TWELVE-year-olds Joe Poynter and Natalie Moore struck gold four times each to lead a 15-medal haul for Bournemouth Dolphins in the first weekend of the South West age group championships at Millfield.

The tally puts them third in the medals table behind high-flying Plymouth Leander and Millfield compared to 11th in 2005 and eighth last year.

Poynter's wins came in the 12yrs 200m and 1500m freestyle (2:11.04 and 17:51.92), 100m breaststroke (1:20.71) and 400m individual medley (5:18.90).

Moore was first in the 12yrs 200m and 800m freestyle (2:15.13 and 9:37.88), 200m butterfly (2:33.14) and 400m individual medley (5:20.62) and third in the 100m backstroke 1:12.76.

Martin Littlefair, one of Dorset's most improved swimmers over the last 18 months, had a fine weekend as he added four events to his programme for the nationals in July.

Such was the competition in the 14yrs age group, however, that even a quartet off national times produced only one individual medal between them - a bronze in the 1500m freestyle (17:28.73).

His other results were fifth in the 100m breaststroke (1:16.96), sixth in the 200m freestyle (2:04.76) and seventh in the 400m medley (5:03.92).

Dan Bridges added to Dolphins' tally with silver in the 14yrs 800m freestyle (8:25.09).

Dolphins can also expect to be swimming several relays at the national age groups after winning one silver and three bronze medals in the team races.

The girls' freestyle team of Moore, Fiona Hardie, Amy Rickman and Africa Mason took silver in the 4x200m and bronze in the 4x100m.

The boys won bronze medals in both freestyle relays through Littlefair, Jack Thorpe, Bridges and Anthony Bush in the 4x100m and Littlefair, Bush, Bridges and Poynter in the 4x200m.

Ferndown Otters' 12-year-old Naomi Vides looks on course to repeat her national age group title-winning form last summer following an impressive winning time of 1:14.43 to win the 12yrs 100m freestyle at Millfield.

The time makes her the top-ranked 12-year-old on the British all-time list ahead of Kate Haywood, Grace Callaghan and Stacey Tadd, who all went on to win European junior or youth titles.

Her nearest challenger at Millfield was more than four seconds adrift.

Noah Vides took a step in his sister's footsteps when he won the 10yrs 100m breaststroke by almost three seconds in 1:32.39.

Craig Freeman made it three golds for Ferndown by winning the 14yrs 200m freestyle in 2:01.86.

Ferndown's Ellie Beckwith was the fastest 11-year-old in the heats of the 100m backstroke in 1:15.07 but had to settile for silver in the age group final after swimming slightly slower (1:15.28).

Team-mate Todd Price took bronze in the 10yrs 100m backstroke (1:22.16). He was also third in the heats of the 200m butterfly but pulled out of the final.

Jay Olenicz was Poole's golden boy, touching two seconds ahead of nearest rival Ryan Hart from Plymouth to win the 12yrs 100m backstroke in 1:10.32 - a time which makes him a serious medal contender in the nationals. He also reached the 200m freestyle final, finishing fifth in 2:19.92.

Ten-year-olds Peter Griffiths and Isabelle Frampton, the first Christchurch and New Milton Seagulls swimmers to appear in the South West age groups, both reached finals in their debuts.

Griffiths improved his personal best times in four events and reached the last eight in two of them, finishing fourth in the 200m freestyle in 2:35.48 and fifth in the 400m individual medley in 6:28.48, a 12-second PB.

Isabelle Frampton just missed out on a medal in the 200m butterfly after recovering from the tears which followed a heat in which she felt she had failed to stick to her race plan.

She was more controlled in the final, swimming 12 seconds quicker - and seven faster than her short-course PB - to come fourth in 3:15.41. She also improved by three seconds in the 200m freestyle to finish 10th in 2:44.36.

Other local finalists, Bournemouth Dolphins: 10yrs Jack Burton 4th 100m breast 1:35.32; Vicky Adams 6th 200m free 2:41.96, 8th 100m back 1:31.31. 11yrs Darren Price 6th 100m back 1:21.21. 13yrs Fiona Hardie 5th 200m fly 2:37.98; Amy Rickman 7th 200m fly 2:41.40, 7th 400m medley 5:32.98. 14yrs Anthony Bush 4th 200m free 2:04.68.

Ferndown: 10yrs Luke Horton 8th 100m back 1:25.03; Lucy Kirkham 7th 200m free 2:43.55, 8th 100m breast 1:42.62. 13yrs Luke Raggett 7th 200m fly 2:41.62; Georgi Blake 7th 100m back 1:14.33.

IN the rearranged South West youth championships 800m freestyle, Bournemouth Dolphins' Kim Rowles and Danielle Francis were the two fastest swimmers, respectively winning the 14-15yrs and 16/o titles in 9:10.25 and 9:11.29.

Ferndown's Zoe Watson took the 14-15yrs bronze in 9:27.92.

Meanwhile, Ferndown Otters' Lydia McManus and Nicole Scott have been added to the South West team for the UK School Games at Coventry in August.

As reported last week, Bournemouth Dolphins' Kim Rowles and Chris Campbell have also been selected.