Swimming: Greerton team produce good times

A large contingent of Greerton swimmers travelled to Stratford over the weekend for the Taranaki Winter Championships.

Greerton coach Tai Daniela uses this meet as a toughening up exercise for the swimmers, both mentally and physically. Under instructions to select their 10 worst events and with heats and finals as well as relays on the programme, swimmers competed in up to 22 races over three days.

Ciara Derecourt (15) took out the 200m breaststroke in 3:06.38 with clubmates Hannah Philpot (16) and Danielle Waiari (15) filling the minor placings.

Hannah also placed third over the 800m freestyle in an excellent 9:34.82 and matched that placing in the 50m and 200m breaststroke.

Danielle sprinted to silver in the 50m butterfly in a sharp 31.98 seconds.

Claudia Capp (15) finished on top of the podium in the 100m butterfly then was second in the 50m freestyle (29.42) and third in the 100m and 200m backstroke.

After considering scratching from the 1500m freestyle, Stacy Muir will be pleased she reconsidered as she won in a personal best 18:49.56. She placed 3rd in another of the hardest events the 200m butterfly.

Blake Horne (14) also hauled his weary body through 1500m freestyle placing second, a result he equalled in the 50m and 100m butterfly and third over the unfamiliar 100m and 200m breaststroke events.

Sixteen-year-old Calum Gilmour faced off against Olympian Daniel Bell coming third in the 100m butterfly.

The final event on Sunday was the 400m individual medley. Islah Kerr-Aim (13) placed third as did Blake Horne and Grace Wright. Hannah Philpot went one better with a silver medal in the same event.

Two younger swimmers also competed and were allowed to select fewer and more favoured events. Lochlainn O'Connor won the 50m butterfly in 33.40 as well as the 50m freestyle in a classy 29.97. He also placed second in the 100m medley and butterfly, and third in the 100m and 200m freestyle in personal best times of 1:07.86 and 2:27.33 respectively.

Mia Pugh made finals in six events and swam a national junior qualifying time of 5:14.78 in the 400m freestyle.