Featherston fired up for fun at community relay

Swimming

Featherston Amateur Swimming Club are expecting a big entry for their community relay event being held at the Featherston pool tomorrow night.

Unfortunately Swim New Zealand members will not be among the participants this year because of a clash with other commitments.

But club stalwart Jenni Roberts is confident of a battle royal for the major prizes in an event in which the emphasis is as much on fun as end results.

"Age, size, speed and ability are probably not as important as at normal meets because the races are handicapped to suit the abilities of the swimmers," Roberts said.

The "Banana Splits" line-up is an excellent example of family involvement, with club members Mishanna and Liam Labett being joined by their father Paul and cousin Rose Kelly.

On an individual front, the highlight is a 25m dash, with the seven fastest swimmers contesting a non-handicapped final.

It has been won for the last two years by Samuel Pepper, who won't be defending his title because he is at Outward Bound.

Meanwhile, plans are also well advanced for a similar community swimming relay event to be held at Eketahuna on February 10.

Organisers Ryan and Lisa Seator - both former members of the Featherston club - are keen to revive the swimming club there by next summer and are hopeful this event will be a good launching pad for that.