Report on Masterton Swimming Club at Wellington ChampsJan 21 ? 24, 2005
Fresh back from their summer swimming camp in Runaway Bay in Queensland, Australia, Masterton Swimming Club showed how successful this commitment to training is when they were placed fourth in the club points at the end of the Wellington Summer Long-Course Champs held in Wellington over Anniversary Weekend. To be fourth in the points is a huge achievement as the clubs ahead of Masterton are the "big-three" in Wellington swimming and Masterton's team was only 20 in number.
This small team swam in 114 finals and won 39 medals. Nearly half the team won medals, twenty-five Wairarapa Age Group records were broken and 18 of the swimmers have so far qualified for national and international championships.
In the overall points table for individual swimmers, Masterton had 8 of their swimmers placed in the top ten for their age group. William Prior was the overall winner for the boys 14-15 years category with 133 points, Tim Smith was third (83 points) in the same age group and James Pope joined them at sixth place (46 points).
Ashley McDougall was placed second in the girls 14-15 years age group, only two points behinds the winner with 88 points. Tyson Hullena was placed fourth in the boys 16-17 years age group with 63 points and Bradley Aplin was eighth (42 points). Shaun Gard'Ner was sixth in the men's 18&Over; category with 57 points and Francesca Ghinami was eighth in the women's 16&Over; category with 40 points. A total of 530 swimmers attended the championships.
William Prior (15) won 10 medals and broke 11 Wairarapa records during the weekend. He won gold medals in the 800m, 400m, 200m, 100m, 50m freestyle (26.74), 400m individual medley and 100m fly. His 800m free time (8:45.73) was the fastest for the meet and 5 seconds under the qualifying time for the NZ Squad, of which he is already a member because of his 1500m and 400m freestyle times. He broke the U16 and senior Wairarapa records in the 800m and 200m freestyle (2:00.20). William dominated the 200m free from the beginning winning by over two body lengths from the next placed swimmer.
In the 400m freestyle (4:14.43 ? second fastest time for the meet), 100m fly (1:01.56) and 400 IM, William broke the U16 records. His time in the 400IM (4:51.94), another strong race, qualified him for NZ Opens (he has already qualified in 3 other events) and for Australian Age Champs, adding to his seven other events.
William also won a silver medal in the 200IM (2:21.33) and broke both the U16 and senior records, only to watch his team-mate, Tyson Hullena (16) convincingly break the senior record again in the next (16-17 years) final. William also won bronze medals in the 1500m freestyle (16:41.80) which is not a personal best, as he swam it 7.37 seconds faster in Auckland last month in the NZ Summer Short Course Champs, but it was still good enough to break both the U16 and senior long course records. A highlight for him was his bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke, a race he rarely swims at this level, in a NZ Age Group Champs qualifying time of 1:16.18.
Another 15 year old to make her mark was Ashley McDougall, who won nine medals and broke ten records. Ashley won the first medal for the team, a silver, in Friday night's 800m freestyle. Her stunning time of 9:17.85, a 15 second PB, also broke the U16 and senior Wairarapa records and interestingly was faster than the Wellington record.
Ashley won a gold medal in an exciting 200m freestyle race, in the 14-15 years age group, minutes before William won his. Her time (2:09.42) is a new U16 and senior record and she thrilled the crowd when she came from third place at the last turn to dominate the last 50m and take the race convincingly.
She repeated the same treble of gold and U16 and senior records in the 50 fly when she swam a 29.66 to snatch the gold in the last moments of the race. Ashley also won silver medals in the 1500m freestyle and 100m fly.
The 1500m free (18:07.93) was particularly memorable, as besides breaking the U16 and senior records, this was the first time that she has been able to swim this event faster than her PB which she established at Wellington Champs in 2001 when she was 12 years old. Ashley reduced her PB by a creditable 16.23 seconds.
Ashley also won bronze medals in the 400m freestyle ((4:34.68), 200 fly (2:34.89), 50 free (28.83) and 100 free, in which she also broke the U16 and senior records. Ashley has qualified for NZ Opens in seven events and Australian Age Champs in five events.
James Pope, another 15 year old, won medals in all three breaststroke events and the 100m free. He won the gold medal in a very exciting race for the 100 breaststroke honours (1:14.34) and in the same race that William took the bronze. He won silver medals in the 200 (2:41.56) and 50 (33.08) breaststroke, also breaking the U16 record in both.
In the 100 free the roles were reversed and he won the bronze while William won the gold, establishing that Masterton really does dominate in the 15 year old boy's age group. He was one of four Masterton boys to go under 1 minute in 100m freestyle at the champs. James is the third of four Masterton 15 year olds to qualify for the Australian Age Champs.
This number of qualifiers for an overseas event, from Masterton Swimming Club, is unprecedented. However, given the credentials of the coach, Jiri Mikolas, who has previously trained Olympic Games qualifiers, it is perhaps not unexpected.
Shaun Gard'Ner celebrated his 21st birthday on Monday and it was fitting that he won his gold medal on that day. Shaun has returned to his old club, Masterton, this year, after three years in Wellington and a break from swimming and showed that it is possible to resume a swimming career at 20, after recovering from injury. Shaun's gold was in the 800m freestyle (9:03.52), previously his top event in the days when it was in the NZ Open's events list.
