Local swimmers shine at Mitch Tait carnival

The Mitch Tait Memorial carnival hosted by the Masterton Swimming Club on Saturday was one of the largest and best-supported swim meets held in Wairarapa in recent years.
More than 140 swmmers from six Wellington clubs, one from Palmerston North and six from Wairarapa took part in a programme which lasted some four hours and involved around 430 races.
The men's and women's Mitch Tait Memorial 100m breaststroke cups were won by Isaac Foote from the Masterton club and Meghan Fraser from Upper Hutt.
A total of 13 Masters swimmers from Masterton and Mana contested their freestyle and breaststroke shields and these were won by Piers Fuller of Masterton and Murray Trott of Mana Marlins respectively
Masterton Swimming Club president Robyn Prior credited the success of the meet with the strong support it received from swimmers, volunteers and officials.
"Entries far exceeded those from previous years and it was wonderful for the locals to experience competition from so many visiting clubs at their own pool," she said "It augurs well for future meets here.".
The Mitch Tait carnival, which was also a fundraiser for the Robert Algie Memorial Trust and supported by CLM,. actually started in 1989 and was the first carnival held in the original 25m five-lane indoor pool.
The late Mitch Tait was a Masterton Swimming Club stalwart who died suddenly during the time was pool was built and was one of many club members who raised over $120,000 towards the pool costs.
Mitch Tait was a talented swimmer himself, particularly in breaststroke. He swum as a Masters competitor in later life but also gave freely of his time teaching youngsters how to swim in both the Masterton and Featherston clubs' "learn to swim" programmes..
Masterton Masters, for their part, will host the North Island short course Masters championships in Masterton on October 10.
Masterton Swimming Club are taking part in the "Join the Club" Wairarapa sports club promotion by hosting a "Have A Go Day" on October 5 followed by a Masterton business house and schools relay on October 23.