Swimmers succeed at Kootingal carnival

Three Gunnedah swimmers brought home cash prizes from the Kootingal swimming carnival last weekend after taking line honours in the Dash for Cash events.

Josh Spinks and Moly Ramien claimed victory in the 10 and under events with 12-year-old Jacob Smith winning the 11-12 years event in his last swim for the club.
The youngster has made his mark in the New England North West and at state level under the guidance of coach John Hickey and will now train with St Peter’s Western in Queensland, home base of Dean Boxall (Head Coach, High Performance Squad) – Australian Olympic Swim Coach (2021).

To cap off an outstanding few years with Swimming Gunnedah, Jacob (12) won 14 gold medals along with a silver in the open 400m individual medley, smashing three club records –  the 12 years 50m freestyle (29.00) set by Shane McCann (29.15) in 1987, also the 100m medley (1:15.49) set by Clint Hartley (1:18.22) in 2005, and the 50m backstroke (32.87) set by Kalin Eade (34.92) in 2008.

Ten-year-old Josh Spinks won nine races and recorded an improvement of 11 seconds in 10m medley. He also won silver in the 50m and 100m fly and broke two club records –  100m medley (1:22.69) set by Charlie Crawford (1:28.79) in 2008, and the 50m breaststroke (43.92) set by Jacob Smith (44.96) in 2021.

Another record breaker was 10-year-old Molly Ramien, who claimed club records in the 100m medley (1:21.21) set by Martha Beattie (1:25.28) in 2000, the 50m freestyle (31.21) set by Tess Bastian (31.39) in 2010 and her own 50m fly record. Molly showed the opposition a clean pair of heels in 11 events, and stripped a huge 16 seconds from her best time in the 400m freestyle.

Alex Thompson (15): Silver in 50m breast, free and fly and 100m free. Bronze in the 50m back, 200m free and 13&O Dash for Cash – stopping the clock at 28.67 secs.

Dana Campbell (13): Three gold in the 50m free, fly and back. Bronze in the 50m breast and 100m IM with an 11 second pb.

Jacob Smith (12): 14 gold medals and a silver in the Open 400m IM. Winner of Dash for Cash. Smashed 3 club records in the 12 yrs 50m free (29.00) set by Shane McCann (29.15) in 1987. Also, the 100m IM (1:15.49) set by Clint Hartley (1:18.22) in 2005, and the 50m backstroke (32.87) set by Kalin Eade (34.92) in 2008.

Baxter Knapman (12):  Three silver in the 50m breast, 200m back and 100 IM. Bronze in the 100m free and fly, 200m breast and 400IM with a 34 second PB

Will Jansen (12): Bronze in the 100m breast and 200m back with an 8.3 sec PB

Shiloh Moore (12): Had a great meet. 4 PBs. Bronze in the 50m fly and 100m free.

Katie Spinks (12): Two silvers in the 50m and 100m breast. Huge PB in the 100m IM with a 13 sec improvement.

Darcey Mainey (11): Great meet with 6 Pbs including a 20 sec PB in the 100 IM

Charlie Mainey (10):  Three bronze in the 50m breast, 50m back and 200 IM.

Cameron Sills (9): Gold in 50m breast and free. Silver in 100m breast, 50m fly, back and 200 IM where he did 16 second PB.

Camden Many (9): Gold in 50 fly and back. Silver in 50m breast and free. Bronze in 100m back and free.

Lewis Mainey (7): Gold in the 50m breast. Silver in 50m free, back and fly where he did a 23.60 second PB.

Jimmy Loveridge (7): Bronze in the 50m breast and free and 25m fly