A small team from Northland, who have travelled the length of the country, has the lead after the opening day of the State New Zealand Division 2 swimming championships in Invercargill last night.
The nine-strong team from Bream Bay in Northland edged ahead of three clubs from Canterbury on dayone at Splash Palace in Invercargill.
Bream Bay was led by Ruby-Lee Beckham who won one gold and one silver medal, while teammate Isabelle Paton took out a bronze medal.
The club is part of a strong Northland contingent of nearly 30 swimmers who have ventured to the Deep South for the 18 years and under national age group competition.
The Northland club, who use a private pool for training for part of the year, lead on 333 points from Jasi (Christchurch) on 296, Wharenui and North Canterbury tied on 211 and Wanganui on 153.
It was a case of girl power on the opening day with three swimmers enjoying double success. Devon Familton (Neptune, Otago) took out the 13 years girls' 100m breaststroke and 50m butterfly gold medals; Hayley Miller (Ace, Waikato) the 13 years 200m backstroke and 400m freestyle and Ruby Matthews (Otumoetai, Tauranga) the 14 years 100m breaststroke and 50m butterfly.
