Recently Clarence River Masters Swim Club held a swim training workshop at Yamba Community Pool with Professor Peter Raeburn and Judy Bonning. Peter is Professor and Head of Exercise and Sport Science at the Bond Institute of Health and Sport. He is also author of ‘The Masters Athlete’, probably the most complete book on fitness in older athletes. Peter is a Masters swimmer and an engaging and interesting lecturer.

Peter addressed issues for swimmers such as weight training, cross training, stretching, nutrition, the aging process and its effect on sports performance, and the best methods to improve or maintain fitness as we age. Following the lecture session with Peter, attendants moved to the pool to do work with Judy Bonning on improving your freestyle and backstroke. Judy did her masters under Peter Reaburn. She is a former manager and coach at the Forbes Carlisle Swim Centre in Sydney. Judy and her husband own and run Billabong Swim School in Tweed Heads and run the pool and training sessions at Salt. 

Local swimmers who participated in the workshop had a 1 ½ hour session in the pool where Judy put them through some amazing drills. CRMS president, Jane Lawrence, commented “I thought the level of enthusiasm of our members was so high. They were all trying every drill and I think they would have taken away something to think about that will improve their technique, style and training”.

Age is no barrier to learning new skills and improving on old ones. Science research provides insight into what is the best technique to achieve the best outcome for your given sport. 

If you are interested in joining Clarence River Masters Swim contact your local Yamba or Maclean Pool.

Gai Pritchett