SWIM ROTORUA enjoyed a successful Bay of Plenty Junior Swimming Championships held at the Rotorua Aquatic Centre.
Despite the torrential rain last Sunday, the cold and wet weather did not dampen the spirits of the young athletes who were all keen to show their skills and determination.
Overall the Swim Rotorua outfit boasted a total of 36 athletes racing, well up on last year with 13 athletes racing.
National junior champion Bianca Donelley was away at the AquaKnights Tri Series Tour in Taranaki and so it was left to the other emerging junior stars to stake a claim to fame.
John Paul College student Milla Theobald, 11, rose to the occasion to grab 12 medals.
Milla was in brilliant form across the board with a top effort in the 100m freestyle, with a time of 1min 12.65sec.
Fellow teammate Emily Spear was also in superlative form to take 11 medals in the same age group.
Emily's best performances came in her signature breaststroke events where she stormed home first in the 100m and 200m.
Kapua Warbrick, 11, showed real determination to pick up medals in all three of her breaststroke events - the girls 11-years 50m, 100m and 200m.
Huntar Clarke had a breakthrough meet to grab seven medals with his best race coming in the boys 11-years 200m freestyle, with a best time of 2min 40.23sec.
Clay Fookes enjoyed an amazing weekend with three medals coming in the breaststroke events. Lynmore student Oliver Huston also took a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke.
In the 12-years-old age group, Damon Cowie was in impressive form to win seven medals.
Damon was undefeated in the breaststroke events to win a clean sweep in the 50m, 100m and 200m.
Also racing in the age group was Samantha Irving, who won a number of medals and posted a time of 1min 09.64sec in the 100m freestyle.
Other top performer included Jasmine Hagan, Annalyse Cowie, Theo Harvey, Lina Stahlhut, Toby Huston and Dion Wright.
The girls relay of Samantha Irving, Emily Spear, Milla Theobald and Skye Cox took a well-deserved second place in the 200m medley relay plus a bronze in the 200m freestyle relay.
We are absolutely delighted with the way we have raced.
The athletes have gone about their tasks in a very committed and disciplined way.
The young athletes have all stepped up and have done incredibly well.
This was a really important event for us as we wanted to build on our recent successes, notably at the Splash Attack meet from last month.
The athletes have certainly passed with flying colours and we are already looking forward to the Swim Rotorua Summer Meet being held at the end of January.
- Alastair Johnson is the Swim Rotorua head coach.