SWIMMERS from Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa have got their season off to the perfect start with opening day gala victories last weekend.

Bromsgrove Swimming Club won their Speedo League division two match while Droitwich Dolphins were victorious in division three.

Bromsgrove secured a seven-point victory margin at the Dolphin Centre, in School Drive, with 208 points ahead of Chase's 201. Flitwick Dolphins were third with 184.

Droitwich also had a large winning margin at the town's leisure centre swimming against Leek, Matlock, Treonte, Warley Wasps and Wyre Forest.

Bromsgrove began in style with two of their most experienced swimmers, Kayleigh Wagg and Steve Craner, pushing opposition to the limits in the open 4x1 individual medleys.

Age group relays followed with the girl's U15s 4x2 freestyle team of Amy Marshall, Gemma Hutchings, Loren Harrison and Claire Ashford taking first in 2 minutes 2.84 seconds.

The men's open 4x2 medley relay was brought to a swift conclusion when Simon Smith, Stuart Corbett, Craner and Neil Goodman joined forces to secure first in 1min 59secs.

The A whole host of runners-up places followed before Charlotte Wood won the girl's 10-11 butterfly.

Claire Ashford, Stuart Corbett and Tom Mansell caused havoc in their four-length events and Tom's power, combined with Matthew Williams, Richie Edmunds and Stephen Boyle, ensured victory in the U13s 4x2 freestyle.

The girl's U15s 4x2 medley team also powered home.

l Droitwich secured either first or second places in more than half of the 50 events.

Club captain Rachel Roberts inspired the team in the opening event by taking second place in the ladies' open individual medley, knocking four seconds off her personal best to set a new club record. She later won the 100m breaststroke.

Ian James was also second in the men's individual medley and won the 100m freestyle. Steve Snape was runner-up in the 100m breaststroke and Jo Hobbis won the backstroke.

Alex Dunn stormed home in the girl's U15s freestyle. She was joined by Emily Bower, Fiona Watt and Emma Williams to win the freestyle relay and take second in the medley.

In the U13s girl's group, Fiona Watt won the 100m butterfly, Natalie Blakemore the 100m breaststroke and Alexis Collier the 100m backstroke.

The U15s boy's team of Hobbis, Tom Ackrill, Adrian Rose and Sam Fowles won both the freestyle and medley relays.

In the younger age group, Ross McGuiness was first in the 50m freestyle and David Fisher was a clear winner of the U13s 100m backstroke.

SEVEN school records were broken as Bromsgrove Prep School won their first swimming gala of the year last month.

Among those to go were the U8s boys 4x25-metre freestyle and medley relays while Fraser Bales broke his own 25m butterfly record. The U8s girls 4x25m medley and U9s girls 4x25m freestyle relay times also went.