Report by Ann Reid
Seven Tuggeranong swimmers, and our cheer squad (Sandi), converged on Knox Grammar’s amazing aquatic complex in Wahroonga, NSW early on the morning of Sunday 8 September 2013. for the NSW State Long Distance Championships. Many of us would have liked to have attended this school!
Four Vikings lined up in the second heat of the 1500m Freestyle pushing each other to some personal bests. Anne Smyth, Caroline Makin, David Bale and Greg Gourley all came home within 45 seconds of each other; all breaking or establishing a club record or two along the way. Roger Dietrich competed in a later heat and sliced an enormous amount of his previous best time.
Ann Reid completed (in her own words “a fairly lacklustre” 800m Butterfly (apparently she has five faster endurance times already this year!) however she established a new club record; one which she hopes to improve on dramatically before she exits her current age group!
Katrina Burgess stormed through her 800m Individual Medley, breaking the club record and also the 200m Butterfly club record in the process.
Roger was up again in in the 400m Freestyle, finishing in just over seven minutes and establishing a new club record.
Caroline then tackled the 400m Butterfly. She went out very fast and looked like she was really hurting as she came home in club record time. Caroline was heard to say something about never doing this event again! Caroline broke the existing NSW State record with this swim by 15 seconds but unfortunately so did Pamela Nix, just a bit faster than Caroline in the same heat!!
Greg, David, Katrina and Anne lined up next to each other in their 400m Backstroke heat all finishing with new club records.
Finally, Ann brought the Vikings swims to a closure in the 400m Breaststroke establishing another new club record but Ann reckons one which should be able to be broken by any of the other ladies in her age group in the near future!
Tuggeranong came fourth (from 29 clubs) on overall points and FIRST on average points per swimmer (from 10 clubs with four or more competing swimmers) and brought seven gold medals, five silver medals and two bronze medals back to Canberra.
Full results are availalble.
