They saved the best for last at the Wanganui Swimming Club prize-giving on Thursday night.
The annual awards, at the Wanganui Intermediate hall, were held to recognise achievements at the national and local level by the club's members.
Many came forward to accept a trophy or dip their heads for a medal to be placed around the neck.
But the five most important were held back for the conclusion to receive their Chronicle glass-created trophies.
Outstanding junior performance was reintroduced this season and the standout was Shannon Schimanski.
At the New Zealand Juniors Championships in February, Schimanski won gold in the 50m breaststroke of her girls' division, setting a Wanganui long-course record of 37.27 seconds.
She followed that up with bronze at the same event in the 100m breaststroke, also a Wanganui record at 1m 22.59s
Recently at the Wanganui championships, Schimanski broke that 100m record, finishing in 1m 20.34s
The Bignell Cup represents the most outstanding male and female for the season and the winners were Thomas Ireton and Laura O'Keefe respectively.
Ireton reached the finals of both the 200m butterfly and 200m backstroke at the New Zealand Short Course Championships in October.
He set Wanganui open records in both of them 2m 09.69s and 2m 08.79s which was all the more meritorious given the races were only 15 minutes apart.
O'Keefe won the Skins competition, racing in Lane 1, at the Greerton Winter meeting in July last year.
To do this, she had to get through five 50m elimination competitions back to back across all four stroke disciplines.
Also competing at the New Zealand Age Group Championships, O'Keefe came fourth in the 200m freestyle in 2m 11.02s
Her final points tally at the championships of 641, was the best of her club mates.
But sport is often much more than the medals and the recorded times, as Hannah Burroughs could attest as she was called forward to accept the Beacon Bacon Cup of sportsmanship for the season.
The award recognises a true club person one who exhibits respect for others, follows the rules and is gracious in competition.
"Hannah has been chosen for her supportive, happy and very positive outlook, plus a wicked sense of humour," the citation read.
"An absolute asset to the team both in training and at meets."
And one cannot compete without good administration behind the scenes: Maree Groves was called to accept the Glen Whyte Memorial Cup for "Outstanding Voluntary Club Service".
Groves has been leader of the Events Group almost since the club's formation seven years ago co-ordinating the club nights, regional swim meets, the website and Thursday's prize-giving.
"She is always first to offer to help, especially good with events related to food," explained the citation.
"Including the recent dessert evening, as camp cook at Marton and team manager for away meets, and makes fine waffles at the end of season squad breakfast.
"The club has received regular positive feedback from other clubs about how easy it is to do business with Wanganui all down to Maree."