Nine Tuggeranong Vikings Masters Swimmers, Eighteen Swims, Eighteen Medals, NSW State Record ‘Smashed” and Meet Win!
Report by Roger Dietrich
Tuggeranong Vikings Masters Swimmers brought home a medal for every swim from the NSW Long Distance Championships on Sunday, 25 November 2012 at Blacktown Aquatic Centre 50m indoor pool. The Vikings also won the meet ahead of all the Sydney Clubs.
Anne Smyth smashed the NSW Long Course State Record to win gold in her age group for her 400m Butterfly. The previous record time was 8:37.06 and Anne’s time was 7:10.09. This will complement the National and State Short Course Records she set in the 400m butterfly set a few weeks earlier at Galston in Sydney’s north. Anne also won a gold medal in her 400m Freestyle.
Caroline Makin won gold in both of her events, the 800m Freestyle and the 400m Freestyle and had a tremendous battle with Stuart Ellicott from Hornsby in the next lane in the 400m freestyle. They went neck and neck, and Caroline took the lead around the 500-700m mark, but Stuart had her covered and overtook her in the last lap to win the tussle. Caroline also won her age group, over Yvette Cotton from Ryde.
Leisa Cass won two gold medals in her 1500m and 400m Backstroke, thus gaining maximum points for the swims coming equal first in her age group with Michelle Stonehouse from Blacktown and Anne Smyth.
In the same age group, Ann Reid came second and won a silver medal in both her 400m Breaststroke and 800m Freestyle events.
Brenda Day also brought home to Canberra two gold medals for her 1500m Backstroke and the 400m Individual Medley, and came equal first in her age group with Ann Campbell from Newcastle.
A silver medal was won by Roger Dietrich for his 800m freestyle swim and he won a bronze for his 400m freestyle swim and swam a personal best amid much interest and cheering from the sidelines from his team mates. Roger came fifth in his age group, and Roger was delighted with his first ever medals at a State Championship.
David Bale is not a Breaststroker but won gold in her 1500m Breaststroke event and had a painful 400m Butterfly swim afterwards to also win a gold medal. He also came equal first in his age group with Colin Bullard from Gosford.
Greg ‘iron man’ Gourley won two gold medals in his 1500m and 400m Backstroke events and was equal first in his age group with Owen Sinden from Campbelltown. Greg said that these events would ‘loosen him up’ for the 9km Sri Chinmoy Lake Burley Griffin swim the following week!
Jon ‘muscle man’ McRae won two bronze medals for his 1500m Backstroke and 400m Breaststroke and came equal fifth in his age group.
The Vikings swimmers really showed what they are made of in distance swimming, winning the meet with 171 points ahead of Manly with 147 points and Blacktown in third place with 115 points.
Full results are available and you can also read our report on the RiotAct. We also had an article published in the Vikings Group Magazine.
