Small contingent, big haul

GREAT EFFORT: The successful Carterton team. Back row, from left: Joe Hammond, Sam Smith, Jacob Smith, Russell Geange (coach). Front row: Kobe Edge, Nick Smith, Samantha Duthie. At right the Wellington Winter Championship Club Trophy. PHOTO/ SUPPLIED

Carterton Swimming Club might have sent only a small contingent of six swimmers to the Wellington winter championships held at the Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre over the past two weekends but their impact was such they came home with the trophy for the club achieving the highest points average for swimmers recording a top 10 finish.

As it happened all members of the Carterton team contributed towards that trophy success with a remarkable 20 medals being won.

These included four gold, seven silver and nine bronze, as well as an impressive 42 personal best times being recorded.

Joe Hammond picked up three of the golds and was placed third highest individual points scorer overall in the 18yrs and over section.

He was first in the 50m backstroke, 200 individual medley and 200m backstroke events, second in the 50m breaststroke and the 100m backstroke and third in the 200m butterfly.The other gold medal for Carterton came from Samantha Duthie in the 11yrs and under 200m butterfly.

She also placed third in both the 400m freestyle and the 100m butterfly and took an amazing 36secs off her personal best in the 800m freestyle.

Jacob Smith was consistency plus in the 16-17yrs age group where he was second-highest individual points scorer. He came away with silver medals in the 100m individual medley, 100m breaststroke, 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly and 50m breaststroke and bronze medals in the 200m freestyle, 400m individual medley, 200m individual medley, 200m butterfly, 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke - 11 medals.

Another highlight for Carterton was the performance of Kobe Edge who swam personal best times in all four of his events in what was only his second appearance at a competition meet.

Several Carterton swimmers are now preparing for the national short course championships in a few weeks time.

Joe Hammond will spearhead that team and will be joined by Jacob Smith, Sam Smith, Nick Smith and Logan Barham.