Last Thursday week five swimmers from the GDSC Club travelled to Lismore to compete at the 26th Annual Allan McGearey Memorial Swim and all competitors including Lismore and Ballina were blown away by the team representing the McGearey family.
Brent McGearey won the 50m final and was presented with the Allan McGearey Perpetual Trophy and Korin Caldwell eliminated all competition, taking out the 25m event and winning the coveted towel.
Toni Ensbey was the only Grafton swimmer to make a semi final and unfortunately the other four were just a tad too quick in their heats.
Lismore did make amends by taking out the relay swimming .28 off their nominated time.
This week’s competition brought to a close the summer season and swimmers were trying hard to score last minute points before presentation night which is being held on May 4.
Karlie Cleaver, Andrew Madden, David Moon and Gary Dixon lined up for the final of the 50m freestyle and it was obvious that two of the swimmers were hungry to score winning points.
As they reached the last fifteen metres Karlie and Andrew were stroke for stroke with neither prepared to give up. Karlie was deemed to have touched first with Andrew second but a check on times had them both busting by over two seconds.
David was next home and although swimming a slow time was awarded the win with Gary taking second place.
Karlie was back on the blocks for the 30m final and on the blocks beside her were Doug Ensbey, John Wainwright and Wilson Burns.
Wilson, who is normally very consistent over this distance took the lead early and crossed the line first only to learn that he had broken by .25.
Coming home next was Doug and with a good time recorded was awarded first place with Karlie only .03 behind and John was placed third.
In the 30m B B & B final Jill Enks was the only lady up against Terry Barnes, Steve Donnelly and Gary Dixon.
Always a hard race to time, the judge had Terry crossing first with Jill second and Steve third.
However, when times were checked Barnesy had busted by .88, elevating all the other place getters up a peg. Congratulations Jill – a good win to end the season.
Toni Ensbey