Fast racing on show atshort course winter carnival

FAST racing, exciting elimination-style knockout sprints, loud cheering and a hugely successful raffle were just some of the highlights of Swimming Gunnedah’s recent annual short course winter carnival.

In a show of huge support, almost 50 club competitors signed up for their local meet which attracted more than 100 swimmers from across the New England and North West regions.

Edmund Sebastian Saragih and Shaun Reeves. BELOW: Juniors Edwina Goddard, Camilla Hockings and Millie McDonald.

Competitors lined up to compete in a range of short and long-distance strokes ranging from 25m to 400m, with the club showing depth across the board.

Juniors Edwina Goddard, Camilla Hockings and Millie McDonald.

A major drawcard was the Skins events which featured the fastest 50m freestyle sprinters in the 12&Under and 13&Over boys and girls divisions. The event was an exciting series of back-to-back 50m races which operated on a knockout basis with only 90 seconds between each race. It was a test of endurance and tactical swimming with $100 up for grabs for each winner.

Ethan and Millie McDonald have just started competing for Gunnedah. BELOW: Sisters Isabelle and Evelyn Connolly.

Gunnedah scooped the pool in the 12&Under divisions with Macey Dalessandro taking out the girls event and Cameron Sills claiming line honours in the boys. In the 13&Over, Gunnedah’s Tahnee Steele took the win, while Armidale’s Jack Grace clenched victory in the boys.

Twins Jack and Evan Hausfeld with Sophie Jacobs. BELOW: Harry, Ellie and Georgie Rodstrom.

Coach Colin Marley said it was great to see a large number of juniors compete, including kids that were swimming one of their first carnivals.

“It shows our base is getting wider and the support the older kids gave the young kids was really pleasing,” Marley said.

Harry, Ellie and Georgie Rodstrom.

He added there were a number of great performances across the board with some of the older swimmers competing in the 400m freestyle for the first time.

Tahnee Steele grabbed the winnings for Gunnedah in the 13&Over Skins event. Pictured with Armidale male winner Jack Grace.

The club backed it up again last weekend at the New England North West Short Course Championships in Inverell with 30 Gunnedah swimmers registered to compete.