ALL roads will lead to Gunnedah’s new swimming pool this Saturday for the first long-course carnival in two years due to the pool renewal project.
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The pool re-opened to the public on December 15 and there is great excitement in the Gunnedah club as the squad gears up for a day of racing in the eight-lane FINA-approved infinity pool.
Every race won on the day will be a new pool record, with the old pool records archived for posterity.
Swimming Gunnedah president Justin Hobson said entries had been strong for the carnival, with nominations from more than 160 competitors from all over the region.
“We should see some fast times come out of the carnival and with eight lanes operating, the day should run smoothly,” he said.
The carnival starts at 9am with warm-up from 8am.
The very first carnival conducted in the pool complex was held on November 27, 1955, when 500 people braved high winds to attend the Gunnedah Swimming Club carnival.
It is almost 60 years since the Governor General Sir Eric Woodward came to Gunnedah to officially dedicate the 100,000 pounds War Memorial Pool on February 14, 1959, on a scorching hot summer's day.
As the largest single council-funded capital works project undertaken, residents are now invited to attend the official opening ceremony for the new Gunnedah Memorial Pool Complex and dedication at 11am, February 14 to mark 60 years since the opening of the original pool pavilion.
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Meanwhile, a squad of eight Gunnedah swimmers represented their club at the NSW Regional Country Swimming Championships in Armidale last weekend.
The youthful team returned pleasing results after two days of competition against country swimmers from around the state.
Fourteen-year-old Andre Steele continued his good form with a hard-fought gold in the 50m butterfly, backed up by a silver in the 100m event, where he stripped 5.78 seconds from his entry time.
The rising young star was just edged out of medal contention in the 50m backstroke and freestyle events.
The club’s tadpoles Georgia Lyons and Danika Jones, both 9, were excited to win medals at their first regional championships. Georgia improved her entry time by an amazing 13.57 seconds to claim a bronze in the 50m butterfly, while Danika matched her effort with third place in the 50m freestyle.
Danika also competed in the 100 freestyle and finished a creditable fifth after improving her time by 7.19 seconds.
Savannah Lyons nailed a personal best time in the 11-years backstroke to claim a silver medal, with greatly improved times in the 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke.
Club mate Scout Newbery put in a huge effort in the 11 years 100m fly, finishing a close fourth after clipping six seconds from her best time. She also improved her time in the 50m event.
Medals were elusive for Amelia Lush, 12, Maddie Coombs, 16, and Brodie Coombs, 12, in very competitive fields. However, the trio recorded personal victories with improved times.
