Big medal haul for Bay of Islands swimmers at Special Olympics Carnival

Far North-based swimmers performed well at the Special Olympics Swim Carnival. Photo/Supplied

Far North swimmers made a splash at the Special Olympics Swim Carnival, collecting a haul of 29 medals.

Fifteen home swimmers shared in the medals as teams from as far south as Waikato took to the pool in the Bay of Islands.

Seven golds, 12 silvers and 12 bronze medals were won in an impressive haul from the locals as they prepare for the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Wellington at the end of November.

Sarasin Ben was in sublime form, taking home three gold medals - the 25m breaststroke, the 25m backstroke and the 4x25m medley relay.

Ben teamed up in the relay with Chris Newhouse, Zadkeil Beasley Tango and Tony Pakura.

Newhouse picked up a gold in his 25m freestyle event, Tango had three bronzes (25m backstroke, 25m freestyle and 50m freestyle) and Pakura had a gold in the 25m butterfly and silver in the 100m freestyle.

The Bay of Islands team is made up of athletes from the Far North training at two venues. One is a satellite club in Kaitaia where Denise Pure and Natasha King take control of their charges.

The other athletes train at Kawakawa pool, led by coaches Karen Markin, Ann Robinson, Rachel Bray, Taunaha Smith, Anika West and Steph Godsiff.

Full list of medallists:

Chris Newhouse - gold in 25m freestyle
Te Waipuke Tohu - gold in 25m freestyle
Rachel Harvie - bronze in 50m backstroke
Zadkeil Beasley Tango - bronze in 25m backstroke, 25m freestlye, 50m freestyle
Daniel Casbolt - gold in 200m freestyle
Alex Goldsack - silver in 50m butterfly, bronze in 100m freestyle and 100m in individual medley
Adam Horsefall - silver in 15m unassisted swim
Kelsey Heta - silver in 50m freestyle, bronze in 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle
Lani Maree Wallace - gold in 25m freestyle, bronze in 50 backstroke
Aroma Morgan - silver in 25m kickboard
Jasmine Lawrence - silver in 25m backstroke and 50m backstroke, bronze in 25m freestyle
Tony Pakura - gold in 25m butterfly and silver in 100m freestyle
George King - silver in 25m backstroke and 50m backstroke, bronze in 25m freestyle
Sarasin Ben - gold in 25m breaststroke and 25m backstroke
Denise Cameron - bronze in 25m freestyle
Gold in the 4x25 medley relay - Chris Newhouse, Zadkeil Beasley Tango, Tony Pakura and Sarasin Ben
Silver in the 4x25 freestyle relay - Daniel Casbolt, Kelsey Heta, Lani Maree Wallace, Jasmine Lawrence