Swimming Club’s competitive swimming team
Some of the nine successful competitive swimmers, from left: Taylor Arnst, Floris Pontier, Tom Bassett-Eason, Zak Gibbs, Elliot Gibbs. Absent: Rachel Sadowski, Moko Tauria, Tulia Wilson, Holly Johnson. Photo: Maria Polglase.
Golden Bay Swimming Club’s nine competitive swimmers are making a splash at away events.
Last month, Zak and Elliott Gibbs, Floris Pontier and Rachel Sadowski gained several medals for first, second and third placings at the Nelson Marlborough Age Group Champs. At the Nelson Marlborough Town and Country Championships in January, Zak, Elliott, Floris and Rachel gained 16 second, third and fourth placings between them, and Tom Bassett-Eason won both the 50m fly and 50m free, and collected two second placings as well.
Holly Johnson, Zak and Elliott have qualifying times that will enable them to attend the South Island Town and Country Championships in Greymouth, now postponed until April 2 due to the quake.
They, and teammates Moko Tauria and Tulia Wilson, have trained hard and have been entering regional competitions since November last year, said team manager Caroline Jones.
“I am hoping to take a group of them to the Secondary Schools Swimming Competition in Dunedin in July. We’re just waiting to hear about qualifying times.
“I’m very proud of these young people for the dedication to their sport despite being somewhat disadvantaged to their Nelson peers who get to train all year. Let’s hope one day we get an all-year-round heated pool.”
The club now has a state-of-the art Kiefer Pace clock for training, bought with a First Sovereign grant, and Pub Charities provides assistance with transport and accommodation when the team travels.
Caroline acknowledged the “amazing work and enthusiasm” of coach Lori Godden and the support and transport provided by parents in the team’s successes.
Zak, who has been swimming competitively for three years, said he was “proud of my coach and my mum”, and of his achievements, which include beating two school swimming records last year.
Maria Polglase
Results:
Nelson Marlborough Town and Country Champs. Tom Basset-Eason: 1st 50m fly, 50m free; 2nd 100m free, 50m brst. Elliott Gibbs: 3rd 100m brst, 50m brst; 4th 100m free, 500m free. Zak Gibbs: 2nd 100IM; 3rd 200m brst, 50m fly, 50m free, 50m brst, 100m brst; 4th 100m free. Floris Pontier: 4th 200m brst, 100m brst. Rachel Sadowski: 2nd 100m brst; 3rd 200m brst; 4th 50m brst.
Nelson Marlborough Age Group Champs. Rachel Sadowski: 1st 50m brst, 200m brst. Zak Gibbs: 1st 50m back, 50m brst, 50m fly; 2nd 100m brst; 3rd 50m free. Floris Pontier: 1st 200m brst; 2nd 50m brst; 3rd 100m brst. Ellott Gibbs: 2nd 100m free; 3rd 100m brst.
