With a team of 51 swimmers, the Greerton swim team was optimistic about their chances of winning some regional titles at the Bay of Plenty relay championships in Rotorua last weekend.
The surprise was the dominance of the home town Rotorua club, who turned out in force and won a large share of the 15 titles on offer.
The meet started well for Greerton Swimming Club, with the club fielding five teams in event one, the Martinovich Memorial Trophy. The Greerton 'A' team of Marijke Hattingh, Lochlainn O'Connor, Cai Jager and Connor Farrell managed to out-touch the closest competition. These four swimmers also combined with Adam Galdeman and Ella Browne in another top effort to claim the prized Mikaere Shield.
This is awarded to the fastest 6x25m freestyle relay of one male, one female in ages 13 and under. 14-15 and 16 and over and was returned to the club for another year.
Time and time again the team was pushed back into second place by the home team, most notably the 9 and under team of Phoebe Hoskin, Caitlin Farrell, Elliott Pugh and Zach Quin, who finished second twice, as did the final event grand relay team of Phoebe Hoskin, Elliott Pugh, Millie Quin, Louis Fitzjohn, Marijke Hattingh, Connor Farrell, Ella Browne, Lochlainn O'Connor, Ryan Young and Libby Bradley.
