Narrabri Stingrays’ 2021-22 Club Championships underway as season nears end | PHOTOS

Narrabri Stingrays Swimming Club hosted the second of three rounds of its 2021-22 Club Championships at Narrabri Aquatic Centre on Monday.

The Club Championships are run during the last three weeks of the summer season to determine the club’s age champions. The first round was held on Monday, March 7, and the third and final round will be held on Wednesday, March 23.

That was changed from its original date on Monday, March 21, which clashed with the Polding meet.

The season will then wrap up on Monday, March 28, when the club hosts its annual presentation night. That will include fun, non-
competitive races and novelties, as well as the announcement of the club’s major award winners, the pointscore champions and the age champions.

The Stingrays will also provide a barbecue that will be free of charge for members at presentation night.

Back, Ruby Greentree, Gracie Lawty, Max and Lucy Booby, front, Amelia Elms, Winnie Winston-Smith, Lexie Fernance and Hunter Smith. Back, Ruby Greentree, Gracie Lawty, Max and Lucy Booby, front, Amelia Elms, Winnie Winston-Smith, Lexie Fernance and Hunter Smith.

Phoenix Malcolm, Ruby Irwin, Gracie Lawty and Ruby Greentree. Phoenix Malcolm, Ruby Irwin, Gracie Lawty and Ruby Greentree.

Angus Irwin, Jackson and William Hayne. Angus Irwin, Jackson and William Hayne.

Back, Summer Fernance, Daniel Smith, Millie Collins, front, Pip Collins, Bella Bakhuis and Ava Smith. Back, Summer Fernance, Daniel Smith, Millie Collins, front, Pip Collins, Bella Bakhuis and Ava Smith.

Pictured at Narrabri Aquatic Centre during the second round of Narrabri Stingrays Swimming Club’s 2021-22 season Club Championships on Monday - back, Bridie Seymour, Emma Dixon, Celia Galagher, William Hayne, Mack Winston-Smith, Rosemary Davies, front, Harper Greentree, Eli Owers, Rafferty Lendon, Angus Booby and Shaye Fernance. Pictured at Narrabri Aquatic Centre during the second round of Narrabri Stingrays Swimming Club’s 2021-22 season Club Championships on Monday - back, Bridie Seymour, Emma Dixon, Celia Galagher, William Hayne, Mack Winston-Smith, Rosemary Davies, front, Harper Greentree, Eli Owers, Rafferty Lendon, Angus Booby and Shaye Fernance.

Zoe Malcolm, Molly Winston-Smith, Maggie Lawty and Lillian Davies. Zoe Malcolm, Molly Winston-Smith, Maggie Lawty and Lillian Davies.

Back, Ashtyn Todd, Lucy and Max Booby, front, Armani Todd, Lexie Fernance and Chelsea Clarke. Back, Ashtyn Todd, Lucy and Max Booby, front, Armani Todd, Lexie Fernance and Chelsea Clarke.

Chris Booby and Ben Lawty cooking a barbecue dinner for the swimmers to enjoy. Chris Booby and Ben Lawty cooking a barbecue dinner for the swimmers to enjoy.

The 2021-22 season has been a successful and enjoyable one for the Stingrays club and its swimmers.

The club welcomed many new members this season, including swimmers from Wee Waa who are currently without a coach.

The Narrabri Stingrays hosted what club officials described as another very successful carnival in the difficult COVID environment earlier this year, and they thanked the local businesses that supported it.

The season saw many Stingrays swimmers compete at Polding and PSSA/CHS state championships, and the Country Champs and Speedo Sprints.

The club was also pleased to have the largest number of attendees at carnivals for quite some time this season, especially swimmers aged 10 years and under.

Stingrays swimmers represented themselves and their club well during the 2021-22 campaign and celebrated many new PBs.

This season, the Stingrays were also pleased to appoint a new development coach, Simone Kerr.

Club officials described Simone as “an absolutely sensational coach who has stepped up to be a part of the club, and who has history with the town and club”.

They said she had successfully created an environment in which a large majority of the Stingrays’ swimmers have improved in skill, technique and race times.

A new competitive coach position has also been created and will hopefully be appointed soon.

After the 2021-22 season wraps up, the club will turn its attention to winter training which will consist of sessions at least four days a week that will be held in both the morning and afternoon.

The club said that should its competitive coach position be filled, many more sessions will be able to be offered for the Stingrays’ swimmers during the winter season.