ELEVEN Watchet Dolphins took to the water at Aquasplash last week to take and pass the ASA Gold Challenge Award. The award tests water skills together with speed and stamina swims to a high standard. Eight-year-olds Lauren Paviour and William Shaw took just over two minutes to complete the four- length speed swim and were followed by Keiley MacDonald and George Howes with Hester Berry close behind. All 11 finished well within the permitted two and a half minutes. After demonstrating various water skills they tackled the tiring 800 metres distance swim - 32 lengths involving backstroke, front crawl and breaststroke, to be completed within 25 minutes. First to complete the distance was eight-year-old Yasmin Bailey, closely followed by Lauren Roberts and Keiley MacDonald. Damien Fieldhouse and George Howes came in next with Lauren Paviour close behind. Quality swims by William Shaw, Hester Berry and Alex Howes and an excellent effort by fast- improving Luke Roberts ensured that all finished close together and well within time. Year One swimmer Sam Horn - only six years old - completed all sections of the award with ease. Gaining the gold award means William Shaw and Lauren Paviour have achieved all the requirements for an ASA Complete Swimmer award. Dolphins organiser Jim Butterworth is pictured with some of the successful swimmers - from the left, Lauren Roberts, Lauren Paviour, Yasmin Bailey, William Shaw and Sam Horn. Photo: Steve Guscott