What a great meet this was for the Water Dragons! Every swimmer finished with each of their three times in the Masters Swimming NSW Top 10 for 2019. This success should be treated with some caution as there have been only four competitions to the end of February. Trinity King and Tanya Colyer swam number 1 Top 10 times in some of their events but the kings of the meet were our President John Collis and senior member Geoff Llewellyn who both scored hat-tricks. Number one in each of their three swims, then swimming with David Leake and Roger Carter they won their event and swam the second fastest time for 2019 in the Men’s 240 to 279 4 x 50m Freestyle.
The relay team was at a real disadvantage as their total age was 278 just 2 years short of the next age group. The club has at least five members who if they had been available would have put the total age over 280. The women had a smaller handicap totalling 180 years, right in the middle of the 160 to 199 age group but they equitted themselves equally well, also winning their event and swimming the second fastest Top 10 time for 2019.
With six women and five men the Water Dragons were outnumbered 2 to 1 by Tuggeranong (21 to 11) and that is roughly where the points finished with the Vikings scoring 690 to the Water Dragons 325. The 17th was not our best date as Gary Stutsel was in Milawa celebrating his 80th birthday, but it was ideal preparation for those swimmers who were going to Adelaide for the National Championships. Fortunately Di Coxon Ellis was able to fulfil the refereeing duties to ensure all swimmers were conforming with the current rules.
Now all ACT swimmers need to start their preparation for the NSW Long Course (50m pool) Championships that will be held in the AIS pool in October next year.
erstwhile President and hat-trick man John Collos
our senior swimmer and hat-trick man Geoff Llewellyn