Swimming: Rachel's determination impresses

Whangarei athletes took their first strokes - and in some cases steps - towards competing in next year's New Zealand Special Olympics in Dunedin at regional aquatic games at the Whangarei Aquatic centre over the weekend.

It was the first time that Whangarei has hosted an Aquatics Regional Games - a two-day qualifying event for the national games late next year..

There were a huge range of events held during the event from the developmental swimmers' 15m walk through to 200m swimming events.

The event attracted a total of 65 swimmers with 13 from Whangarei, eight from Auckland, seven from Counties, eight from Te Awamutu, 10 from the Bay of Islands, six from Howick-Pakuranga, seven from Tamaki, five from the Hibiscus Coast, and one from Thames Valley.

One of the highlights of the weekend was from Rachel Harvie from the Bay of Islands club who showed what determination can achieve. Harvie has an intellectual disability as well as a physical disability but still completed the 200m freestyle in 10 minutes 31.94 sec, while her fellow competitors all were faster than 3m 10.47s.

"Doug the Digger" aka Alister McIntyre who showed up to help, was so impressed with her effort that he went out to his vehicle to sign one of his Doug the Digger books and also gave her a Pink CAT hat.

Other highlights were the powhiri on Saturday morning and the official dinner on Saturday night.

Whangarei Special Olympics president Andrew Langford said the event went off well.

"I would like to thank the officials from Swimming New Zealand, Kamo Lions Club and all the timekeepers and also Special Olympics New Zealand.

"Also Mike Ryan and his wife for their work on the computer, Dave Beattie and Trudi Bridges for their help also," he added.

WHANGAREI RESULTS

Developmental swimmers: Garth Laird 15m swim 3rd, 15m flutterboard 3rd; Raymond Tipene 15m flutterboard 2nd, 15m walk 3rd; Janet Gold 15m walk 1st; James McGowen 25m freestyle 2nd, 25m breaststroke 2nd, 50m freestyle 2nd, 4 x 25 free relay 3rd; Tracy Langford 50m freestyle 3rd, 4 x 25 free relay 3rd; Stephen Dykzeul 25m free 3rd, 4 x 25m free relay 3rd; Arfon Davies 25m breaststroke 3rd, 50m freestyle 3rd; Adam Faithfull 25m freestyle 3rd, 25m butterfly 2nd, 50m freestyle 3rd; Susie Clarke 50m freestyle 2nd, 25m backstroke 2nd.