AMERSHAM and Wycombe swimming clubs both had good starts to their Thames Valley Junior League campaigns with Amersham claiming top spot and Wycombe third in their respective opening meets.

In round one of the league at Reading on Saturday night, Amersham finished first, 30 points clear of second placed Chesham.

Amersham notched up 193 points, compared to their neighbours 163, while Chalfont filled third spot, with 154 points. The hosts Reading (136) took fourth and Slough (103) came in fifth.

The Bucks club were helped on their way to top spot with a brace of wins for both Scott Rosenthal and Katie Ambridge.

There were also first places for their clubmates Andrea Poore, Matt Paget, Phoebe Cullingworth, Hannah Shaw, Josh Privett and Andrea Fox, with Paget and Cullingworth both recording personal bests in their wins.

In the relays, the ten-year boys medley and freestyle teams of Simon Fraser, Jonathan Wale, Josh Privett and Scott Rosenthal; 11-year boys' medley and freestyle team of Tom McEwen, Laurence Fox, Callum Kwasnik and Max Lowery; and the 12-year girls' freestyle relay squad of Melissa Bennington, Jenifer Howard, Hannah Shaw and Andrea Poore all romped home first.

Over at Maidenhead, Amersham B team were also in action, taking fifth place behind neighbours Wycombe, who took third at the meet.

Wycombe notched up 130 points to claim third behind Windsor (168) and Newbury (135). Maidenhead filled fourth with 87 points while Amersham finished on 69.

It was a good start to Wycombe's year as they gave holders Windsor a run for their money.

Wycombe claimed six individual wins thanks to Carol Messider (11-years 50m butterfly); Robert Matthews-Stroud (12-years 50m freestyle); Charlotte Piggott (11-years 50m breaststroke); Thomas Hearn (11-years 50m breaststroke); Sarah Hird (12-years 50m breaststroke); and Charles Baird (12-years 50m breaststroke).

There were also relay win for the boys' 12-years squad of Thomas Hearn, Oliver Woodall, Charles Baird, Christian Johnson and Robert Matthews-Stroud; the girls' 11-years 4x25m freestyle squad of Victoria Ziemniak, Charlotte Piggott, Carol Messider and Emma Robinson; and the boys' 11-years 4x25m freestyle squad of Thomas Hearn, Steven Matthews, William Benjafield and Oliver Woodall.

Meanwhile, Amersham's depleted B team produced 12 personal best swims at Maidenhead but still couldn't avoid the bottom spot.

Nicola Coker Gordon won the ten-year breaststroke and swam two bests.

The teams now contest the second round on Saturday, February 10.