LODDON White Dolphins Swimming Club saw 81 swimmers taking part in the junior gala on Saturday at the Hobart High School pool.For many of the swimmers it was their first-ever competition, and club president and chief coach Pam Stone and swim teacher Stacey Taylor praised the high standard of swimming and determination to perform well.

LODDON White Dolphins Swimming Club saw 81 swimmers taking part in the junior gala on Saturday at the Hobart High School pool.

For many of the swimmers it was their first-ever competition, and club president and chief coach Pam Stone and swim teacher Stacey Taylor praised the high standard of swimming and determination to perform well.

In the six-year-old age group, Georgina Cook swam a fast freestyle first, with Abigail Humphries, Amy Framingham and Katie Andrews taking close second, third and fourth.

Georgina Matthews's strong backstroke gained her first place, followed by Chloe Milton second, Leoni Delf-Havens third and Katie Andrews fourth.

Ethan Mortimer took an early lead in the boys' freestyle. Zak Poll was second, Mitchell Boothby third and Marcus Battisson fourth.

Ethan also claimed first in backstroke, with Brandon Burgess second; Mitchell and Marcus secured third and fourth places. Good first gala times were recorded by Grace Hunt, Bethany Allen, Emily Siggins, Abigail Silk, Claudia White and Eleanor Storey.

Trophy awards: Tenacity and Determination - Bethany Allen, Swimmer of the Year - Leoni Delf-Havens, Most Improved Swimmer - Marcus Battisson, Tries Hard

awards - Mitchell Boothby, Amy Framingham, Emily Siggins and Georgina Matthews.

In the seven-year-old age group, determined swimming gave Sophie Thurtell first in front crawl, with Lauren Pittaccio second.

Megan Bailey and Katherine English fought for front crawl third and fourth places and Megan later took first in breaststroke.

Lauren Pittaccio performed a fast backstroke win, with Katherine English second, Charlotte Haynes third and Alicia Gray fourth.

The exciting boys' front crawl gave Daniel Siggins first place. He touched a fingertip ahead of the unlucky Alexander Husband; Brandon Yallop took third and Johnny Reynolds fourth.

Daniel claimed first in backstroke, with Stuart Clarke second, ahead of James King in third and Johnny Reynolds in fourth.

Stuart secured first in breaststroke.

There was good swimming from

Chloe Rowswell, Hannah Keely, Tara Jenkins, Lilian Dorey, Maisie Ford, Robert Innes. George Browne, Ned Mead, Oliver Soanes, Luke Gillespie, Sophie Todd, Fenella Jenkins and Katie

Triggs.

Trophy awards: Good Effort Throughout the Year - Daniel Siggins, Stones Award for Positive Attitude - Chloe Rowswell, Girls' Good Effort - Maisie Ford, Tries Hard - Katie Triggs.

The backstroke for eight-year-olds went went to Bethan Roe, with Phoebe Chick second, Rebecca Cleghorn third and Siouxsie Littlewood fourth.

Bethan gained a second in breaststroke and Janna Sapey took first.

Harriet Masters claimed a win in front crawl, followed by Alice Whitmore

hot on her heels, Phillippa English third and Ashton Moore fourth.

Alice Whitmore secured butterfly

first.

Firsts went to Morgan Crisp in backstroke and front crawl, with Rory Cook second in both; Alex Harper-Bourne took third in front crawl.

Jolyon Stokes secured first in breaststroke with Alex Harper-Bourne second. Good swimming from Elise Plume, Rachel Folkard, and Lauren

King.

Trophy awards: Very Good Effort - Jolyon Stokes, Most Improved Girl - Rachael Folkard.

In the nine-year-old age group, first- class swimming from Georgia Sargent saw wins in backstroke and front

crawl.

Backstroke second, third and fourth went to Lydia Webb, Esme Challis and Holly Bailey respectively.

Close front crawl second, third

and fourth places went to Esme

Challis, Georgia Getting and Alice Robertson. Alice gained first in breaststroke.

Oliver Bodie took firsts in

backstroke and front crawl, with Hudson Boothby second in both. Matthew Hayes was third in backstroke and Sam Ford fourth.

Front crawl third went to Harry Gittins and fourth to Ben Turner. Stephen Harris took first in butterfly.

Good swimming times were recorded by Tiffany Carr, Benjamin Smith, Daniel Mortimer, George Boyd, and Ryan Jenkins.

Trophy awards: Good Effort - Hudson Boothby, Michael Hogarth Pleasure to Teach - Benjamin Smith, Tries Hard Award - Alice Robertson.

Gala Lifeguards: club captains Rebecca Gray and Jack Nelson, vice-captains

Alice Jennison and Matt Day and Faith Jennison.

The date of the Senior Gala is Saturday, April 19.