On the Friday night, perhaps a little excited to be back in competition, he false-started in the 1500m freestyle, but decided to complete the race to see what his time would have been and swam it in what would have been a NZ Open's qualifying time of 17:11.47 and he would also have won the bronze medal. Not deterred by this unfortunate start, he won a silver medal in the 400IM (5:01.76) and bronze medals in the 200IM, 400 free and 200 free. Hopefully, Shaun will be able to repeat his qualifying time in the 1500m free at the North Island Champs early next month.
Tim Smith also competed in the 14-15 years age group and was third overall. A talented backstroker, he won silver medals in the 100 backstroke (1:05.92) and 200 back (2:19.80). He also broke the U16 record in the 200 back by 3.66 seconds, just missing it by .07 in the 100 back. Tim's 200 backstroke time was an Australian Age Champs qualifying time, making him the fourth of the 15 year olds to qualify. Tim also won a bronze medal in the 100 fly and 800m free, sharing the podium each time with William and won his third bronze in the 50 fly. Although not in the medals, Tim's 1500 swim was a very fine effort, in which he reduced his time by 9.17 seconds. Tim is relatively new to competitive swimming and because he is improving rapidly, is very versatile and does not turn 15 until the end of March, he is well poised for further honours in that age group at Wellington Champs next year.
Tyson Hullena (16) was well-seeded at number 3 for the 200 fly final and made the most of his central position and high motivation level to win a well-deserved silver medal in a personal best time of 2:19.45. Having got the mix right, he went on to win a bronze medal in one of his other specialist events, the 400 IM and his time of 4:58.45 is well within the NZ Youths qualifying time. His 200IM time (2:20.16) was a 4.45 second PB and he was unlucky to miss the bronze medal, being just pipped at the touch. However, there was some compensation for him as he was able to break the senior record, which had just been established by his team-mate William, in the preceding final.
In another very creditable performance, Tyson recorded a 9.5 second PB in the 800m freestyle (9:15.26), which saw him narrowly beaten into fourth place. In both the heat and final he went under 1 minute in the 100 free (59.40), this being the first time he has achieved this land-mark time.
Francesca Ghinami (17), an exchange student from Sardinia, Italy, has been with the club since her arrival in July last year. Because of coach Mikolas's training regime, Francesca has discovered for the first time that she has an aptitude for the longer and middle distances, having only considered herself a sprinter before she came. She was delighted therefore, when she won the silver medal in the 1500 in the 16&O; age group, this being only the second time she has swum the 1500 in competitions.
Her time of 18:55.49 was a 23.68 PB. Seeded third in the final, she was extremely unlucky to miss the bronze medal in the 100m freestyle and if she had swum a PB she would have won the race. Francesca was placed fifth in the 800m freestyle with another large PB of 8.70 seconds. She will swim at the NZ Youth Champs at the end of March having qualified in 50, 100, 200 and 800 freestyle, and will attempt to qualify in the 400 free and 100 fly next weekend.
Hinewai Voyce (13) won two bronze medals in the 100 breast and the 200 free. 100 breast is one of her specialist events, and she reduced her PB by 1.02 seconds and in so doing also lowered her own U14 record. Hinewai's result in the 200 free was unexpected until she swam the heat in a new personal best time, 7.35 seconds less than her qualifying time.
Seeded second for the final, she then took off another 2.02 seconds and her time of 2:18.74 was good enough to win her the bronze medal and qualify for NZ Age Groups.
Her team were delighted to see her now established as one of Wellington regions top girls in this event in the 12-13 age-group. Hinewai smashed her 400 IM PB by 12.84 seconds (5:50.18), which placed her fifth in her age group. She also reduced her 200IM time (2:42.78) by 4.80 seconds, which was only .78 over the NZ Age Groups qualifying time.
Claire Smith (16) became the ninth Masterton medal winner when she won a bronze medal in the 1500m freestyle in the 16&O; age group, alongside Francesca who won the silver. Her time of 19:26.32 was a huge PB, 1:52.61 faster than her qualifying time and six seconds faster than the next swimmer. Other notable achievements were her 45.34 PB in 800m freestyle (10:09.49) where she was placed sixth, her 19.20 PB in 400m freestyle (4:55.51), a 5.85 PB in 200 fly (2:47.69) and her fifth placing in 400IM Having already qualified for NZ Division 2, Claire is working towards qualifying for NZ Youths and is within seconds in the 400 and 200 free, 200 fly and 200 IM
Jade Aplin (14) displayed some very fine swimming at the Champs recording several very large PB's. In the 800 free she reduced her time by a whopping 15.74 (10:06.09) and was the eighth finalist.
In 1500 free she repeated the 800 effort, this time recording a 28.97 second PB (19:33.72) which saw her placed fourth in her age group. In total she contested six finals and swam 11 personal best times. Having already qualified for NZ Age groups in 200 fly and 400IM, she is also close in 800 free, 400 free, 200 free, 100 free and 100 fly.
