Thetford Dolphins Swimming Club took part in the first round of the Norfolk Junior League held in Dereham. The young team of nine to 12-year-olds finished the gala in a respectable third place and will now compete for the Christine Clark Cup in the final round.

Thetford Dolphins Swimming Club took part in the first round of the Norfolk Junior League held in Dereham.

The young team of nine to 12-year-olds finished the gala in a respectable third place and will now compete for the Christine Clark Cup in the final round.

During the gala the team achieved 12 second places, 15 thirds and 11 new personal best times.

Swimming in the 11-year age group, Luke Collins (10) impressed by finishing a terrific second for both the 50m free (PB) and 50m fly, while team-mate Rhys Vertigans (10) also finished second in both the 50m breaststroke (PB) and 50m backstroke.

Luke and Rhys teamed up with Stuart Root (10) and Richard Hatton (10) to finish in second place for both the medley and freestyle relays.

Stuart and Richard swam in the 10-year age group where Stuart finished second for the 25m fly, and fourth for the 50m back in the 12-year age group, while Richard came in a fine third for the 50m backstroke.

Richard and Stuart joined up with Daniel Collins (9) and Liam Levy-Twomey (9) for the medley relay, where they finished in second place.

Liam, Daniel, Michael and Thomas Cobbold (9) finished second for both the nine-year freestyle and special relay. Thomas also finished third in the 50m freestyle and Liam came fourth in the 50m breaststroke (PB). Luke, Stuart, Daniel and Thomas finished in a great second place for the 10-year freestyle relay.

Thomas joined up with Luke, Rhys and Murray Burt (12) for the 12-year medley relay, finishing third, and the freestyle relay, finishing fourth. Taylor Dean (12) finished in third place for both the 50m free and 50m fly, while Murray Burt came in third place for the 50m breaststroke.

The girls also swam well, with the 9-year freestyle relay team of Meade Clarke (8), Katie King (9), Polly Plampin (9) and Courtney Easton (9), finishing in a wonderful second place, and finishing in third for the medley relay.

Elle Kleinau (12) finished in third for both the 50m free (PB) and 50m fly. Elle teamed up with Alice Smith (12), Kerry Douthwaite (12) and Lauren where the foursome finished in third for both the medley and freestyle relays.

Kerry also finished third in the 50m breaststroke (PB) and fourth in the 100m individual medley race, while Alice came fourth in the 50m backstoke (PB). Grace McGill (10) finished third in the 50m backstroke, while Ruby Last (10) was third in 25m fly. Ruby teamed up with Grace, Alexandra Ashley (10) and Liana Hanley (10) for the freestyle and medley relays, where the girls finished in fourth place for both.

The 11-year freestyle relay team of Jessica Monk (11), Charlotte Hailstone (10), Fiona Byford (11) and Sasha Levy-Twomey (11) finished in a fine third place and took a fourth place in the medley relay.

Final results: UEA 213 points, Dereham 192, Thetford 161, Aylsham 153, and Great Yarmouth 85.