SOUTHAMPTON Dolphins Swimmers left their mark on the Hart Open, the inaugural meet of the 2018/19 season.

The Shirley Pool team left with 58 medals - 21 gold, 24 silver and 13 bronze - 75 personal-best times and 85 Hampshire qualifying times.

Oliver Cook, 13, was the top boy with nine best-ever times and eight top-three finishes.

The Dolphin girls also sparkled. Jodie Yates, 18, was prolific, bagging five firsts and one silver. Emily Lowther, 12, was rewarded for life-time best times in every event with three golds and two silvers.

Younger brother Matthew (10) recorded a massive 34-second personal best in the 200 fly, a ten-second-plus improvement in the 200m backstroke, four other golds and a silver medal.

Nathan Lewis, 11, achieved nine podium placings, 50m free (31.7) and 50 breaststroke (42.62), shaving eight seconds from his previous best time. His sister Ellena achieved breakthrough times in 200 Individual Medley and 50m breaststroke.

Shirley schoolgirl Ruby Latimore, nine, destroyed the field and her previous time for two lengths butterfly by over 20 seconds to earn gold.

Sister Freya, 11, produced five improved times, the 50m backstroke (35.95) good enough to top the podium.

Freya Manning, 13, picked up gold in 50m backstroke, Rhyseren Taylor, 12, was first home in the 400m freestyle, second in 200m fly and sliced six seconds off her pb to take silver in the 400m IM.

Evie Turner also cut her time dramatically in the 200m IM while twin sister Isabel medalled four times, improving 50m back (33.67) and 200m IM (2.41.41).

Zak Lanham rounded off a fine calendar year of racing with five medals, a gold in the 50m fly (30.03) and four more new best times.

Southampton Dolphins head coach Matt Boyd-Wallis said: “We had a total of 115 swims across all age groups, and everyone should be very proud with what they have achieved.”

“This was our first Open Meet of the season and what an amazing weekend it has been. I am incredibly proud of all the Southampton Dolphins who competed this weekend, we had swimmers performing their best, supporting and cheering on their teammates.”

The new Dolphins Performance Coaching Team of Paul Dollery and Hugo Marreiros, under the guidance of Matt Boyd-Wallis, has had a major impact on the club’s approach to competitive swimming, introducing a high level of long-term technique training and quality pool time.

Other PBs

Mali Belward

Girls 13 50 Breast 51.18

Girls 13 200 IM 3:45.40

Girls 13 100 Back 1:42.32

Maisie Latham

Girls 12 100 Breast 1:42.23

Girls 12 50 Free 37.01

Girls 12 200 Breast 3:39.12

Pippa Read

Girls 13 50 Free 34.98

Girls 13 50 Breast 49.00

Girls 13 100 Back 1:25.95

Girls 13 100 Free 1:19.08

Isla Rutherford

Girls 10 50 Back 42.71

Girls 10 50 Free 36.86

Olivia Tilley

Girls 14 50 Back 36.52

Girls 14 100 Breast 1:30.78

Girls 14 50 Breast 40.81

Girls 14 100 Back 1:16.97

Girls 14 100 Free 1:12.59

Zoey Yates

Girls 12 100 Breast 1:41.50

Girls 12 50 Free 33.36

Girls 12 50 Breast 44.99