SWIMMING Gunnedah coach John Hickey was impressed with the performances of his 10-member squad at Scully Park carnival after five weeks out of the training lanes due to the indoor pool maintenance upgrade.
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“Considering the break, they performed very well,” he said.
“Each athlete displayed an excellent attitude to racing despite a concern with fitness - they attacked each race of which I am very proud.
“Maddie Coombs, Amelia Lush and Kurt Rennick made the final four in the skins event but fitness beat them in the final 50 metres after gutsy swims in each elimination.”
The final medal haul of five gold, five silver and 11 bronze medals, along with a string of personal best times was a satisfying result from the carnival, which attracted 144 competitors from across the region.
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Eight-year-old Edward Waerea blitzed the field in backstroke, freestyle and butterfly in personal best times with third place in breaststroke. The pint-sized youngster also lined up for the 100m freestyle, where he finished a respectable eighth and stripped eight seconds from his entry time.
Older brother Angus (12) register improved times in every event, finishing second in the 50m fly and third in freestyle and backstroke, with a top performance in the 200m individual medley where he grabbed a bronze.
Nine-year-old Angus Hobson is fired up for a big summer and his determination to win gold shone through in the 50m breaststroke, where he flashed home in a personal best time. He also won silvers in backstroke, fly and freestyle and improved his entry time by eight seconds for bronze in the 100m breaststroke.
Fresh from a strong performance at Inverell, Maddie Coombs (16) won the 50m freestyle just outside her personal best time and went on to claim a bronze in the 100m freestyle and backstroke, while younger brother Brodie (12) registered improved times in four events.
In her first carnival for the season Scout Newbery (11) nailed five personal best times with a silver in the 50m backstroke, while club mate Amelia Lush returned to good form with improved times and bronze medals in backstroke, freestyle and fly. The emerging young swimmer gave it her all in the 100m backstroke but was just edged out of medal contention. Although unplaced in the 100m butterfly, Amelia clocked a pleasing seven-second improvement.
In the competitive 12 years division, Jedd Rennick pushed himself to the limit, improving his entry time by 11 seconds in the 100m breaststroke and nine seconds in the 200m freestyle but it wasn’t quite enough to make the top three.
Older brother Kurt (16) faced a strong field in his events, picking up third place in the 50m freestyle and finishing fourth in the 100m freestyle and backstroke, while Brooke Rennick (14) continues to improve at every meet, clipping six seconds from her best in freestyle.
With summer training now in full swing and hopes for a December opening of the new 50m pool, the future looks bright for Swimming Gunnedah, which caters for all levels from beginners to state qualifiers or those who just want to do well at their school carnival.