A successful swimming enterprise

SISTERS IN ARMS: Happy in their work after winning the inter-district female relay under the Gisborne banner are (from left) Denby Gallagher, Lauren Pickett, Jodiesha Kirkpatrick, Emily Horne, Tyler Finau, Tamsyn Brown, Brooke Willock and Olivia Corrin. Picture by Cody Keepa

TEAM first. That’s the motto of Enterprise Cars Swim Team who clinched the President’s Cup for top overall club points at the Hawke’s Bay Poverty Bay summer champs here last weekend.

“It’s very much a team situation for us,” said head coach Gary Martin. “That’s why we call ourselves team. We really emphasise that part.”

Enterprise were convincing winners of the overall honours after three-and-a-bit days of competition at the Olympic Pool.

They totalled 1005.50 points, with fellow Gisborne club Comet second on 663 and Napier Aquahawks third on 606.

Their tally was anchored by a dominant performance from their 13 years and over swimmers, who also won the Herald Aggregate Cup for most points in that age group.

Enterprise racked up 838.50 points, over 550 clear of second-placed Central Hawke’s Bay (279.50), with Aquahawks (256) third.

They completed a trophy treble by winning the United Trophy for most titles won over the meet.

“It was a great effort,” said Martin, who stressed the important role parents and supporters played.

Comet recorded their best overall result since winning top club four years ago and coach Andrew Bull said they “now have the base and drive as a team to take that top spot over the next couple of years”.

Their strength in the younger age grades shone through over the weekend, culminating in Comet winning the Junior Aggregate Cup for top club in the 12 and under age groups.

Comet compiled 509 points to head off Greendale (413) and the Aquahawks (350).

Both Gisborne clubs were also in winning form in the 16 relay cup races. Enterprise won seven titles and Comet five.

The clubs then combined forces as Gisborne to win the female and male inter-district relays against Napier and Hastings.

Golden girl Olivia Corrin the starGolden girl Olivia Corrin was the individual star of the meet. Her time of 9min 1.68sec in winning the 15 years and over girls’ 800 metres in the opening session of the champs set a Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay record for her age (15) and lowered the open record (9:04.76) she clocked in May of last year.

The swim also earned her the Swim of the Meet title for the swimmer who produces the highest FINA points-scoring swim.

“It was a really good swim from Olivia because she has been going through a few injury problems in the last month or two,” said Martin. “She is an exceptional athlete.”

Corrin also won her overall age group, the Penny Compton Memorial Cup for winning the 50m freestyle, the Lewis Cup for her 800m free victory and the Miles Cup for aggregate points by a female 15yrs and over.

Enterprise swimmers filled the first six places in the girls’ 15yrs and over girls’ overall points.

Clubmate Joshua Taylor-Martin had a strong meet. He won his overall male age group (15yrs and over) by 75 points, the Brendon Long Memorial for the male 50m free winner and the Cooper Memorial Cup for aggregate points by a male 15 and over.

Another Enterprise team member, Matt Scott, picked up the Johnstone Cup for fastest 1500m swim by a male and was second to Taylor-Martin for overall points in their age group.

Other overall age group winners were:

Olivia Wellington (10/u female, Greendale),Natalya Roberts (11-12yrs female, Aquahawks),Ella Jamieson (13-14yrs female, Central Hawke’s Bay),Ben Stephenson (10/u male, Greendale),Joseph Avison (11-12yrs male, Aquahawks) andBevan Jacobs (13-14yrs male, Central Hawke’s Bay).The summer champs were the start of a busy competitive period which will take competitors as north as Auckland and as south as Invercargill.

Next up is the New Zealand junior champs in Auckland from February 19-21.