MORE Than 400 swimmers from 12 clubs will turn Bournemouth’s Littledown Centre into a cauldron of energy and excitement over the next two weekends as they take part in one of the highlights of the county swimming year.

Swim Bournemouth, formed by the merger of Ferndown Otters and Bournemouth Dolphins, have the largest number of competitors at the Dorset County Championships with 107.

But both Seagulls and Poole have dramatically increased the number of their qualifiers – to 83 and 78 respectively.

The Seagulls contingent will include members of Bournemouth Collegiate School’s new swimming academy, most of whom will be making their debuts in a Dorset competition after following their former Somerset Cheetas coach Zoe Baker to Bournemouth.

Former Dolphins swimmer Martin Littlefair, now coached by Graham Bassi at Swansea, has entered several events under the Poole banner.