GUNNEDAH swimmers returned pleasing results at the recent NSW Country Regional Championships in Narromine and Woy Woy.
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With no qualifying times for events under 200 metres, it gave some of the younger competitors a chance to compete at a higher level.
Maddie and Brodie Coombs went west to Narromine for the two-day carnival, with Brodie slashing 2.33 seconds from his best in butterfly to grab gold - an effort he repeated in the 100m freestyle.
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A natural at breaststroke, the teenager improved by 0.43sec to take the 100m event and finished third over 50m, after improving his entry time by 2.27sec. He also improved by 0.91sec to grab a silver in the fast 50m freestyle.
Maddie Coombs was below par after badly grazing her knee in a fall. She swam on the Saturday but was unable to achieve her best, finishing fourth in two events and then retiring for the weekend.
Four swimmers competed in hot fields at Woy Woy with Andre Steele winning the club's only medal - silver in the 15 and over 50m backstroke, where he improved his entry time. The 15-year-old achieved a personal victory with five personal best times and was just edged out of a medal in the 15 and over 50m freestyle.
Amelia Lush,13, just missed a medal in the 50m fly, while clubmate Danika Jones registered five improved times. Her best result was a five-second improvement in butterfly, where she finished fifth against strong competition.
Tahnee Steele, 10, moved up an age group in January but was a big improver in six events. The little pocket rocket clipped 10sec from her best in 100m backstroke, and improved by 15sec in breaststroke.
The new pool complex at Gunnedah will be the venue for the Speedo Sprints and Swimming New England long-course area championships this weekend.
Speedo Sprints is for swimmers aged between eight and 13 years, competing in four 50m events - freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke. The top four swimmers in each age group for each event then have the opportunity to compete at the Speedo finals at SOPAC in Sydney on February 29.
The area long course championships has qualifying times for all events. A swimmer must be able to swim equal to or faster than the event qualifying time.
