Winchester and Fareham Nomads have both won promotion to the Speedo Premier League.

The two south coast clubs stepped up to the top flight after finishing first and second in their final round gala for South Division 1 West in Haslemere.

Winchester won by a commanding 44 points, with Fareham edging out the hosts for the vital second spot.

Hampshire record-holder Julia Beckett (pictured below with Tom Close) gave Winchester the ideal start with a six-point win in the medley in 1min 8.44sec. She added a further 12 points in the gala with wins in 100m freestyle (1:00.6) and 100m backstroke in 1:06.98.

The 9-11 years team of Anna Newton, Leanne Whelan, Sam Paddington, Kirsty Jordan and Grace Terry made it a double freestyle and medley win - a feat matched by the under-13 quartet of Rhona Conway, Laura French, Helen Close and Abi Sweeney.

Swimming up an age group, Conway joined Kerrie Taylor, Amy Marklew and Beckett to take the under-15 freestyle relay.

The under-15 medley quartet of Dan Cross, Sam Close, Josh Sweeney and Kent Langridge took the scalp of the fancied Fareham Nomads squad having trailed them in the earlier freestyle event.

The individual events drew out numerous personal best swims, including Nicki Griffin in the 100m backstroke (1:14.02) and Sam Paddington (50 backstroke 37.62sec) - both winning swims.

Other winners: Josh Sweeney, 100m butterfly (1:04.34); Laura French, 100 breast-stroke (1:22.65,) Becky Ford 100 backstroke; Helen Close, 100m butterfly 1:13.15, and Sam Close, 100 breaststroke (1:14.77).

Coach Kevin Terry said: "All of our swimmers were steaming tonight, giving us a wonderful result.

"The margin of victory may have surprised a few but we know we are going to need every point next year in the Premier League."

Fareham coach Stewart Crowe was also a happy man, but he warned: "Next year will be even more difficult for the smaller clubs to survive, such is the strength of the league.

Until the leagues were revamped a few years ago, Fareham had been in the top division for 15 years.

The club's winners included Tiberius Meszaros in the 100m medley where he clocked a personal best 1min 3.24sec.

Nomads' under-15 freestyle relay quartet of Edward Askham-Spencer, Nick Barber, Peter Hall and Chris Walker were also victorious.

There were further wins from Peter Hall (u15 100m backstroke, 1:03.11 pb), Peter O'Donnell (100m butterfly, 59.89sec), Jamie O'Donnell (u11 50m breaststroke, 43.14 pb), Daniel Crook (u13 100m butterfly, 1:10.83 pb) and Chris Walker (u15 100m freestyle, 56.22pb).

Final Points: 1 Winchester 228; 2 Fareham Nomads 184; 3 Haslemere 175; 4 Newbury 161; 5 City of Southampton 151, 6 Havant & Waterlooville 149.

Fareham Nomads' B team competed in the top gala of Division 2 and finished eighth.

Their only winner was Hannah Halbauer in the under-15 100m backstroke in a personal best time of 1:15.14.

Between them the two teams achieved a total of 15 personal best times.