POOLE’S Barry Alldrick has been named Swim England’s South West Coach of the Year following the best spell in the club’s 87-year history.

And the best may be yet to come, as he is also a finalist for the national title to be announced in Birmingham next month.

Alldrick received his trophy from south west president Bob Holman.

Poole were already a club on the rise when Alldrick joined them from Seagulls in 2014.

Chairman Russ Corn said: “Barry has been an exceptional catalyst in taking the club from good to great.

“We are now dominant in the county, a major player in the region and sending dozens of swimmers to nationals.”

In the past 18 months Poole have achieved unprecedented success at every level.

Honours have included a first Southern Junior League title, top Dorset club in the National Arena League and top club in the Dorset Championship.

Poole currently have three national champions in Jacob Peters, Jazz McCrea and Oli Fairman, with Peters and McCrea now established internationals.

Peters’s recent achievements have included medley relay medals at the European Championship and Commonwealth Games, where he was also the youngest in all three men’s butterfly finals.

Alldrick was also one of the Great Britain coaches at this year’s European Junior Championship, where Peters and McCrea were among the swimmers.

The Poole coach said: “It has been an awesome personal journey over the past few seasons, building confidence and gaining exposure to bigger and bigger meets and working alongside so many athletes, coaches and volunteers.

“I’m honoured to receive this award.”

Seagulls registered 24 victories in 53 events to win their fourth round gala in the West Hants Novice League.

“We have now won three of the four rounds and it sets us up nicely for round five on November 17,” said coach Martin Littlefair.

Result: 1 Seagulls 203, 2 Ringwood 173, 3 Wildern Waves 149, 4 Romsey & Totton 130, 5 Locks Heath 74.

Leo McCrea is a step closer to fulfilling his dream of representing his country at the Paralympic Games after being named in British Para-swimming’s World Class Podium Potential Squad.

His selection is a step up from the Bournemouth Collegiate School 14-year-old’s previous place on the national academy squad.

It follows a successful season, which culminated in gold and bronze medals in the multi-class para events at the Swim England Championship in August.

McCrea – younger brother of Poole international Jazz – has also been nominated for the Swim England Para-Swimmer of the Year award.

Poole had a swimmer in three of the four teams in the Inter-services Channel relay.

Dorset policeman Marc Newman, a veteran of six individual Channel swims, starred in the Police team which won the relay in 9hr 25min.

Royal Marine Andy Mason was in the Royal Navy team that came second while soldier Kath Baker was in the army team which finished fourth behind the RAF.