“Drip, Drip, Slip, Slop, Flip, Flop”
Report by Cecelia Kaye
“Drip, Drip, Slip, Slop, Flip, Flop” was the quote of the evening from Catherine Alexander at this spectacular location – what at a glorious night for swimming!
It was the 30th Anniversary of the competition on 11 February 2012, so North Sydney had a special cake made which resembled a 50m pool. It had liquorice lane ropes on the blue icing and jelly babies in the lanes as swimmers. It was beautifully decorated and perfect for the occasion.
One of the special things about this meet is the party at the end — since it finishes after 10.00pm the North Sydney club provide pizza and soft drinks. This was held on a deck of the pool overlooking a dazzling Sydney harbour and Luna Park all lit up. It’s a great way for everyone to finish the evening and socialise with the other swimmers.
Being a sprint meet it was efficiently run, starting with the 50m Freestyle where virtually every swimmer is entered. The salt water pool makes for a slightly different experience than regular swim meets.
Here are the results of our six club members who participated in the Fun, Fitness and Friendship!
Catherine Alexander put in a solid Freestyle swim with a 7th place, then followed on quickly with a PB in her Backstroke for 4th place and then completed her night with a very good swim in her 50m Breaststroke for a 2nd place.
Mandy Coggins is always a good competitor who performed well on a limited training program. Being one of the first meets for the year, it is tricky to be in top shape. Mandy swam strongly finishing 5th in each of her three swims: Freestyle, Backstroke and Butterfly.
Roger Dietrich is a relatively new but very keen competitor wearing his second claimer Vikings cap, who was very pleased with his swims on the night. Roger swam a smart 50m Freestyle in 37.49 for a 4th place, and then scored two 3rd place finishes in his Breaststroke and Butterfly.
Cecelia Kaye is someone who really likes a 50m sprint, so this meet is perfect for her. She managed a good 50m Freestyle swimming a PB in 39.62 for 3rd place, and then followed on with 2nd place in both her Backstroke and Breaststroke sprint. Cecelia finished 2nd overall in her age group on the night.
Caroline Makin is one of the club’s most experienced competitors in the last couple of years and she thrives on a challenge. After participating in several open water swims recently, believing the salt water was her friend, she was ready to take on the challenge of a sprint in salt water! She put in a solid performance, although admittedly not really ‘sprint fit’ so early in the season, earning a 3rd place in each of her swims: Freestyle, Backstroke and Butterfly, which gave her 3rd overall in her age group.
Philippa Rickard is someone who totally thrives on a 50m sprint and she demonstrated once again just why — she is very good at it! Phil (“Flip”) swam quicker than anyone else in her age group gaining 1st place in each of her events: Freestyle, Backstroke and Butterfly. Her results gave her 1st overall for her age group.
Our ladies Freestyle relay team (Caz, Catherine, Mandy and Cecelia) came second in the 200+ age group on the night, earning a club record for their efforts, coming home in 2:37.25.
The six Vikings finished off the evening with BYO wine and beer on the grassy bank under the towers of the harbour bridge. What a lovely way to end a swim meet!
Full results are available.
