SWIMMING Gunnedah hosted a very successful carnival at the renewed war memorial complex last Saturday with the new FINA-approved infinity pool receiving high praise from competitors and visiting clubs.
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With eight lanes in action, the meeting ran smoothly and the local club bagged a total of 23 gold, 28 silver and 22 bronze medals with improved times across all strokes.
Swimming Gunnedah coach John Hickey was “more than happy” with his squad’s efforts.
“It was a great overall result,” he said.
“The club is building and the committee has done a great job to stage this carnival – the parents are very supportive of the direction we are taking and it is showing in the results.
“Next year will be even bigger and we will have records to chase over the next 12 months.”
Hickey said a number of local swimmers had recorded state and country qualifying times but everyone had achieved at least one personal-best time.
It was the “last hurrah” for brothers Archie, Angus and Eddie Waerea who have relocated to the coast with their family. Their performances at the carnival boosted the medal tally, with eight-year-old Eddie winning the 50m freestyle, backstroke and fly, all in improved times. He also finished second in breaststroke and clipped five seconds from his best to grab a bronze in the 100m freestyle.
Archie, 14, registered five improved times, winning the 50m backstroke and finishing second in the 200m medley, 50m and 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke, backstroke and fly, while 12-year-old Angus improved his times and swam into second place in four events with third place in the medley and 100m freestyle.
With cash prizes on offer for the older swimmers, Andre Steele, 14, was in good form winning four events and picking up minor placings in the 50m backstroke, breaststroke and 100m freestyle.
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Now out in the workforce, Kurt Rennick returned to support his old club, winning the 15 and over 100m fly and 50m breaststroke with second place in the 50m fly and third in freestyle and backstroke, while younger brother Jedd, 12, came third in three events and sister Brooke, 14, registered improved times.
Competing in the 11-12 years 200m medley, Darcy Hannaford improved his entry time by five seconds to finish a close second but turned the tables for a strong win and personal best times in the 50m backstroke and fly, with silver in freestyle and bronze in the the 200m backstroke and 50m breaststroke.
Gold medals also went to Angus Hobson, making his debut in the 10-years division. He claimed first place in the 50m breaststroke, shaving three seconds from his best in an exciting finish. He also took first place in fly and came second in the medley and 100m breaststroke.
Another nail-biting finish came in the 15 and over butterfly, with Zoe Palmer just ousting club mate Maddie Coombs in the rush to the wall. Zoe, 17, also came second in the 100m event, while Maddie, 16, claimed the cash in the medley and 50m freestyle and second place in the 100m and 200m freestyle.
Amelia Lush, 12, also featured in the gold rush, winning the 50 and 100m backstroke and taking silver in the 50m freestyle with a bronze and a personal best in fly.
The 11 years 50m backstroke crown fell to Savannah Lyons in a personal-best time, with the talented swimmers taking third place in the 50m freestyle and 100m backstroke and clocking an overall improvement in three other events.
It was gold for Ruby Henry and a personal best time in the 13 years 50m freestyle, with the teenager also grabbing silver in backstroke and breaststroke and bronze in fly, while older sister Annabelle, 15, stripped three seconds from her best for a win in breaststroke and third place in the 100m freestyle.
Maddie Henry, 11, added to the family coffers with third place and improved times in fly and breaststroke. Maddie also took a massive 12 seconds off her best in the medley.
With a never-give-up attitude, Chloe Sumpter, 14, always registers improved times. The teenager finished second in freestyle and breaststroke, while Chelsea Palmer, 15, picked picked up a silver in breaststroke.
The Hewitt sisters starred in their breaststroke events, with greatly improved times – a silver went to Lara, 16, and a bronze to Xanthe, 10, while Scout Newbery, 11, stripped eight seconds from her entry time to snatch a bronze in the 100m butterfly.
In just his second outing with the club, 12-year-old Hugh Kennedy showed promise finishing second in the 100m fly and third in backstroke. He was just edged out of places in the 50m fly and backstroke, while club mate Cooper Williams nailed two improved times and came third in fly and Brodie Coombs recorded three personal best times. Although unplaced in the 12 years events, Ava Hannaford made massive improvements in all events.
The club’s nine-year-old Campbell twins registered big improvements at the carnival, with Eliza grabbing a bronze in butterfly and Dana finishing on her heels, while Audrey Hannaford improved five seconds to snatch a gold in freestyle and just missed medals in three events. Tiny tots Tahnee Steele and Georgia Lyons also competed in this division with personal best times, along with Danika Jones who placed third in the 100m freestyle.
Although unplaced at the carnival, Charlotte Craig, 11, Olivia Fenton ,13, Ben McCumstie and Jack McCulloch, both 11, turned in pleasing times and added to the club’s success.
