Hallelujah! After over three months of no access to the pool, it was heartening to see a great roll up of members and visitors from Canberra returning to competitive swimming this week.
All necessary precautions were taken – social distancing was observed and stop watches were wiped over with disinfectant as they were passed between timekeepers.
Prior to competition commencing, the poolside discussions were mainly about catching up on everyone’s activities during lock down and how everyone thought they would handle the swim, having been inactive for such a long time.
Making the final of the 25m freestyle were Andrew Madden, Damien O’Mahony, Richard Sear and Sharon Welch.
Andrew and Richard were obviously not troubled by lack of fitness with both breaking their times, if only by the smallest margins.
Damien however never faulted and took the win with a great time registered and Sharon, also swimming within her nominated time was awarded second place.
In the final of the 50m we saw David Moon, Yvonne Shorrock, Geoff Simkus and Sharon Welch lining up at the blocks.
Based on handicaps, Yvonne, Sharon and Geoff entered the water in that order and then there was a fourteen second lapse before David took chase.
Giving away such a large handicap didn’t bother David as he still touched first with an almost spot on time. Geoff, taking second place, also registered a reasonable time.
Sharon, having swum in the previous final was placed third and Yvonne, although placed fourth, should have been happy with her recorded time.
It was wonderful to see one of our visitors from Canberra make a final. Trudie Enks qualified for the 25m B B & B along with David Moon, Damien O’Mahony, Geoff Simkus and Doug Ensbey.
It was absolute bedlam as the swimmers touched at the finish- everyone was so close. However, Damien was given the win with Trudie taking second place and Doug third. David and Geoff filled the minor places but hats off to Geoff for practising his butterfly.
Rounding off this report, thanks to Scott Smith and James Kelly, although not swimming came along to help with time keeping.
Toni Ensbey