Report by Anne Smyth
What a fantastic two days of racing it was for our Tuggeranong Vikings at the 2014 NSW LC State Championships at SOPAC! It was a great team effort with the club taking out two top awards. One trophy was for the highest average points per swimmer and the second trophy was for the club with the highest percentage of club swimmers competing at the event.
Caroline Makin was also recognised in receiving the Ian Davis Memorial Award. This special award is from the NSW Masters Swimming Board and is in recognition of someone who embodies the spirit of Masters Swimming. Caroline is a well deserved recipient of this award as it is in recognition of her contribution to our Vikings Club and to Masters Swimming NSW, her enthusiasm in competing and being an all-round club member. Caz will receive a coaching session with Mitch Patterson as her reward, which she is very excited about!
Records tumbled at the championships! Tara Olsthoorn broke the NSW Branch Record in 200 Backstroke in 30-34 year age group recording an impressive time of 2.35.38. 26 new individual club records were established with many records being broken by a substantial margin. Some of our relay teams were outstanding, beating more fancied teams in many cases, and some excellent team combinations ensured that 11 out of our 12 relay teams established new club relay records — what a fantastic effort!
The hard work in training from our team is really starting to see results and, for the group going to Nationals, this was a great lead-up. All were pleased with their swims and recorded some fine times, many smashing PBs into oblivion! It was a fun meet and even though we were swimming hard it is always a great time to catch up with friends, meet new people and enjoy the atmosphere. On the Friday night we enjoyed a meal and a few wines/beers at the pub with other teams.
Our competitors brought medals galore home to Canberra, with some individual highlights as follows:
Katrina Burgess, in her new speedo elite race suit, had a fantastic meet with PBs across the board and her best swim in the 200m Backstroke, breaking her previous PB buy a substantial 14 seconds.
Nicolee Martin looked really strong in her Breastroke swims and along with Marianne Tweedie and Anne Smyth those three all had nice 200m Freestyle swims, punching out quick times. Marianne is edging closer to breaking the 1:10 barrier in the 100m Freestyle, whilst Anne brought home her 200m Butterfly very strongly indeed.
Caroline Makin set substantial PBs in all but one of her swims and was super-happy to easily break 1:14 for 100m Freestyle and smashing seven seconds off her 200m Individual Medley PB.
Atsuko McGowan was particularly happy breaking 32 seconds for her 50m Freestyle and both Atsuko and Liz Needham as usual put on a super backstroke display for us in their swims.
Cecelia Kaye performed strongly in her Breaststroke events gaining two silver medals. Mandy Coggins had a great meet – noticeably smashing her 100m Freestyle entry time.
Brenda Day won three gold medals and managed to swim on while nursing an injury and smashing an exiting 200m club record by around 1 minute! Ann Reid had a rocket behind her in the relay swims, recording a sub 35 seconds in one of her 50m Freestyle legs and putting in solid performances in her Butterfly events.
Tara Olsthoorn is really making her mark in NSW with super quick times and becoming very noticeable in the final heats amongst the big guns — particular in her hot pink race suit!
It was wonderful to have David Bale competing — a huge gutsy effort, swimming incredibly well and even recording a PB for his 50m Butterfly.
With limited preparation, youngster Kade Burgess amazed us all with excellent times, particularly in the 100m Backstroke.It was good to have Roger Dietrich off the farm and competing again and, like Kade, considering his limited preparation put in solid swims.
Andreas Falkenau swam a super 100m Butterfly and by the last relay he was absolutely “Butterflied Out”!
John Collis and Gary Stutsel had some excellent consistent swims and it never ceases to impress when watching these two gents mixing it with the young guns in their events.
Two of our entrants were unable to compete. Ian Hampton is in “secret training” for Nationals in 2 weeks time!! … and Leisa Cass, although injured, came to support the team and also completed her marshalling qualification.
Well done to all – Go You Vikings!
Full results are available.
