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BOURNEMOUTH Dolphins' transport jinx struck again on Sunday - and made a major challenge even harder as the Southern Junior League champions headed for the national semi-final at Milton Keynes.

The club's junior team had only reached Ringwood when the front windscreen of their 90-seat motor coach fell out.

The youngsters, aged nine to 12, then faced an 80-minute wait until two smaller replacement coaches arrived.

"It completely threw our plans as we arrived late for the warm-up with the kids unsettled," said Dolphins' head coach Graham Bassi.

It hardly got any better afterwards. Although only 66 points separated top from bottom in a relatively close gala between the champions of six regional leagues, it was Dolphins who ended up sixth.

"We were disappointed with the result although, looking at last year's stats, we have moved forward as a club," said Bassi.

"It was a difficult day all round. I couldn't fault the effort from the swimmers but we must address our racing skills if we want to be a stronger club in the future."

Assistant coach Sam Woodward added: "Overall our swimmers swam faster than in last year's semi-final - but everyone else got faster as well."

Dolphins were also handicapped by the absence of their best swimmer, national age group champion Amelia Maughan, who was attending an England talent camp.

The club had to wait 15 events for their first race win - and it turned out to be their only one in the 49-event programme.

It was provided by Sam Bush, who took the girls' 12/u 50m butterfly in 32.92.

There were plenty of second places, however, including two each from Courtney Rowan and Beth Folland.

Rowan was second in the girls' 12/u 50m freestyle (28.81) and backstroke (34.31).

Folland was runner-up in the equivalent events for 10-year-olds (34.40 and 39.11).

Ryan McCormack added another individual second place in the 11/u 50m freestyle (31.47).

Second places in the relays came from the boys' 11/u freestyle team of Oscar Esposti, Jamie Holmes, James Seddon and McCormack, the girls' 12/u medley team of Rowan, Annie Leadbeater, Bush and Danielle Thwaites and the mixed cannon team of Jasmine Holmes, Folland, Sophie Cooke, Rowan, Matt Lumley, Tom Kingham, McCormack and Louis Bridet.

Third places came from Kyle Gordulla (9yrs 25m breast 22.75), Ross Webb (10yrs 50m back 39.69), Beth Hebditch (11/u 50m breast 42.25) and Louis Bridet (12/u 50m free 30.41).

Result: 1 Thurrock 198, 2 Boldmere 188, 3 Hillingdon Borough 187, 4 Norwich 179, 5 City of Derby 140, 6 Bournemouth Dolphins 132.

2:33pm Wednesday 8th October 2008

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