Gunnedah swimmers were spread far and wide last weekend as they competed at carnivals in Kootingal, Mudgee and Coffs Harbour.
The largest squad descended on the Kootingal-Moonbi short course meet, with 24 competitors diving off the blocks.
This was a hugely successful day which included dozens of personal best times (PBs).
The Dash for Cash was a drawcard, with nine-year-olds Lewis Mainey and Matilda Ramien winning the 10&U 50m freestyle sprint.
Lewis posted a lightning speed time of 33.73 seconds, while Matilda blitzed it in 36 flat.
Also making the final for the Dash for Cash line-up in their age groups were Tahnee Steele (sixth), Jessica Broadhead (fifth), Sophie Rindfleish (fourth), Will Jansen (fifth), Macey Dalessandro (fourth), Jake Hausfeld (fifth) and Pippa Wark (sixth).
Lewis collected 10 gold from 10 races, as well as eight PBs. He shaved more than six seconds off his 200m Individual Medley (IM), 50m butterfly and 100m backstroke times to touch first.
Tahnee equalled Lewis’s PB time tally of eight and picked up a gold, silver and five bronze. The 14-year-old built on her success this season, improving by more than 26 seconds in the 200m backstroke, and more than 11 seconds in the 100m freestyle, backstroke and IM.
Will Jansen snatched six PBs and won two gold in the 50m backstroke and freestyle, and three silver.
In the 11 years age division, Marcel Tikhonskiy put in a huge effort with a packed program of 12 races. He picked up gold in the 400m freestyle, 50m breaststroke and backstroke, as well as one silver and one bronze.
Other results included: Jessica Broadhead (14) five gold, two silver; Jorja Burden (11) one silver in the 50m butterfly; Lukas Burden (10) one gold, silver and bronze; Darci Dalessandro (9) three bronze, one silver; Jessica Dalessandro (7) one silver, one bronze; Macey Dalessandro (11) two silver, two bronze; Evan Hausfeld (12) huge 16 second PB in the 50m butterfly; Jake Hausfeld PB in the 50m breaststroke; Matilda Ramien (9) four gold, two silver; Harry Ramien (8) one silver, one bronze; Nathan Reeves (11) four PBs, two silver and one bronze; Shaun Reeves (9) one bronze; Sophie Rindfleish (14) one gold and two silver; Huxley Sheridan (9) three silver, one bronze; Lennox Sheridan (7) one gold and silver; Pippa Wark (9) one silver; Georgie Warmoll (8) two bronze; Isabel Warmoll (9) three PBs; Savannah Berges (10) 7th 50m freestyle.
COFFS HARBOUR
Swimming Gunnedah’s Jimmy Fitzgerald entered the club’s history books as he produced a cracking swim at the Swimming North Coast Division 1 championships in Coffs Harbour.
The eight-year-old broke a Gunnedah club record in the 100m backstroke as he posted a time of 1:35.19.
The previous record of 1:35.91 was owned by Jake Bastian since 2009.
Jimmy also scored three PBs, while his older brother Banjo collected gold medals in the 50m butterfly, backstroke and freestyle, and the 200m IM and 100m freestyle.
The national bronze medallist also posted three best times, while club mate Wyatt Shorter blitzed the breaststroke in the 10-year age division as he won gold in the 50m and 100m races.
Wyatt also snatched three silver and a bronze.
MUDGEE
Cameron Sills took home some welcome dollars after winning the 10&U Dash for Cash, and he also returned from Mudgee with a haul of 11 gold medals and one silver.
Brother Aiden won a gold and a silver medal, and Myles Young (8) picked up two gold and a bronze while Quade Young (11) collected a gold, silver and two bronze.
All four swimmers made it to the finals of the Dash for Cash.
The Gunnedah squad in Kootingal. Back: Jessica Broadhead, Tahnee Steele, Jake Hausfeld, Will Jansen, Colin Marley (coach). Middle: Matilda Ramien, Lukas Burden, Huxley Sheridan, Isabel Warmoll, Macey Dalessandro, Savannah Berges, Jorja Burden, Marcel Tikhonskiy, Nathan Reeves, Evan Hausfeld. Front: Lennox Sheridan, Georgie Warmoll, Jessica Dalessandro, Harry Ramien, Darci Dalessandro, Shaun Reeves, Lewis Mainey. Photos: Hayley Hausfeld
Matilda Ramien and Lewis Mainey won the 10&U Dash for Cash at Kootingal.
Tahnee Steele achieved eight personal best times.
Will Jansen snatched six PBs and won two gold in the 50m backstroke and freestyle, and three silver.
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