SOME of Caradon Swimming Club's newest and youngest members took part in the annual Development Gala at Bodmin.

This meeting is designed to give those new to the sport a taste of competition outside of their club environments.

Nine-year-old Ben Suckling and Phillip Watson both set new personal best times of 53.46 seconds and 1.02.41 respectively in the boys' 50-metre backstroke.

Meanwhile, Kai Russell was just outside his best to finish in 54.61 seconds in the ten years' age group, and Josh Attreed made a tremendous start

to the day by setting a best time by almost three seconds (1.04.70) and taking the bronze medal in the 12 years' discipline.

Not to be outdone, the girls also produced some superb performances. In the nine years' age group, Misha Watson set a new PB of 1.12.72, while

Cali-Mai Willett sliced more than eight seconds off her previous best time to finish in 51.89 seconds. Imogen James also set a new best mark of 1.02.55, both in the ten years' age group.

Said Caradon's head coach, Keith Haynes: 'This is a great opportunity for these swimmers to experience a proper racing environment.

'There are lots of new things for them to deal with and I think the swimmers performed really well.'

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