Tenby Dolphins recently travelled over two weekends in February to the 'new look' West Wales Swimming Championships. Traditionally, Tenby have always achieved great results at this competition and 2005 was to be no exception. In 2005, the competition had been upgraded so that the events were identical to those to be swum at the Welsh Championships in April and later the National Championships in July. This meant that children as young as nine were competing in 100m, 200m and 400m events. Those Tenby swimmers who had the confidence and ability to enter these events achieved great results, with many reaching finals in the 100m and 200m races. All who entered swam far faster than the team manager anticipated. For those younger swimmers who were not ready to compete in the main competition, there was a novice competition. This, however, had cut off times and if you swam too fast you could not win the event, but were awarded a 'speeding ticket' for your efforts. Tenby, we are proud to say, had more speeding tickets than any other club. Well done to Bethan Davie and Sydney Vickery, who picked up three between them. The older swimmers had tough competitions as the Swansea team based at the new National Pool attracts all the best swimmers and has many in the national squad. However, Tenby still managed to show them that they have not got them all, with Danny Brown and Andrew James finishing first and second, respectively, in the 100m and 200m breaststroke. Tasha Kinsey also stole second place in the 100m backstroke, separating twin sisters from Swansea who are both in the national squad. The final competition at the West Wales Championships is the inter-club relay competition. In 2003 and 2004, Tenby achieved what they thought was a fantastic third place overall, until this year. With brilliant all-round performances from children ranging in age from eight up to 40-plus, Tenby this year were runners-up in the championships. Since these championships, Tenby have had four swimmers invited into the Welsh Development Programme, with a further five being closely monitored. Finally, the outgoing senior team captain, Michael Nicholas, who has recently moved to Bridgewater in Somerset, broke a Somerset county record in his area championships. Mark Foster, who has represented Great Britain in the World Championships and the Olympic Games several times, held the record. Michael took a full second off Mark's 100m backstroke record, which he had held since 1986.