SWIMMING - Carla brings back haul of medals

Bay of Island's Carla Marsh was the stand-out swimmer in a weekend of record setting at the Northland Age Group Championships.
Both relay and individual age group records were smashed in three days of swimming in great conditions at the at the Kerikeri High School Swimming Pool.
The 14-year-old came away with a haul of medals and will now throw herself into training for the National Age Group Swimming Championships in March.
In the younger age groups, Manaia Surf club member Freyah Ruri dominated the 10-year-old age grade, smashing numerous race records and age group records in her heats and finals.
Northwave Swim Club's Melita Raravula was another big improver and dominated the 12-year-old age grade. She is another Northland swimmer who is looking ready for New Zealand Junior Meet in a month's time.
The Whangarei Swimming Club's Maddison Eastwood also kept the race officials busy by smashing a lot of race records in the 11-year-old age group, while fellow club member Kadince Christensen also broke several race records.
Already tested at the national level, Ashley Crene proved that she will continue her form at the National Age Groups by showing she was far too strong for her Northland competitors in the butterfly events.
In the older age groups, open swimmers Aaron Millar, Mark Anderson and Ashley Masters, from Northwave Swim Club, are still dominating their age groups as was seen by their individual medal hauls.
The trio will be leaving Northland soon to further their studies, but hopefully will return to their home base again next year for this swim meet.
One of the highlights over the weekend's competition was the appearance of former All Black Ian Jones, the newly appointed patron for Swim Northland. Even though he is famous for his rugby he also swam for Northland and competing at this meet in his younger years grabbing medals too. He now competes in open water swimming events.