A squad of 32 local swimmers faced the starter with great results from the opening carnival of the summer season at Scully Park.
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Fresh from a productive winter in the training lanes, the squad included a number of novices making their debut on the open carnival circuit.
Coach John Hickey was elated with the results with countless improved times and a swag of medals - 16 gold, 17 silver and 15 bronze.
"I think it's important to recognise the athletes who broke through for a win in their respective events," he said.
"Gunnedah won a total of 16 races, four wins to Andre Steele and Alexis Whitton, two to Angus Hobson and one each to Scout Newbery, Katie Spinks, Zach Akinyemi, Olivia Lyons, Amelia Lush and Baxter Knapman.
"Congratulations to you guys and those who had a personal best time."
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Andre Steele, Amelia Lush, Audrey Hannaford and Maddie Coombs also registered NSW Country qualifying times, with a number of other swimmers on the cusp of qualifying.
Youngster Alexis Whitton led the junior medal charge, winning every event in the eight years division, stripping between five and nine seconds from her personal best times. Although unplaced in the 10 and under 100m freestyle, Alexis clipped nine seconds from her best.
Fifteen-year-old Andre Steele continued his good from from last season winning four events and finishing third in the 100m fly and backstroke.
Angus Hobson won two medals of each colour in the 10 years events, showing the opposition a clean pair of heels 50m and100m breaststroke, with silvers in backstroke over both distances and bronze in freestyle and fly.
Amelia Lush was on fire at Scully winning the 50m backstroke in a personal best time, with second place in the 50m freestyle bringing her .45 seconds from cracking the 30 second barrier.
Amelia eclipsed her best time by five seconds to finish second in breaststroke and also picked up a bronze in fly.
Newcomer Zach Akinyemi recorded huge improvements in his entry times, snatching gold in the 100m fly and third place in freestyle and fly, while stripping 11 seconds from his best in the 50m breaststroke.
Emerging champion Scout Newbery, 12, won the 50m breaststroke, with a seven second improvement, and also nailed a silver in the 100m fly, and third place in the 50m event.
Newcomer Baxter Knapman (9) won the 50m backstroke while Charlie Shorter (8) showed promise finishing second in fly and breaststroke.
Thirteen-year-old Hugh Kennedy had a successful day, recording huge improvements in his entry times and winning bronze medals in backstroke and fly, while Savannah Lyons (12) finished third in backstroke, freestyle and breaststroke.
Jedd Rennick (13) hit his straps at Scully, winning bronze medals in the 50m and 100m, butterfly with huge improvements in his personal best times.
The nine years division featured a quinella for Gunnedah, with Katie Spinks winning the 50m breaststroke followed by Felicity Gough, while Audrey Hannaford, also 9, won three silver medals and registered huge improvements in personal best times.
Veteran Maddie Coombs recorded NSW Country qualifying times, while picking up a silver in freestyle and bronze in fly, with younger brother Brodie facing strong opposition in the 13 years division.
The club's youngsters turned in promising performances, with Tahnee Steele (9), clipping five seconds from her best to claim a bronze in fly, while Shiloh Moore, also 9, won a silver in the same event. Annabelle Doyle also competed for a personal best time.
Big improvers at the meet were Georgia Lyons, Molly Rees, Benjamin Neale, Josh Spinks, Tom Sheedy, Danika Jones, Lachlan Swain, Alice Swain and Matthew McInnes.
The carnival was followed by club night where 40 swimmers lined up to race the clock at time trials, followed by a barbecue tea at the pool.
Upcoming carnivals include Wee Waa (November 30), Inverell (December1) and Kootingal (December 8).
