Bream Bay Swimmers Take the Plunge at Nationals
Five Bream Bay swimmers headed south to take on the country's top age group swimmers at the 2019 National Age Group Championships in Wellington last week. Just over 600 swimmers competed. Rebecca Reade, 16, was the top Bream Bay performer at the meet, placing eighth in her age group in the 200m backstroke final and 15th in 100m backstroke, improving her times and qualifying for the New Zealand Open Championships in both events. Reade was also 16th in 200m individual medley and 19th in 100m fly. Next best was Abby Wright, 15, who came 12th in 200m breast and swam personal best times in both 50m breast, where she placed 18th and 100m breast in which she was 16th. Coach Richard Dunkerton was happy that Reade and Wright had performed well. "But the most important thing about the meet was the realisation for these swimmers that they can compete. The younger swimmers were a little blown away at first, but this experience will do them well." Luca Matenga, 15, and Sam Dutton, 15, both qualified for national age groups at the recent Division II competition and Dunkerton says it was unrealistic to expect them to step up to the next level so quickly. For Kiera Carroll, 14, it was also her first national age groups competition.
Carnival crowds in Waipu
Waipu's main street and Caledonian Park were crowded with people last Saturday as locals and visitors descended on the town for the combined Waipu Primary School Easter Carnival and Waipu Street Market. "The weather was superb, which is always a blessing at this time of year," says organising committee member Janine Boult. "The highlight of the day for me has to be how many extended families came along. It was lovely to see children sharing the fun with their parents, grandparents, cousins and friends." Boult says another highlight was how many members of the wider Waipu community helped out before, during and after the carnival. "It shows what a wonderful community spirit exists in Waipu." While organisers say it is too early to give an estimate on the amount of funds raised, all proceeds from this year's carnival will go towards buying more STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture and Mathematics) related resources for the school. "It is always so rewarding being able to gift the school with items that extend and develop our children," says Boult.
