Success for Gisborne at HBPB meet

WINTER SUCCESS: Comet Swimming Club members won the accolade of top junior club at the Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay winter championships in Hastings. Club members show some of the medals and trophies they brought back. They are, back (from left): Eugene Stassen, Willow Stone, Flynn Watts, Gus Baker and Jodiesha Kirkpatrick. Middle: Emily Moore, Tamsyn Brown, Samantha Durston, Chris Niven, Alistair Gordon, Gemini McNabb, Hayley Durston and Holly Fisher. Front: William Matthews, Jack Keepa, Angus Blair, Emma Niven, Shanice McNabb, Riria Ferris-Reynolds and Kalea Daly. Picture by Liam Clayton

ONE point separated the two Gisborne swimming clubs in the overall standings at last weekend’s Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay winter championships in Hastings.

Napier Aquahawks were the top club, on 1338 points, followed by Enterprise, on 1098.50, and Comet, on 1097.50.

Comet won the award for top junior club, and came away with seven team and relay trophies. It was their best trophy haul from a winter championship meet.

Comet coaches Andrew Bull and Bianca Shaw praised the determination of the swimmers in achieving their goals.

Willow Stone, Jodiesha Kirkpatrick and Angus Blair were overall age-group winners.

Angus was the highest points-scorer at the meet and set HBPB records in the 10-year male 100-metre and 200m backstroke events. The previous records had stood since 2005.

Winning Comet relay teams• The 12-and-under boys’ medley team of Angus Blair, Jamie Joblin, Jack Keepa and Brad Hill.

• The 12/under boys’ freestyle team of Jamie Joblin, Lochlann Haar, Brad Hill and Jack Keepa.

• The 10/under girls’ medley and freestyle teams of Riria Ferris-Reynolds, Aria Harrison, Jodiesha Kirkpatrick and Kalea Daly.

• The 10/under boys’ medley and freestyle teams of Rixon Skudder, Flynn Watts, Gus Baker and Angus Blair.