NEW Zealand age-group records, the top-club trophy, swimmer of the year, eight overall age-group titles, relay successes and the swim of the meet . . . Enterprise Cars Swim Team members were justifiably fizzing over their performance at the Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay winter championships.
The Gisborne club returned from the Flaxmere Waterworld complex as the No.1 HBPB club after winning the top-club trophy.
Enterprise finished on 1907.50 points, with Napier Aquahawks (1526.50) second and Gisborne’s Comet club (1057.50) third.
Enterprise also dominated the senior team (13 years and over) overall trophy points, amassing 1281.50 — 660 points ahead of second-placed Aquahawks.
Michael Pickett continued his outstanding form, setting New Zealand age-group records in the 14-year boys’ 50 metres butterfly and 100m freestyle.
Pickett, who holds eight New Zealand records over three age groups, was subsequently named HBPB 14yr-and-under Swimmer of the Year, a reflection of his phenomenal year.
He also won his overall age group at Flaxmere, as did seven of his Enterprise teammates — Taran Wilson (9yr boys), Bella Fitzharris (10yr girls), Bradley Anderson (10yr boys), Tyler Finau (13yr girls), Denby Gallagher (15yr girls), Jaimee Fisher (16yr-and-over girls) and Joshua Taylor-Martin (16yr-and-over boys).
Finau led an Enterprise trifecta in the 13yr girls’ age group, with Emily Horne second and Ava Smith third.
Taylor-Martin was in a class of his own in his age group, finishing nearly 50 points clear of teammate Josiah Ney in second place.
Enterprise’s depth was further reflected in the relays, where they won nine of the 16 titles.
They also had the FINA points-scoring performance of the champs — Olivia Corrin’s swim in the 16yr-and-over girls’ 800m freestyle.
To cap the club’s golden champs, the Enterprise team of Shane Anderson, Julie McLaughlin, Callum Wilson and Sonia Keepa won the parents’ relay — a victory made even more meritorious by their victory over all-male teams.
Of the times recorded by the club’s swimmers at the meet, 78 percent were personal best times.
Enterprise head coach Gary Martin said coaching staff were “very happy” with the results.
At this middle stage of the season, it augured well for the business-end competitions over the next 10 weeks.
“These results are the culmination of a lot of hard work from our team — parents, committee members, officials, funders, coaches and swimmers.”
Swimmers who produced personal best TIMEs — Bradley Anderson (8), Cody Anderson (11), Elisa Barbier (6), Alesha Batisaresare (8), Ben Blakeman (8), Kate Blakeman (6), Yahni Brown (8), Jacob Corrin, Tyler Finau (11), Jaimee Fisher (9), Bella Fitzharris (9), Jasper Florence (3), Samuel Florence (4), Denby Gallagher (5), Devon Hatwell (6), Scott Hatwell (8), Emily Horne (10), Jackson Horne (6), Kayla Hutchings (3), Jack Keepa (12), Maesyn Koia (8), Caleb Ney (9), Matthew Ney (8), Josiah Ney (7), Emily Petro (5), Sophie Petro (10), Michael Pickett (8), Nathan Proctor (10), Danielle Scott (3), Matthew Scott (2), Ava Smith (9), Alice Sparks (4), Freya Wilson (5), Joshua Taylor-Martin (5), Edan Wilson (11), Taran Wilson (5).