SWIM Bournemouth are thinking of pulling out of the Dorset Novice League next year – because their swimmers are not slow enough.

The team incurred no less than 11 so-called “speeding tickets” in their second round gala at Dorchester – as many as their four opponents put together.

The penalties are handed out to swimmers who swim faster than the cut-off times in a system designed to ensure competitors are genuine novices.

But acting head coach Sam Woodward said nil points in 11 races meant that the national junior league finalists finished last at Dorchester behind Poole, Tornadoes of South Dorset, Wareham and North Dorset Turbos.

“This was a demoralising result for our youngsters and raises the serious question as to whether the club will enter the league in 2016,” he said.

“We just can’t swim slowly enough. Even though we educate our parents and swimmers that speeding tickets are a good thing, they just don’t see it that way. All they see is us winning races only to finish last.

“The league’s purpose is to give an opportunity to those who don’t always get the chance to compete in league galas as well as giving experience to new swimmers. But it’s having a negative effect for our members.

“For our nine- and 10 year old it is fine, but older than that and we get too many speeding tickets.

“Swimming is a competitive sport and our swimmers want not only to win their race but to help their team win.”

Woodward added: “But maybe I’m just looking at it all wrong.”

Points-scoring individual winners for Swim Bournemouth were Millie Samuel (12/u 50m fly), Sophie Kenwright (10/u 50m freestyle), Isabelle Somers (12/u 50m breast) and Jensen Sheperd (14/u 50m breast).

Speeding tickets were incurred by Denise Nettley, Jack Channon, Luca Parkes, Jack Halliwell, Charlotte Cook, Ryan Harper, Peggy Frend, Ellie Choy, Lauren Chamberlin, Hayden Corney and the 11/u freestyle relay team.

Poole’s win took the defending champions to the top of the table with 11 points out of a possible 12 and put them back on course to win the league for the fourth year running.

Seagulls moved up to fourth after winning the other gala at Weymouth. Their individual win-ners were backstrokers Claire Williams (13-14yrs), Flynn Denman (12/u) and Edward Jaszek (10yrs), breaststrokers Ashleigh Noble (12/u) and Tallulah Kalis (11/u), Emily McWilliam in the 12/u freestyle and Ellie Sharp in the 10yrs 25m butterfly.

Results – Dorchester (points adjusted): 1 Poole 191, 2 Tornadoes of South Dorset 144, 3 Wareham 125, 4 North Dorset Turbos 118, 5 Swim Bournemouth 117.

Weymouth: 1 Christchurch Seagulls 162, 2 West Dorset 156, 3 Weymouth 150, 4 Clayesmore 143, 5 Bridport Barracudas 130, 6 Blandford 99.

League placings and points: 1 Poole 11, 2 Weymouth 10, 3 West Dorset 9, 4 Seagulls 9, 5 Tornadoes 9, 6 Clayes-more 8, 7 Swim Bournemouth 7, 8 Wareham 7, 9 Bridport 4, 10 North Dorset Turbos 3, 11 Blandford 2.

  • St Katherine’s and St Mark’s each won five of the 26 events at the Bournemouth Years 5 and 6 schools gala at Littledown.

Stourfield Junior won four events and St Walburga’s and Talbot Heath three each.

Epiphany won two events and there was one race win apiece for Winton, Queen’s Park, Moordown and St James.