Greerton swimmers take medals in Taupo

TOP CLASS: Dulcie Copeland is only eight but swam well in Taupo. PHOTO: FILE

By Peter White

There were 36 Greerton Swim Club swimmers in action at the two-day Taupo XLR8 meet last weekend.

The meet rewards young swimmers for their allround ability by requiring a 200m medley, a long-distance freestyle, a 200m non-freestyle and one own choice event.

Amongst strong competition from as far afield as Wellington and Auckland, the Farrell siblings Connor (14) and Caitlin (11), along with Thomas Wilkinson (13), managed top-three XLR8 placings. Caitlin won gold medals in five events while Connor and Thomas did not finish worse than bronze and silver across the entire weekend.

The blue riband 100m freestyle was the most hotly contested individual event and the Greerton club's most successful. Connor Farrell won the boys' 14 in 56.56 while Lochlainn O'Connor edged out training partner Cai Jager in 53.73 to take the top two podium slots in the 16 and over division. Caitlin Farrell won the girls' 11 in 1:07.03 and Marijke Hattingh took out the 16 and over in 1:00.00.

At the other end of the distance spectrum, O'Connor took out her 1500m freestyle in 17:18.27 as did Mia Pugh in the girls' 16 in a personal best 18:38.24.

Also impressive over the long distance were Jacob Browne (13) winning his 800m and O'Connor triumphant in a strong 8:41.36. Marijke Hattingh was also particularly impressive, swimming 9:28.70 in her first serious crack at the 800m distance.

Kate Kuka (14) won gold in the 100m breaststroke while Jessica Martin (14) scored medals in the sprint backstrokes and the 50m butterfly.

Travis Hudson (14) in his first competition in the black and gold set PBs all over the pool and won the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke trifecta. Katie Hills (12) was as consistent as ever, winning six medals from eight starts.

Kim Cadzow (15) won three minor medals before striking gold in the 50m butterfly in a PB 30.17.

There were a number of big improvers, none more so than Maia Blackburn (12) who had a 100 per cent personal best record - one of which resulted in a bronze medal over the 50m butterfly. Hannah Richardson (13) also swam some noteworthy butterfly, winning the 50m and 200m.

Sarah Lock (12) was another swimmer whose attention to detail resulted in a perfect record of PBs. Also 100 per cent in PBs were Ben Pilbrow (13) and Jessica Pilbrow (10).

Newcomers Dulcie Copeland (8) and 9-year-olds Dane Wooster and Grace Richardson displayed plenty of grit as they made their way through a big programme with all three going home with medals.