Awards galore for captain Foote

Club captain Isaac Foote was the big winner when the Masterton Swimming Club celebrated their 132nd season at the annual prizegiving function last month, attended by more than 150 swimmers and supporters.
Foote, 16, was named Swimmer of the Year for leadership and good sportsmanship and he was awarded the DB Tui Challenge Cup for the highest level of achievement.
He also won the Glover Cup for performance in long distance swimming, following his silver medal in the 15yrs age group at the 5km New Zealand open water swim and his gold medal in the 1500m freestyle at the national age group championships.
Foote achieved national rankings of first in his age group in the 400m individual medley and the 1500m freestyle and second in the 200m individual medley.
He was part of the New Zealand team which competed at the Pacific School Games in Australia and also participated at the Australian age championships where he contested five events.
Eleven Wairarapa under-16yrs records came Foote's way during the season, along with the Wairarapa senior men's 200m breaststroke record.
Other Masterton club members to set Wairarapa records during the year were Ben Ruback, who claimed seven under-14 boys records, and William Hamilton, Sophie Foote, Taylah Mawson and George Sims who all set one apiece.
A new award, the Ruback Cup, for best trainer went to 12-year-old Olivia Samuel, while William Hamilton, 13, won the Clare Trophy for most improved swimmer. Ben Ravenwood, 15, won the Pauline Tait Competitive Strive Award and most improved awards in the under-12yrs age group went to Jacob Smith and Taylah Mawson.
Sophie Foote, 12, received the Robert Bell 12yrs and under sportsmanship award and Taylah Mawson, 11, the President's award for the highest number of personal best times swum during the season.
Masters swimmer Jo Matthews capped her season with a New Zealand record in the 100m butterfly and six gold medals at the national Masters championships in March.
Head coach for the Masterton club Anna Kitching was recognised through three awards she received from Swimming New Zealand. She had five swimmers selected for national age group development programmes, two swimmers selected for New Zealand teams and a swimmer achieving three New Zealand long course age group national; records.
Volunteer coaches and senior swimmers Isaac Foote, Ben Ruback, Tessa Foote and William Hamilton were recognised at the prizegiving for their dedication to attending weekly Metro nights to coach younger club members.
Club membership of the Masterton club has boomed in the past 12 months with the number of competitive swimmers nearly doubling and the non-competitive Metro under-12yrs group increasing greatly in size.
Growth has been such, in fact, that the coaching team has also doubled with Piers Fuller, Mike McGrath and Deidre Smith joining Julie Hamilton and head coach Anna Kitching.
Masterton Swimming Club president Robyn Prior said the prizegiving was a chance to look back over what she described as a stunning season and to celebrate the achievements, large and small, of all the club's swimmers.
She said the growth of the organisation could be attributed to the team of coaches, committee, life members and parents working together for shared goals.