Stingrays making a splash

There never really seems to be an off-season for the Narrabri Stingrays Swimming Club, and 2023 has been no different, with a lot happening in and out of the pool.

The club held their annual general meeting back in May, during which the board for the coming season was confirmed. It includes Todd Stanford (president), Rebecca Warnock (vice- president), Jocelyn Smith (secretary), Lisa Creighton (treasurer) and Steph Stride (Board member – fundraising).

Thanks to some much-welcomed sponsorship from Trans4rail, the club has acquired new tents to be used for members travelling to carnivals this season.

The club has also purchased new perpetual trophies for the Joanne Barnes, Therese Nairn, Beryl Paull, club citizenship and encouragement awards.

Raffles continue each month at the Narrabri RSL Club and race nights will begin from Monday, October 16 and will again be held weekly.

The club is also searching for a new coach and training will begin when a new coach is appointed.

Stingrays swimmers Daniel and Ava Smith recently attended Swimming New England and North West’s 2023 Short Course Area Championships event at UNE Armidale on Saturday and Sunday, August 19 and 20.

Daniel was crowned the 16-years boys New England/North West short course champion at that event after winning one event, placing second in four events, finishing third in two events and fourth in his other event.

He also set four Stingrays records.

Ava placed second in four events and broke six Stingrays records across the weekend. She also swam personal best times in six of her seven events.

Ava also broke three more Stingrays records at meetings in May and June, and Daniel broke three in June and set one more.

Five Stingrays swimmers attended a Swimming Gunnedah short course carnival earlier this month.

Jackson and William Hayne, Zara and Ryan Warnock and Jedd Stanford all returned home with medals, an impressive 15 combined, and they all set personal best times ranging from two to 15 seconds.