A strong team of twelve Tuggeranong Vikings swimmers competed in the NSW Short Course Championships at the Peninsula Leisure Centre at Woy Woy on the weekend of 20th & 21st October bringing home a haul of 39 medals.
Swimmer of the meet for the Vikings was Atsuko McGowan who won 3 gold and 2 silver medals in the 30-34 age group. She won the three gold’s in the 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke and the 100m individual medley. Atsuko’s two silver medals were earned from the 200m individual medley and the 50m backstroke.
Caroline Makin (40-44) also came home with a medal for each for her five events. She won gold in her 200m backstroke and won silver medals in her 200m freestyle, 100m individual medley and 200m individual medley. A bronze medal was also won in her 50m freestyle and she swam a personal best time of 33.15.
Also competing in the 40-44 age group was Annette Britten, who won two gold in the 100m backstroke and the 200m breaststroke as well as a silver in the 200m backstroke and a bronze in the 100m breaststroke.
Kristen Leydon (40-44) won silver with a personal best time in the 50m butterfly.
Not to be outdone Anne Smythe (50-54) also brought home five individual medals, two gold medals, two silver and one bronze. The two gold medals were won in the 200m freestyle and 200m butterfly and the two silver medals were won in the 100m freestyle and the 100m butterfly with the bronze medal awarded for the 200m individual medley.
A silver medal and two bronze medals were awarded to Ann Reid (50-54) for the 200m butterfly, 200m freestyle and the 100m individual medley respectively.
In the men’s section Butterfly specialist David Bale (35-39) won a silver medal in his 200m butterfly and a bronze in the 100m butterfly.
Luke McGowan (40-44) won silver in the 50m breaststroke and a bronze in the 100m breaststroke. He also put in a gutsy effort for a fourth in the 100m individual medley with a personal best time by more than a second.
Roger Dietrich (50-54) swam three personal bests at the meet and came 4th in the 50m breaststroke.
One gold medal was acquired by Greg Gourley (55-59) for the 100m individual medley and he won three silver medals for the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and the 200m freestyle.
One medal of each colour was won by Richard Flockart (55-59) in three butterfly events, the 200m, 100m and 50m.
In his 100m butterfly Jon McRae (60-64) won a bronze medal.
In the relays David Bale, Atsuko McGowan, Anne Smythe and Luke McGowan won a gold medal the mixed 4 x 50m freestyle (160+ age group).
Atsuko McGowan, Annette Britten, Caroline Makin and Ann Reid won a bronze medal in the women’s 4 x 50m medley relay (160+).
Kristen Leydon, Caroline Makin, David Bale and Greg Gourley won a bronze medal in the 4 x 50m mixed medley relay (160+).
Tuggeranong Vikings Masters Swimming Club is affiliated with Masters Swimming NSW who is under the jurisdiction of Masters Swimming Australia and they swim under FINA Masters Swimming rules and regulations.
Masters Swimming is an Australia wide, nonprofit organisation for adult swimmers, with the aim to promote swimming and fitness for those 18 years and above, regardless of ability. To find out more about Masters Swimming in ACT, just search ‘Tuggeranong Masters Swimming’ in your favourite search engine.