It was 12 tapered Otters that flew the flag for amphibious creatures everywhere and ventured forth across the Severn to pit their wits against the fire-breathing locals. This is their story...

Once again it was the ever gritty distance swimmers who got the golden ball rolling for Otter in the 1500. First up and making her debut in an Otter hat, was open water specialist Erica Moffett. In a commanding performance, spurred on no doubt by a spirited rendition of that Wurzels classic ‘I’ve got a brand new combine harvester’, she posted a new 2 minute PB of 21.55.89. With form like that the Channel should be a breeze! Not to be outdone in the distance stakes was Queen of all events long, painful and lactic-inducing, Rhiannon Guy, setting a new long course PB and taking gold in a time of 19.48.59.

The medals continued to flow for the Otter distance swimmers throughout the weekend. Mike Make rediscovered the long course 800 metre swimmer in him, coming home second in a highly respectable time of 12.00.21. Lesley Davis battled the pain barrier and won in that horror event - the long course 400 IM. She says she needs to work on her fly but with a 3 second faster than entry time swim I think she’s well on her way already.

The talk had been talked, the caffeine pills popped but who would take the 200 back crown? Lane 1 lady Gina Hobson or Hartlepool-based, part time Olympian, Matt Staines? The rules: if Gina came within 10 seconds of Matt’s time - win for Gina, if Matt beat Gina by more than 10 seconds - win for Matt.

The ladies were up first and it was a typically textbook performance from Gina, blitzing the field and romping home in a 2 second PB of 2.40.94. The gauntlet had been thrown down... could the boy Staines deliver? The crowd were on their feet... 2.30.94 was the time to beat... but would 4 lengths prove 3 lengths too much for the sprint specialist? A conservative 36.26 split from Matt put Gina firmly in yellow jersey position after the first 50 but a speedy second 50 from the Scotsman brought him right back into it. Could he make the back loading training from the IOW 400 count or would it be another scalp to the Otter ladies? There was nothing in it down the final length... he hits the pads... 2.31.37. So close

It was Liz Shaw and Fiona Marshall who both stepped up to the plate in the 50 breast and it was gold medal winning performances all the way from the Otter ladies. A very impressive 34.97 PB from Fiona and 41.76 for Liz. Another gold to add to the Otter tally for Mike - coming in almost a second under his entry time in 40.62. Lesley put in another solid performance in the 200 breast with a 3.53.56 and a bronze medal to boot.

There was a bounty of performances worthy of mention in the freestyle. It was an Otter men’s 3, 4 and 5 in the 100 free with Matt coming home at the front of the pack in a 58.54, Alex Freelove taking 4th in 1:01.03 and Andy Hudson taking 5th in a new PB of 1:01.71.

The crowd were treated to some sterling performances by the Otter ladies in the 200 with an opposition pounding and PB destroying swim from Gina in 2.19.96. Proving that there is life beyond distance swimming, Rhiannon knocked an impressive 3 seconds off her PB set at the London Championships in January. The ladies took gold and bronze in the A age group. Mike also notched up an inspiring performance in the 200 free striking silver in 2.32.83.

In newly acquired fastskin, it was Fiona that set the standard in sprint swimming. Leaving the opposition in her wake, and showing the students what Masters swimming is really all about, she stormed into the finish in a new long course PB of 28.4 in the 50fc. Another overall win and gold medal for the ladies Captain.

There was no space for anyone else in the men’s B age group 50 fly. Again it was a Staines, Freelove and Hudson Otter 1, 2 and 3. With Matt and Alex taking gold and silver in 28.36 and 29.67 respectively, Andy was nudged out of the bronze by Camden, but banked another new PB in 30.82

Fiona was the sole representative for the Otter ladies in the 100 fly and she meant business. Erasing all memories of the horror 2003 75m version of the same event, she cruised home in 1.10.74.

With such comprehensively fine performances in the individual events, Otter hopes were riding high in the relays. First up was the much vaunted GB record attempt in the 100+ mixed medley relay. Ross’s super quick performance down the final leg - splitting in 24.54 wasn’t quite enough. Unfortunately, he had just too much to do, and the team (Matt, Fiona, Gina, Ross) finished just outside Barnet’s record of 2.01.43 in 2.02.95.

A rather novel tactical approach was adopted in the mixed freestyle 120+ relay (Rhiannon, Dr F, Andy and Katie Goodall), with the team opting for a Andy and Dr F sandwich. They stormed home in 1.55.8 taking gold in the 120+ age group.

In the women’s 100+ medley relay, the Otter girls (Katie, Fiona, Rhiannon and Gina) led the pack coming home in 2.13.13 with special mention going to Rhiannon for her 32. on the fly. It was a similar story in the free with everyone posting impressive splits - Gina 28., Fiona 27., me 29. and Rhiannon 30. - combining to win overall in a time of 1.56.58.

Best of luck to everyone competing in Manchester and I’ll see you all again next year. Swansea 2007 anyone?

Reporter: Katie Goodall