Witney A finished third in the first round of the Home Counties League after a ding-dong battle with Luton A and Northampton A at Milton Keynes.

Stacey Bailes gave Witney the ideal start with a win in the ladies open individual medley, following up with victory in the ladies breaststroke.

She then teamed up with Chantel Clauvaud, Joanne Eaton and Joanne Trask to notch open medley and freestyle relay victories.

However, these successes were not matched in the other age groups, with the exception of 13-year-old Hannah Barratt, who took the girls 15/u breaststroke, and then combined with Rachel Walton, Claire Hughes and Hannah Hamilton to take the touch in the girls 15/u medley relay.

Witney's boys victories came from Luke Wilmshurst in the 15/u butterfly and the 11/u boys team of Simon Possee, Kieran Foggett, Liam Harris and Connor Higginson in the freestyle relay.

Result: 1 Luton A 225 pts, 2 Northampton A 216, 3 Witney A 210, 4 Kettering 171, 5 Wellingborough 133, 6 Newport Pagnell 86.

Witney B could not overcome the handicap of missing the first nine events due to transport difficulties at Luton.

Katie Hamilton and nine-year-old Daniel Harkin took the swimmers-of-the-match awards.

Result: 1 City of Oxford B 208pts, 2 Dunstable 201, 3 Luton B 183, 4 Wantage White Horses 162, 5 Maxwell 159, 6 Witney B 111.