TREBLE CHANCE: Craig Freeman won all three of his events at Southampton

NINE Dorset swimmers achieved automatic qualification for next month's English schools championships in Manchester by winning events at the Division 12 regional finals - and seven are Ferndown Otters members.

Ferndown's magnificent seven won 10 events between them with Craig Freeman leading the way.

Freeman, 13, followed up his two bronze medals at the national age group championships in July with a hat-trick of convincing victories at Southampton.

He looked a class apart in the junior boys' 100m backstroke, finishing 4.3 seconds ahead of his nearest rival in 1:05.18.

The gap in the 100m freestyle was almost as big as Freeman charged through his four lengths in 56.9 seconds, three seconds ahead of Hampshire's runner-up Chris Lang.

A second Otter, Tom Tiller, was third in this event in 1:01.46.

As a bonus, Freeman also won the 50m freestyle time trial (26.82), from which the Division 12 relay teams will be selected.

Meanwhile his sister Emily, 16, did her bit to maintain the Freeman family's success, winning the senior girls' 100m freestyle in 59.97, the only sub 60-second swim in any of the girls' events.

She was also second in the 100m backstroke in 1:07.31, 0.86sec behind Hampshire's Sarah Owen.

Lydia McManus followed up her fourth place in the UK School Games a week earlier by touching more than two seconds ahead in the intermediate 100m butterfly (1:07.26).

She also won the 50m time trial in 28.32 and was third in the 200m medley.

Fran Hughes led a Ferndown one-two in the junior girls' 100m breaststroke.

Her winning time of 1:15.73 put her 0.81sec ahead of her younger club-mate Naomi Vides (1:16.54), who was swimming for Hampshire Schools following her double victory at the national age groups.

Otters' other winners were Zoe Watson in the junior 100m freestyle (1:02.81), Cat Close in the intermediate 100m backstroke (1:08.49) and schools international Nicole Scott, who was 2.5 seconds clear of the field in the senior 100m butterfly (1:04.66).

Ferndown coach Tony Watson, who also teaches PE at Queen Elizabeth's School, where three of the seven are students, said: "We are really chuffed with these results. Seven qualifiers is the most we've ever had.

"They all did times which were pretty close to their personal bests, which is pleasing so early in the season.

"It means they have moved things on from the national age and youth championships rather than getting complacent."

He added: "Craig Freeman swam particularly well - 56 seconds for 100m freestyle is pretty special for a 13-year-old."

Poole's Martin Littlefair added his name to the Dorset team-sheet for Manchester with victory in the junior 100m breaststroke ((1:18.92) as well as second place in the 200m individual medley (2:32.04).

Dorset's ninth winner was Rebecca Cottrell, from Dorchester, who took both the intermediate 100m breaststroke (1:16.01) and 200m medley (2:24.20).

At least two Bournemouth Dolphins swimmers can expect to be joining them in Manchester.

Former national age group champion Chris Campbell, swimming for Hampshire Schools, touched more than a second ahead in the intermediate boys 100m butterfly in 1:00.88.

Welsh youth squad member Kim Rowles (Dorset Schools) achieved three second places - in the intermediate 50 and 100m freestyle (28.51 and 1:02.49) and the open 400m freestyle (4:32.64) behind senior swimmer Sarah Owen.

PORTMAN CASH BOOST

BOURNEMOUTH-based Portman Building Society have renewed their sponsorship of Bournemouth Dolphins by presenting a £3,500 cheque for the coming year.

Chief coach Graham Bassi said he wanted personally to thank the Portman for its generous contribution.

"Sport is becoming more expensive and swimmers who work a full programme and have to compete all over the country need ongoing financial support," he said.

MOORE'S TALENT CALL

BOURNEMOUTH Dolphins' Natalie Moore has been selected for the South West Regional Talent Programme following her impressive performances at the national age group championships in July.

The 11-year-old will be expected to attend five stroke clinics at Bath University under former Russian team coach by Andrei Vorontsov.

Dolphins coach Graham Bassi said the programmme would provide Moore with the chance to work on her skills alongside some of the South West's top swimmers.

"Implementation of those skills combined with her outstanding work ethic should lead to further progress in the future," he added.

At the national championships, Moore reached three finals and finished no lower than 13th in any of her six events.

10:39am Thursday 21st September 2006

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