Wee Waa’s swimming season begins

Wee Waa Swimming Club swimmers returned to the pool yesterday when the club hosted its first race evening of the 2019-20 season.

About 50 swimmers attended the first hitout at the Wee Waa Memorial Swimming Pool where they all eased into the season with a 33-metre lap of each stroke – freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly – to record times for grading.

Some of the older swimmers also swam some strokes across the 66-metre distance.

Wee Waa Swimming Club president Anthony Gray told the Wee Waa News that he was pleased with this season’s numbers which had been boosted by the arrival of some Narrabri swimmers.

“We’ve had 104 register with us for the new season,” Gray said.

“I’m ecstatic, I think it’s more than what we’ve had in previous years and I think it’s great that the kids want to come out and be a part of the club.

“We’ve even got some swimmers from Narrabri who have signed up this year.

“They support us in our swimming when we go away to other carnivals.

“They are part of our club so if they travel out to our Thursday races and join in that would be good, but with the travel we understand if they don’t.”

Jack Gett, Nate Dewson, Jaxon Gray and Max Vogel. Jack Gett, Nate Dewson, Jaxon Gray and Max Vogel.

Wee Waa Swimming Club president Anthony Gray addresses the club ahead of the first races. Wee Waa Swimming Club president Anthony Gray addresses the club ahead of the first races.

Wee Waa Swimming Club members Miranda Davis (back), Megan Crutcher (middle) and Sarah Smith (front) compete in a 33-metre backstroke race at the club’s first race evening of the 2019-20 season held last Thursday at the Wee Waa Memorial Swimming Pool. Wee Waa Swimming Club members Miranda Davis (back), Megan Crutcher (middle) and Sarah Smith (front) compete in a 33-metre backstroke race at the club’s first race evening of the 2019-20 season held last Thursday at the Wee Waa Memorial Swimming Pool.

Ned Coleman, Isaac McDonnell, Max Shearer and William Smith. Ned Coleman, Isaac McDonnell, Max Shearer and William Smith.

Megan Crutcher and Juliet Maxwell. Megan Crutcher and Juliet Maxwell.

Mekhi Ross and Isaiah Cochrane. Mekhi Ross and Isaiah Cochrane.

Maecee Smith dives into the pool. Maecee Smith dives into the pool.

Byron Tully, Levi and Liandro Browning and Bailey Coutts-Smith. Byron Tully, Levi and Liandro Browning and Bailey Coutts-Smith.

JSP Sport Development’s Chelsea Hancock flanked by Wee Waa swimmers Ivy Shearer and Elsie Bennett. JSP Sport Development’s Chelsea Hancock flanked by Wee Waa swimmers Ivy Shearer and Elsie Bennett.

Nate Dewson dives into the pool. Nate Dewson dives into the pool.

Max Vogel in action in his backstroke race. Max Vogel in action in his backstroke race.

The Wee Waa Swimming Club will host its race evenings every week on Thursdays this season, and Gray said that the club’s swimmers would be provided extra coaching throughout the campaign.

“This year we’ll have extra coaching for the kids,” he said.

“We have a great committee but we can’t really coach them, we just run the club and these race nights.

“Jake Packer and Chelsea Hancock from JSP Sports have come on board to help the kids perfect their technique, they’ll most likely be here every third week to do that.”

The Wee Waa Swimming Club will host its 2019 carnival on Sunday, November 30. It will run as a normal swimming carnival, with races being swum all day from early morning through to the afternoon.

Gray said that he expected a large turnout of Wee Waa swimmers at their home carnival, and also encouraged any keen swimmers from all across the region to take part.