CITY of Oxford made home advantage count by storming to victory in the first round of the National Arena Premier Division South League.

Leading from start to finish, City amassed 242 points, with 27 first and 11 second places from the 50 events at Leys Pool, to finish well ahead of favourites Sevenoaks.

As well as the 22 expected individual winners, Oxford’s victory came as a result of several swimmers – cheered on by enthusiastic home supporters – exceeding their anticipated positions.

Among those girls to excel for Oxford were Emily Wood (open 200 IM), Juliet Anthony (11 & u 50m backstroke) and Nina Brown (11 & under 50m breaststroke).

City boys to shine included Daniel Jenkins (open 100m freestyle), George Rudd (15 & under 100m backstroke & 100m breaststroke), Charles Pauling (13 & under 100m backstroke), Freddie Cooke (13 & under 100m butterfly), Mihailo Petrovic (13 & under 100m freestyle), Lachlan Middleton (11 & under 50m backstroke & 50m butterfly) and Jamie Conway (13 & under 100m breaststroke).

Result: 1 City of Oxford 242pts, 2 Sevenoaks 219, 3 Amersham 167, 4 Woking 148, 5 Guildford B 137, 6 Maxwell 132.

Bicester Blue Fins finished fourth in the first round of the West Midlands Division.

Will Jones won the under 11 100m freestyle, with Tom Henley triumphing in the 50m butterfly and backstroke.

Stephen Taylor clinched first place in the open 100m breaststroke.

l CITY of Oxford claimed 13 first places in the first of seven development meets at the Leys Pool.

Also competing at this short course event were swimmers from the Abingdon Vale, Banbury, Four Shires, Wantage White Horse and Witney clubs.

Leading the way for City with two wins were Eleni Ioannou (10), Ellen Tranter (12) and Panqain Ashton (13).

CITY OF OXFORD’S OTHER WINS

Mai Thomas (14), Hannah Austen (15), Emma Sherwood (10), Fiorella Pucks-Fazel (10), Nisaratn Rojch (14), Mary Cater (11), Ben Harkness (9).