Log In
State Short Course Results
26/07/2017
The State Short Course Masters Swimming Meet was held on Sunday 16th July at the Melbourne Aquatic Centre.
The Doncaster Dolphins were represented by a team of 19 swimmers. Our numbers were a little lower than usual due to illness, injury and holidays but despite this the Dolphins still managed to be the 3rd point scorer out of 22 clubs. Events ranged from distances of 25m-200meters in each stroke and swimmers were able to enter multiple events.
Our top point scorer was 72yr old Colin McCraith with a total score of 87/100 points. Colin completed a massive 10 events and placed 1st in 3 of those. His performance and commitment to the Doncaster Dolphins has earned him the Dolphin of the Month award. Colin had only returned from 6 weeks in Europe the week prior and he volunteered to compete with hardly any training over that time.
All swimmers swam their best and produced some great results with I believe 38 gold medals. There were too many to mention all of them but results have different meanings for different people. A good result for one swimmer might be for taking part in the event, maybe for the first time. For another swimmer it could be a personal best time ever, or a personal best time in their new age group. For the over 50’s it’s just maintaining a certain time, for as we get older it is so much harder to maintain those times we did 10 years prior.
The youngest swimmer was Megan Botha, 20years; who gained five 1st places and one silver medal in the multiclass for her young age group. Primrose Ritchie also competed in the multiclass gaining a gold medal in the 100 and 200m backstroke. The oldest competitor was Dot Dickey 87y who set a National and State record in two events. She is always a good sport.
One swimmer worthy of a mention not just for his fantastic performance in the pool but also for fitting in seven events; winning four gold medals, two silver and 3rd place, is Andrew Gilchrist who arrived with a large suitcase and headed straight for the airport and onto Budapest to watch his son compete in the Australian Water Polo team at the Fina World Championships.
Rebecca Cook was asking herself what she was doing in the fast heat when she surprised herself and young family with first place and 3.19.53 in 200 breaststroke and 1st in the 100 breaststroke with a club record to boot in the 25m breaststroke.
Both Murray Burns and Rod Clarke had some solid swims and showed consistency their times. Rod swam seven events and picked up seven golds & a club record, and Murray gained six golds out of seven events and two club records. New club member Joel Price placed 1st in his age group with a 35.98 for 50m breaststroke.
Barb Smith, Caroline Clarkson and Anna Amiet represented the 50’s age group. Barb gained two golds a silver and bronze in her highly competitive age group whilst Caroline won a gold in the 200IM.
Margie Moore was first in the 100, 200 freestyle. Dee Sheffrin was first in three of her events and also managed to set a new club record with her split time for the 100 breaststroke. Unfortunately she had to pull out of two events with a groin injury. Mick O’Connnor also set a new club record in 25m f/s along with Alan Gibson who swam well with some very good times.
*Twenty club records were set at the Short Course championships. They included one National and one State Record for 87yr Dot Dickey.
Margie Moore beat Margaret Cunningham’s’ 27year old, 200m freestyle club record by nearly 2 seconds
Eleven swimmers gained club records with Daniel Blakemore and Andrew Gilchrist taking three club records each.
The State SC Championships was a lead up to the upcoming State Relay Championships Battle of the Divisions to be held on the 6th August at MSAC and our swimmers got plenty of race practice.
The meet would not happen if it were not for our officials both in the marshalling room and on pool deck. Brian Walsh was not competing as he was on the pool deck checking for correct technique. Thank you to officials and timekeepers. A huge thanks to Robyn Gillespie for coming in and timekeeping for an hour or two. Robyn recently lost half her finger and has had plastic surgery after sustaining a dog bite. She has bravely got back into the pool with her hand bagged to do some treading water with a floatation belt to maintain her fitness for Budapest. Thanks to our coaches Margie Moore and President Sue Harbottle who led swimmers through the warm up and assisted with getting them to marshalling on time, as well as taking splits for each swimmer ready for our relay meet.
Dee Sheffrin
Captain
Note:
Club records available here.
Meet Results available here.