Bradley Aplin (16) originally did not think he would return to competitive swimming this season, having opted instead to join the Fitness Squad. However, during the second half of last year the thrill of the race caught him again and he returned to the competitive squad and became determined to return to national level swimming. So far he has qualified for NZ Youths in four events (1500 free, 400 free, 200 back and 400IM) and is 0.01 seconds off qualifying in 100 backstroke. At the Champs he was a finalist in nine events, including 100 back (5th), 1500 free (6th), 200 back (4th), 100 free (10th), 200 breast (10th) 200 IM (7th), 50 back (4th) and 800 free (5th), the latter being a 9.6 PB.
Tamlyn O'Neill (11), one of Masterton's new Juniors, has an unfortunate birthday and although only 11 at these champs, will be 12 by the time NZ Juniors is held in February, so she was had to swim 12 year old qualifying times. She is very close in all three backstroke events, whereas if she could have swum in the 11 years age group she would have qualified in a number of events already. Tamlyn swam huge PB's in her 200 backstroke (2:59.11), which over the space of the heat and final saw her time reduced by 15.97 seconds. She also had big PB's in 100 back (4.48 seconds, time of 1:23.97), 200 breast (5.15 second PB, time of 2:44.04) and 200 free (3.78 PB, time of 2:44.04). These were Tamlyn's first Wellington Champs.
Matthew Dymond (14) has had a successful first serious training season and had already qualified for NZ Division 2 in 200 back before attending these champs. During the weekend he added 1500m free, 100 back, and 400IM to his list and is close to qualifying in a further five events. At the champs he swam a 4.81 PB in 100 back (1:13.92) when he was placed tenth and took a huge 21.44 seconds off his 1500 free (19:33.64). Suited to the longer distances, other significant PB's were recorded in 400 free (9.03 second PB, time of 5:01.63), 400IM (18.51 second PB, time of 5:48.82), 100 fly (7.88 second PB, time of 1:17.89) and 200IM (8.08 PB, time of 2:44.92).
Sammy Holmes (10) another Junior to make great strides this season, is well on his way to NZ Juniors with 5 qualifying times before the champs and a further 4 events added during the champs. Sammy swam in 3 finals in the hotly contested 10-11 age group and could well be a dominate force when he returns next year. Sammy was placed eighth in the 50 breast (36.81), sixth in the 200 back (2:25.37) and seventh in the 100 breast with a 3.28 second PB (1:45.35). He improved significantly in the 200IM (8.51 PB), 50 back (2.14 PB) and 200 free (1.66 PB).
Emily Fellerhoff (15) is extremely close to qualifying for NZ Division 2 and swam strongly, especially through the earlier part of the championships. Fifth placed in the 100 back (1:20.65), she swam a 2.89 PB which she repeated in the 200 back (2.29 PB, time of 2:53.10) and the 400 IM.
Teina Hullena (14) is another swimmer with the wrong birth date and he has to qualify in the 15 year age group for NZ Age Groups, quite a tall order during this time of rapid growth when size becomes all important and a year can make so much difference.
However, he has qualified in 400IM and 200 back, but recurrent injuries to both shoulders is seriously hindering his ability to train effectively and improve his times in other events. Currently, Teina is undergoing laser treatment and perhaps as a result of that he was able to record small PB's in 100 back (fifth in the final with a time of 1:08.05 and a PB of 1 second), 50 breast (eighth in a time of 36.81, 0.05 second PB), 200 back (sixth in a time of 2:25.37) and 50 free (28.83).
Alice Galbraith (15) has already qualified for NZ Age Groups in 50 Breast and is close in a further four events. Alice was not sparking at these champs, although her 200 fly showed huge improvement with a 5.88 PB and a new time of 2:49.39. With a longer taper period it is hoped that she is able to reach her qualifying goals at a further qualifying meet this next weekend.
Bridget Maher (16) is another to have qualified for NZ Division 2 and also has her sights on NZ Youths. Bridget was placed eighth in the 800 free (10:14.02), tenth in the 50 breast (45.42) and eighth in the 400IM (6:06.36). New to Masterton Swimming Club this season, Bridget is still adjusting to different coaching techniques and will be concentrating on qualifying in the next month.
Jamie Holmes (12) is in his final year for NZ Juniors. An all-round sportsman, he is only able to concentrate on his swimming in the holiday periods because he attends school out of the area. It is credit to him that he maintains a qualifying standard at NZ Juniors level. Jamie swam strongly in the 100 free (2.48 second PB, time of 1:16.08), 50 free (34.47, PB of 0.34 seconds), 100 fly (1:35.93, PB of 0.36) and 100 breast (1:42.32, PB of 1.17 seconds). Jamie was swimming in the 12-13 year age group and was one of the younger competitors and the team were delighted to see him make the final in the 100 fly.
Katyana O'Neill (14) is another in her first serious training season. She has improved consistently over the season and swam well, recording PB's in the 400 free (5:29.05), 100 free (1:12.25), 50 free (36.35, with a huge PB of 2.12), 50 back (40.18) and 100 breast (1:35.42). Her goal is to qualify for NZ Division 2 by February 20.
Swimming club puts in top effort
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