Saturday was a short night for three Reading swimmers. The youngest age groups took the first session at Sunday’s City of Southampton sprint gala - the meet well structured by age group for a large number of clubs including a big contingent from Guernsey - and James Bradley and Rachael and David Mills had swum in the Thames Valley Junior League at Amersham the evening before.

All three achieved at least one top-10 finish in big fields. Reading gave a particularly good showing in the 50m freestyle as David finished fifth and James eighth in their year and Rachael sixth among 40 starters in hers. James reversed this in the 50 back, ninth to David’s 11^th, and David’s fourth-ranked 50 fly came in a field of 20 with the judges making few allowances for inexperienced swimmers and disqualifying four.

Rebecca Alderson, 14, very successful at the City of Cambridge meet last time out, was one of several Reading swimmers in good form as the older age groups began their part of the programme with the 50 butterfly.

Alderson’s 32.27 missed a medal by one place in a field of 28, and teammate Chris Dunkley was just one place further back in the boys’ equivalent. Sally Wise was 10^th 15-year-old and regular rivals Daniel Jackson and Lewis Ross (current Evening Post Swimmer of the Month) finished seventh and ninth.

Emma Tarrant – who these days combines competing with coaching a Reading Development Squad - was midway in the top age category in fifth and it was no surprise to see Matt Sandell take a medal. Back from university for the first time since helping Reading B win their Speedo League division in December, Sandell took a silver behind Ferndown’s Seth Chappels.

Alderson hit her best form in the 50 breaststroke, where she was best of 26 in her year, just holding off Hamble’s Danielle King in 36.28. Ross, eighth out of 16, was Reading’s top boy.

The 50m free was as usual tightly contested throughout the age groups. Just 0.13 covered places two to four in the girls 14s, with Alderson taking another medal, this time the bronze. Tarrant was one place off a medal in the top group, with Alice Tourell ninth.

Sandell was second again in an excellent turnout of 18, but took a gold in his next swim as his 28.47 won the 50 back. Alderson, fifth, was again Reading’s highest placed girl.

The meet closed with the 100m individual medley – the only four-length event in the 25-metre Quays pool, one of the country’s most modern – and Alderson rounded off her fine day with a comfortable silver.

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