Dolphins In Cairns

Item Posted:09/06/2017

Rod Clarke, Caroline Clarkson, Dot Dickey, Andrew Gilchrist, Robyn Gillespie and Margie Moore, headed north to warmer climes to participate in the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games in Cairns:   The swimming events were held over two days at the Tobruk Memorial Pool in North Cairns which was refurbished a year ago and is a beautiful, shaded, clean pool with modern starting blocks.

Prior to the meet commencing Dot & I went along to ABC North Queensland radio for an interview re masters swimming (they were obviously particularly interested in Dot as the oldest swimmer, possibly oldest in the entire games?). The funny thing was that some people thought we were an English team (Doncaster UK) when they heard my accent!! 7 news were at the pool filming Dot in full flight in her 100m freestyle and coach Rod also was interviewed.

The meet was extremely well run by MSQ, and the program finished in the early afternoon each day allowing for some sightseeing. The entry numbers were relatively small but it was a fun meet and everyone had excess baggage on the way home with all the medals.  With four ladies we were able to field a Dolphins 280+ relay team for the free and medley events, winning both.  Rod joined up with some other men (Don Taylor/Marlins, Kevin Jackson/Rats of Tobruk Qld , and Stephen Carthew/Marion Masters SA) for the male relays to make 280+ teams, Don joined in again for the two 280+ mixed teams, and Caroline  rustled up Andrew G, Alan Godfrey (Glamourheads) and Patricia Baker (Marlins) for a 280+ mixed medley, all teams winning gold! I had a baptism of fire having to swim the 20m IM and 200m fly about 15 minutes apart as they had all the 200’s on day one of competition. Robyn did a great time in her 50 breast showing all her hard training for Budapest is paying off. Only one club record fell to Margie Moore who shaved a little more off her 200m free time.

Summary of results:

Rod Clarke: 5 gold (including 4 relays), 5 silver

Caroline Clarkson: 7 gold (including 4 relays), 3 silver

Dorothy Dickey: 10 gold (including 4 relays)

Andrew Gilchrist: 6 golds (including 1 relay), 1 silver

Robyn Gillespie: 5 gold (including 2 relays), 1 bronze

Margie Moore: 4 gold (including 3 relays), 5 silver

Rod, Robyn, Dot and I drove up to Port Douglas for the afternoon after swimming finished and, after bumping into ex Dolphin Thea Baker, we went around to view her and partner Andrew’s holiday apartment on the outskirts of town.

The next GBR games are in 2 years (2019) It's well worth the trip and good to combine it with a holiday!

Caroline Clarkson 6/6/17