Swimming: Smith shines in stellar Northland contingent

Northland's team at the NZ Short Course Championships. From left: Ciara Smith, Annabell Simpson, Rebecca Reade, Archie White, Madeline Whittam, Paul Linton. Photo / Supplied

Northwave Swimming Club's Ciara Smith led the way for Northland swimmers at the recent NZ Short Course Championships in Auckland.

Smith's outstanding performance at the national meet saw the 16-year-old break both the national open and age group records in 200m breaststroke, beating New Zealand Olympian Helena Gasson in the final to take gold.

Ciara also broke her own national age group record in the 100m breaststroke, winning gold, breaking it again in the night's open final to win bronze.

She also won silver in the 16-year girls 50m breaststroke and bronze in the open final with two further personal best times.

Teammate Hayley McIntosh, who now trains with the NZ high performance squad in Auckland, won gold medals in both open and 17 to 18-year girls age group 800m freestyle finals, gold in the open 400m free final and silver in the 400m free age group final, silver in both the open and age group 200m free finals and placed 4th in the age group final of the 100m.

Northwave's Madeline Whittam won silver in the 14-year girls 100m and 200m breaststroke.

Teammate Annabell Simpson won bronze in the 17 to 18-year girls 200m backstroke and placed fourth in the open final.

She also came fourth and fifth in the respective 50m and 100m backstroke finals with personal best times.

Bream Bay Swimming Club's Paul Linton placed sixth in the 17 to 18-year boys 50m backstroke with a personal best time.

Other Bream Bay swimmers competing at the NZ Short Course championships were Rebecca Reade (15) and Ocean Shadbolt (16). Bay of Islands swimmer Archie White (16) also competed.