Local swimmers defy conditions
The summer seems to have eluded us all, especially where swimming is concerned.
Training in an outdoor pool is not the most pleasant activity in the cooler weather we have been having. However, many competitive swimmers have been doing just that over the summer holidays.
Thankfully the weather gods decided to be kind to us last weekend and turned on a stunning couple of days for the Manawatu age-group championships at the Lido Aquatic Centre in the outdoor 50m pool.
There were 218 competitors from Wellington, Kapiti, Manawatu, Horowhenua and Wairarapa clubs.
Kiwi West Aquatics and Raumati Raptors were vying to be the top club on points, with Kiwi West finishing just ahead by seven points.
Final club points, top five: Kiwi West Aquatics 381, Raumati Swimming Club 373, Palmerston North Swim Club 162, Ashhurst Aquanauts Club 159, Dannevirke Swimming Club 153.5.
Every year at this meet, Manawatu 8 and 9 year old swimmers compete for four trophies, the Rolle (8 year girls), Clough (8 year boys), and Keith Oliver (9 year boys and girls).
In the girls events there was good competition, with Emily Thompson from Palmerston North Amateur Swimming Club taking the cup.
The nine year old girls competition was very close, with Emily Tanira from Levin Swimming Club winning.
In the boys competition, 8-yearold Chase Sievers from Levin won the cup and Tom Brown from Dannevirke, in his first competitive swim meet, won.
Wellington Anniversary weekend in January is traditionally the Wellington summer championships at Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre. This year, 39 teams, including six from Manawatu competed – some 600 swimmers in all.
Manawatu clubs placed well overall in the points, with Kiwi West ninth, Ashhurst 16th, and Dannevirke20th.
Prominent Manawatu swimmers in the medals were: Paris Cutler (Ashhurst): seven gold medals, one bronze. Mya Rasmussen (Kiwi West): five gold, two silver, two bronze. Ryan Cutler (Ashhurst): four gold, three silver, two bronze. Emily Tanira (Levin): two gold, one silver. Xavier Hill (Kiwi West): one gold, two silver, three bronze. Cameron Blair (Kiwi West): one gold, two silver, one bronze. Holly Marshall (Kiwi West): one gold, one silver, two bronze. Cameron Gillespie (Dannevirke): one gold. Piper Humphries (Ashhurst): four silver, one bronze. Jenna Buchanan (Kiwi West): one silver, three bronze. Stevye Bishop (Dannevirke): one silver. Shantay Savea (Kiwi West): one silver. Katie Kerins (Levin): one silver. Paige Cutler (Ashhurst): one bronze. Madison Keightly (Ice Breaker): one bronze. Lily Martin (Dannevirke): one bronze. Louis Morell (Kiwi West): one bronze. Amy Smith (Kiwi West): one bronze. Para swimmer Hannah Van Wijk from Dannevirke was on form at this meet.
Competition in the para multiclass events was close even with a small field.
Hannah won the 200m backstroke and was second in the 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle.
The Swimming New Zealand Zonal Championship are on this Saturday at the Owen G. Glenn Centre in Albany, Auckland.
Swimmers from Manawatu and Wellington combine to form the All Stars team to compete against teams from the other three zones – Harlequins (Auckland), Makos (South Island) and Aqua Knights (Central North Island).
This meet will be televised live on Sky from 5pm.
The All Stars team this year has four Manawatu swimmers, including the Ashhurst’s Cutler siblings Paige, 17, Paris and Ryan, both 14, and Cameron Gillespie, 17, from Dannevirke.
School is back and everyone is settling into a routine again after the summer break.
Now is the time to think about getting back into the pool and taking up swimming lessons again in earnest.
Other aquatic sports are also available in Manawatu and these are also good options if you have good basic swim skills and wish to further your aquatic experience.
Adults, this is not a kids-only opportunity, many opportunities exist for adults to learn to swim, compete via masters swimming, triathlon training, or swim for fitness.
Many of the local swimming clubs make it possible for prospective new club swimmers to have a go before deciding what is the right club/sport for you.
If you would like to have a go at competitive swimming or club based training please look at the Swimming Manawatu website ; or the Sport Manawatu website.