THE long-awaited long-course swimming carnival was held at Gunnedah pool last Saturday with competitors and officials lapping up the milder conditions.
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The annual swim meet had not been held in previous years due to the new pool construction and then closure caused by an unexpected leak at the beginning of the 2019-2020 season.
The day was huge success with competitors from around the region and beyond taking to the pool and enjoying the modern facilities and lush grounds.
A squad of 44 Gunnedah swimmers bagged a total of 41 gold, 28 silver and 28 bronze medals with pleasing performances and improved times across all age groups.
Darcy Hannaford, Andre Steele and Alexis Whitton led the gold rush, with Darcy cleaning up in the 12 years division. He also tackled the 400m and 800m in competition for the first time adding two more gold to his swag, with second place in breaststroke and the 100m freestyle.
Eight-year-old Alexis Whitton continued her good form from Tamworth carnival, nailing eight gold and eclipsing her entry time by almost four seconds in butterfly, while older brother Cooper came first in the nine years 100m fly and 200m backstroke.
Andre Steele clipped two seconds from his best for a win in the 15 and over 100m fly, with a winning personal best of 28.38 seconds in the 50m event. The promising teen won six gold overall, a silver in the 100m freestyle and bronze in breaststroke.
Ben Neale,14, powered into first place in freestyle, fly and breaststroke, with Baxter Knapman, 9, winning the 50m backstroke and 200m breaststroke and placing second in the 50m breaststroke and 100m backstroke.
Zach Akinyemi was all smiles as he touched first in the 10 years 100m butterfly, adding bronze medals in 50m breaststroke and 100m freestyle to his success. Audrey Hannaford also competed in this division winning the 50m fly and breaststroke, with third place in the medley.
Felicity Gough won the nine years 100m breaststroke, improving her time by three seconds. She shaved four seconds from her best to claim victory in the 50m event and came third in the medley. Alexis Campbell came third in the eight years 25m breaststroke.
Eleven-year-old Angus Hobson had a successful day, winning the medley and 100m breaststroke, with second place in the 50m event and the 100m backstroke, and third place in 50m backstroke.
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In her first attempt over 1500 metres, 12-year-old Scout Newbery was cheered on by her club mates in the closing laps to claim first place. She also won the 100m fly and came third in the 50m fly and backstroke. Jack McCulloch had a win in the 12 years 200m backstroke, with Luke Osland,11, claiming a silver and bronze.
Amelia Lush won the 13 years 100 backstroke and finished second in the 50m event, with third place in the 50m freestyle and and 100m fly, while Brodie Coombs recorded five personal best times for a silver and bronze in breaststroke. Older sister Maddison finished third in freestyle.
Savannah Lyons,12, won two gold and two bronze while little sisters Olivia and Georgia also performed well. Danika Jones came third in the 10 years 100m fly.
The Hewitt sisters were also medallists, with Lara,16, shattering her personal best by six seconds to win the 200m breaststroke and another best for a bronze in the 100m event. Xanthe Hewitt scored a silver and Lachlan Davey a bronze in the 11 years breaststroke.
A relative latecomer to competitive swimming, Hugh Kennedy registered six personal best times and won five silver and two bronze medals in the 13 years races, while club mate Jedd Rennick improved in four events and finished the day with a gold, three silver and two bronze placings.
Tom Sheedy competed in the 14 years division, finishing second in five events, while youngster Josh Spinks,7, picked up two silvers and a bronze. Charlie Shorter, 8, had a go at the 100m freestyle and improved by 12 seconds for third place, with Tahlia Smith,11, winning a bronze in the 100m backstroke.
Also competing were Tahni Bush,10, twins Dana and Eliza Campbell and twins Daisy and Holly Sheedy, Coen Gough, Tahnee Steele, Alexander and Nikolaas Thompson and Clare and Thomas Watt.
Coach John Hickey was more than happy with the overall results, thanking the parents for their support.
"Congratulations to the kids, fantastic results and above all, a lot of Gunnedah swimmers racing," he said.