Comet trials new swimming complex

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Comet Swim Club have geared up to start their training at the new Kiwa Pools complex and head coach Glenn Hamblyn said these were exciting times for the club and the district.

This weekend marks the opening of the Kiwa Pools to the public.

“It’s been an end of an era for Comet at the former Olympic Pools Complex and now we look forward to the start of a new era at Kiwa Pools,” Hamblyn said.

Comet members have been trialling the facility this week for staff and management.

“It’s been a long-anticipated week but we are excited to be able to use this facility for our squad and stroke development swimmers to add to the 65 year legacy of the Comet club.

“Kiwa’s facilities — with two metre deep water, modern starting blocks and a consistent warm, weather-proof environment — will allow the swimmers to train and race in a way that will match with clubs in the country in most cases.

“Kiwa has the best, newest facilities.”

Mr Hamblyn said it was a busy time for Comet swimmers across the board with a club representative, Angus Blair, recently competing in Wellington at New Zealand Secondary School Champs, where he took two silver, two bronze and set a Hawke’s Bay Poverty Bay record in the 200m freestyle, 17-year-old boys.

“Angus also competed at the Australian Surf Lifesaving pool champs on the Gold Coast, where he won silver in the 200m obstacle race, a bronze in the 100m rescue medley, bronze in the 200m super lifesaver 17-18-year-olds. He was the first Kiwi athlete in those events as well.

“This was followed by the NZ short course swimming champs in Hastings where Angus won 200m backstroke and silver in the 800m free, 17-18yrs (set a HBPB record 200m backstroke 17yr),” Mr Hamblyn said.

“The other Comet swimmers Petiata Bowden and Te Maumahara Hape performed well with best times across the week.

“This week gone, Comet Swimmers Yahni Brown and Tyron Evans from Midway Surf Life Saving Club and Lachie Falloon from Waikanae represented NZ in a SLS event on the Gold Coast in both pool and beach events.”

Also last weekend were the Eastern region pool champs where Comet swimmers went to Hamilton to race for their surf clubs in preparation for the national champs in a month’s time.

“This week we have a few testing sessions at Kiwa and then our intermediate school swimmers will head off to AIMS Games in Mt Maunganui for swimming and a host of other sports representing their schools (Gis Intermediate/Illminster and Te Kura Kaupapa o Ngā Uri-a-Māui).”

Angus Blair will head to Hastings in the October school holidays to represent NZ in an age group Tri Series competition. There he will compete in a team environment versus teams from South Australia and Western Australia as well as the Pacific Islands.

“We look forward to finishing preparations for these meets in the Kiwa Pools and seeing how these athletes perform,” Mr Hamblyn said.

“It’s exciting times ahead with Kiwa as a training base, where the kids have the opportunity to train and learn (hone) skills in a fantastic facility.

“We are really looking forward to seeing this and future generations develop a lifelong love of swimming with Comet at Kiwa Pools.”