EXCITING Didcot Barram-undi prospect Alex Murphy captured two gold medals at Crystal Palace over the weekend.

The 15-year-old was competing in the new ASA South Zonal Championships, which brought together the best swimmers from the south west, south east and London.

Competing in the junior 16 & under section, Murphy won the 100m breaststroke in 1 min 08.05 secs, and the 200m breaststroke in an Oxon & North Bucks county record time of 2.29.40.

His times have qualified him for the British Gas (50m) Championships in Man-chester from March 5-12.

  • ANN Tivey claimed the club’s swimmer-of-the-match award as Witney finished joint second in round one of the Chiltern League.

There were some excellent performances and personal bests, but Tivey got the nod for her performances in the open ladies’ 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke.

Witney finished just five points adrift of winners Newport Pagnell.

The result came down to the final few relays, as they shared the runners-up spot with Letchworth.

With ten swimmers getting “speeding tickets” for swims that were too fast, it meant they were pipped at the post.

Result: 1 Newport Pagnell 169pts, 2= Witney, Letchworth 144, 4 Bushey 160, 5 Flitwick 150, 6 Aylesbury 139.

Witney personal bests: J Relph, S Pau, E Doughty, E Fraser, N Anstee, C Naus, A Billington, I Fraser, S Jackson, B Locke, H Blackford, A Parry, L Cummings, D Wat-kins, B Hatton, J Marinho, G Kendall, E Pitson, R Frost, F Dawkins.

Witney winners: N Anstee, A Parry, H Blackford, E Pitson, A Tivey, R Frost.

Too-fast swims: A Tivey, J Relph, C Naus, A Billington, B Hatton, F Dawkins.

  • KIDLINGTON & Gosford hosted their first-round gala in the C-graded Chiltern League.

Unfortunately for Kidlington, 12 swimmers exceeded the time band, and so did not register a point.

However, first places were gained by 11 swimmers.

Newcomers to the team, Kitty Surrage, Georgia Moore, and Zac Gibson all had excellent swims even though they were handed “speeding tickets” for being too fast for the time band.

Final result: 1 Tring 229pts, 2 Bucking-ham Swans 203, 3 Kidlington 196.