Masterton to host swimming champs

The North Island Masters swimming championships will be held in Masterton in October 2008.
It will the second time in just two years the championships have been hosted here and entries are expected to better the 2006 figure of 158.
Masterton Masters Swimming Club spokesman Brian Bourke said swimmers from all over the North Island and even some from the South Island would compete in a programme which would involve all strokes and upwards of 80 races.
"It is a huge undertaking but we received excellent comments last time and we are looking forward to the challenge," he said, adding that the facilities at the Genesis Recreation Centre were ideal for a competition of that size.
Bourke said the championships were a sanctioned meet which meant that New Zealand age group records would be ratified if set there.
Electronic timing pads will be actioned to assist in that process.
"It's even possible world records will be established, that's the calibre of swimmers who will be there,' he said.
The Masterton club itself has 35 members, most of whom are expected to compete as well as help with official duties.
Likely to be starring for Masterton will be Kirsten Cameron, who is the world number one for her age group in four freestyle events, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m, and Richard Swallow, who is ranked tenth in the world in the 200m butterfly.
No fewer than 10 members of the Masterton club will be competing at the world Masters championships in Perth in April next year.