SOUTHERN Junior League champions Swim Bournemouth began their title defence in convincing style with a resounding first round victory at Dorchester.

The 2012 national finalists won 37 of the 49 events, including all the relays, and never finished lower than third.

By the end they had stretched their lead over nearest challengers Chard to 110 points.

“Our swimmers performed exceptionally well – there were some fantastic performances,” said head coach Emma Richards. “Every member of the team experienced at least one race victory.”

Christchurch Seagulls and Poole claimed the top two places in their first round gala at Littledown with Swim Bournemouth B fourth.

Seagulls won 27 of the 49 races including 10 relays.

Double winners were 10-year-olds Yasmin Bridet and Nathan Gerrard (50m breast and fly), Anashe Chisadza (11/u fly and freestyle) and Zoe Gannaway (12/u fly and freestyle).

Other winners were nine-year-olds Emily Hancock (25m breast), Annabelle Davidson (25m back), Nyasha Chisadza (25m fly) and Ben Nealon (25m back), 10-year-olds Rosie Glyde (50m back) and Freddie Porter (50m free), Louis Goldsack and Jacob O’Hara in the 11/u back and breast respectively and Chloe Scott in the 12/u back.

Lewis Harding, Oliver Weston and Jasmine McCrea were all double winners for Poole, Harding taking the 12/u butterfly and backstroke, Weston the 12/u 50m freestyle and breaststroke and McCrea the 11/u 50m backstroke and breaststroke.

Other individual winners for Poole were Heidi Taylor (9yrs 25m freestyle), Guy Selwood (10/u 50m backstroke) and Holly Trowbridge (10/u 50m freestyle).

Swim Bournemouth winners were Marcus Hardie in the 9yrs breaststroke and the 9yrs boy’ freestyle and medley team.

Results – Dorchester: Swim Bournemouth 279, Chard 169, Yeovil 164, West Dorset 152, Tornadoes of South Dorset 148, Frome 97.

Littledown: 1 Seagulls 307, 2 Poole 249, 3 Swim Bournemouth B 222, 4 Bath Dolphin 185, 5 Wareham 140, 6 Weymouth 128, 7 North Dorset Turboes 99.