Promising swimmer, Emily Nisbet, from King Alfred’s Community and Sports College, Wantage, shone at a Level 1 Gala in Sheffield.

This was a rare opportunity for young swimmers to compete at the same gala as British Olympic hopefuls seeking qualification times for 2012.

Among the stars competing were the European champion, Commonwealth gold and world silver medallist Fran Halsall, world backstroke champion Liam Tancock, and Beijing bronze medallist Joanne Jackson.

Nisbet, 12, from Stanford in the Vale, was suitably inspired, and swam three South East Regional Championship qualifying times in the 200m individual medley, plus 200m and 400m freestyle.

The previous weekend Nisbet, a member of City of Oxford, achieved her first Scottish national championship qualifying time in the 200m butterfly while winning gold at the Abingdon Vale January Open.

Witney A got off to a flier as they stormed to victory in the first round of the Home Counties League.

Hosts Witney’s swimmer of the match was Aimee Felstead for her victories in the ladies open 100m butterfly and 15 & under 100m freestyle, plus a personal best time, and relay efforts in both age groups.

Liam Hatton had personal bests in the 15 and under 100m backstroke and 13 and under 50m butterfly, which he also won. Bicester Blue Fins wonthe first round of the league galaat Dunstable.

Georgia Tagg, 13, led the way with two wins in the 15 andunder category, firstly in the 100m backstroke and the 100m freestyle.

Ellie Bunce, 15, won the ladies’ open 100m breaststroke and 100m butterfly and also broke the club’s 100m individual medley record, finishing in 1min 12.10secs to finish second.

Witney B finished fourth.

Adam Colling won the men’s open 100m individual medley with a personal best time and was third in the 100m freestyle.

Mike Adair got the only other individual win in the men’s open 100m backstroke.

RESULTS.

Witney gala: 1 Witney A 247pts, 2 Leighton Buzzard 212, 3 Flitwick 201, 4 Banbury 162, 5 Aylesbury 157.

Dunstable gala: 1 Bicester Blue Fins 253, 2 Newport Pangell 244, 3 Dunstable 203, 4 Witney B 179.

KatieE McDonagh and Ewan Springett, both aged 11, won seven medals each on a successful day for Wantage White Horses at the Bletchley Invitational Meet.

The club won more than 80 medals including 38 golds.