Poole will be back among the National Arena League’s regional elite next year following a thumping victory in the Division One final at Cardiff.

They finished 70 points ahead of nearest challengers Yeovil and at least 100 clear of everyone else in the 10-team final.

The result means that Poole finish the 2010 campaign with the maximum possible league points after winning all three rounds.

Yeovil will join them in the West’s Premier Division next October as Division One runners-up.

The league title is the first in Poole’s history. The club also won promotion to the Premier Division in 1994 and 2002 but in both cases as runners-up.

On both occasions they were relegated 12 months later but coach Robin Armayan is determined that will not happen again.

“Going into the final as league leaders, we obviously hoped to win but I didn’t expect to win by 70 points,” said the Frenchman, who has transformed Poole’s fortunes since his arrival two years ago.

“I didn’t put any pressure on the swimmers. I just said that if we were going to win, we would have to win the relays.

“That proved to be our strength. Ten of our 17 wins came in relays and that really made the difference.”

He added: “I can’t wait for next year. But it will be Poole’s first in the Premier Division for eight years and our target will not be to do amazing things but to remain in the division. We have to take one step at a time.”

Courtney Rowan topped the scoresheet for Poole with eight wins from eight swims, including individual victories in the open and 15/u 100m freestyle (1:01.51 and 1.01.80) and 100m butterfly (1:07.71 and 1:09.34).

Dan Speers was even busier with nine swims across three age groups, including individual wins in the 13/u 50m and 15/u 100m breaststroke (35.49 and 1:14.95) and second in the 13/u 50m butterfly (31.11). Maddy Kemp was another winner, taking the girls' 13/u 50m butterfly in 32.40.

Harry Kemp came second in the 11/u 50m breaststroke and freestyle (43.83 and 28.82), Jessica Richens in the 13/u 50m breast (38.99), while in the 13/u age group Daniel Monk was second in the 50m freestyle (28.82) and Sophie Eaton in the 50m breaststroke (38.99).

Christchurch and New Milton Seagulls also had a perfect end to their first Division One season, winning the runners-up gala at Millfield to secure 10th place out of 18.

Individual winners were Peter Griffiths (13/u 50m breast 34.80 and fly 31.10), Maisie Gormley (11yrs 50m free 31.60), Alice Talbot (15yrs 100m free 1:04.86), Sam Webber (15yrs 100m back 1:07.14) and open swimmers Chris Campbell (100m fly 1:00.08) and Will Harrison (100m free 54.37).

Coach Barry Alldrick said: “Our aim was to consolidate our mid-table position and we did that with some amazing swims including five club records. I’m confident we will build on this next year by reaching the promotion gala.”

<•>In the 25-team Division Three, Wareham Water-Rats, North Dorset Turboes and Clayesmore finished 21st, 22nd and 23rd respectively.