Stingrays excel at Coolah’s Black Stump carnival

A talented group of Narrabri Stingrays Swimming Club swimmers excelled at Swim Coolah’s Black Stump short course qualifying carnival at Coolah Swimming Pool on Saturday and they represented their club in fine fashion.

Daniel and Ava Smith and Phoenix, Serena and Zoe Malcolm travelled to take part in the event and combined for nine wins, two second-place finishes and five third-place finishes, and they set 18 new personal best times between them as well.

Sixteen-year-old Daniel was in fine form at the carnival as he dominated from start to finish, winning all eight of his events. He also set four new personal best times, one of which was a sensational 20.36 seconds in the 200-metre freestyle, and another saw him shave almost 10 seconds off his 200-metre individual medley time.

Daniel’s younger sister Ava also impressed throughout the day as she swam her way to podium finishes in five of the seven events she entered and ended up finishing fourth in the other two. The 14-year-old won her 50-metre butterfly event, placed second in 50-metre backstroke and freestyle, and placed third in 200-metre freestyle and 100-metre backstroke. She set one new personal best time on the day, which was 6.33 seconds in the 200-metre freestyle.

Serena Malcolm continued what has been a brilliant summer season with three podium finishes. The 12-year-old placed third in her 50-metre backstroke and breaststroke events and also placed third in the 100-metre breaststroke, and she soared in the 100-metre individual medley as she set a 16.69-second PB, which was one of six she achieved in Coolah.

Serena’s older sister Phoenix lined up in 10 events on the day. The 13-year-old swam her way to three new personal best times, the largest of which was an admirable 5.29 seconds in the 200-metre individual medley.

Their younger sister Zoe also took part in 10 events at Coolah. The 10-year-old narrowly missed out on a podium finish in her 100-metre backstroke event as she finished fourth, and she also set four new PBs, which included 5.94 seconds in the 100-metre breaststroke.

Next up for Narrabri Stingrays Swimming Club swimmers is this weekend’s Swimming New England and North West long course area championships carnival at Tamworth Olympic Swimming Pool on Saturday and Sunday. The Speedo Sprint heats will also be held at the same venue on Saturday morning.