.

He was also sixth in the 100m butterfly (1:01.70), seventh in the 200m fly (2:18.49) and 10th in the 100m breaststroke (1:12.13).

Daniel Bridges who, like Moore, has made startling progress in recent months, extended his improvement curve by moving from 45th in the rankings to 20th place in the 13yrs 400m freestyle, thanks to a personal best of 4:31.69.

"He won his heat with great style and technique," said Bassi.

An interesting statistic, given the current discussions over a proposed merger of Dolphins and Otters, was that the two clubs' combined points tally would have put them ahead of such major swimming forces as Millfield School and City of Sheffield.

As it was, Ferndown alone finished ahead of South West rivals Plymouth Leander in the girls' medals table.

"That gave me a massive amount of pleasure!" said Watson.

Other results: Zoe Watson (Ferndown) 38th 13yrs 100m freestyle 1:03.47. Naomi Vides (Ferndown) 33rd 200m individual medley 2:49.42.