Narrabri Stingrays Swimming Club travelled to Gunnedah in numbers on Saturday to compete at Swimming Gunnedah’s long course carnival at the Gunnedah Memorial Swimming Pool.
There were 15 Stingrays in action and they combined for an impressive 54 individual medals including 21 gold, 11 silver and 22 bronze, as well as 18 relay medals and 56 personal best times.
The Stingrays entered four relay teams, one of which finished second to go with three third-placed finishes.
It was also a successful day for the hosts as the Gunnedah club boasted their largest squad to ever compete at a carnival.
Narrabri’s Angus Booby had day to remember as the eight-year-old won three of his seven events, finished second in two more and third in the other two.
His first race of the day was the boys’ eight-years-and-under 200-metre individual medley, which he won while securing a phenomenal 33.96-second PB.
He then went on to earn five more PBs to finish the day with six.
Angus’ sister Lucy Booby also had a brilliant day in the pool as the 10-year-old earned podium finishes in all eight of her individual events.
That included four wins, three second-place finishes and a third-place finish.
She also set a brilliant new PB in the 200-metre individual medley as she shaved 21.64 seconds off her previous best time, and she went on to finish the day with six PBs in total.
Harper Greentree excelled at the Gunnedah meet as the eight-year-old won two of her seven events and placed second in two others. She also secured three PBs.
Her sister Ruby also returned home with a medal after she placed second in the girls’ 11-years 50-metre backstroke event, and the 11-year-old also achieved four new PBs, including an impressive 14.47 seconds in the 200- metre individual medley.
Charlie-Lea Hulbert continued her improvement as the nine-year-old placed second in four of her seven events, finished third in one more and secured five new personal best times. Those PBs included 19.18 seconds in 50-metre butterfly and 11.51 seconds in 100-metre backstroke.
Bridie Seymour had a busy day as she lined up in nine individual events.
The 12-year-old placed third in the girls’ 12-years 200-metre breaststroke and she also produced four personal best times, including 8.06 seconds in the 200-metre individual medley.
Ava Smith also had a successful day as the 14-year-old raced to podium finishes in all six of her events. She placed second in two of those and third in the other four, and she also achieved new PBs in three events, including 4.05 seconds in the 200-metre individual medley.
Ava’s brother Daniel Smith was in super form once again as he blew the competition out of the water.
The 16-year-old took part in six individual events and he won all six of them. He also secured four new PBs, which included 9.62 seconds in the 200-metre backstroke.
The youngest Stingrays swimmer in action on the day was six-year-old Connor Warnock. He showed that he has a bright future in the sport as he won the boys’ six-years-and-under 50-metre freestyle as well as the time trial events in boys’ 5-7-years 25-metre fly, breaststroke and backstroke.
Ryan Warnock was also brilliant on the day as the 11-year-old finished on the podium in four of his seven events, which included two seconds and two thirds. He also set two new PBs, which included 4.70 seconds in the 200-metre individual medley.
Zara Warnock was another Narrabri standout on the day as the nine-year-old won two of her six events and also placed third in another.
Zara’s best event was the girls’ nine-years 50-metre fly, which she won and also secured a 6.40-second PB in, and she went on to earn two more PBs.
Maddison Connole continued to show improvement as the 11-year-old secured three PBs from her six events, including 2.40 seconds in the girls’ 100-metre breaststroke.
Boston Hughes also showed great improvement as he too set three PBs in six events, including six seconds flat in the 50-metre breaststroke.
The eight-year-old narrowly missed out on two bronze medals as well as he placed fourth in two events.
His sister Savannah Hughes also continued her rapid rise as she left Gunnedah with four new PBs. That included 7.05 seconds in 100-metre backstroke and 5.03 seconds in 100-
metre freestyle for the 12-year-old.
Narrabri Stingrays Swimming Club’s Jocelyn Smith said the club was proud of the swimmers’ efforts and added that she was incredibly grateful for the help of many parents who assisted the swimmers in forming relay teams.
The four Stingrays teams all earned medals after combining superbly in what were all freestyle events.
Lucy Booby, Maddison Connole, Bridie Seymour and Ruby Greentree placed second in the girls’ 12-years-and-under 4×50-metre relay ahead of Narrabri clubmates Zara Warnock, Harper Greentree Savannah Hughes and Charlie-Lea Hulbert, who earned bronze medals.
The Stingrays’ boys’ 12-years-and-under 4×50-metre relay team also placed third, and that included Ryan Warnock, Andre Leculier, Boston Hughes and Connor Warnock.
Narrabri’s fourth team was made up of six swimmers who entered the 6×50-metre Ian Bartlett relay race.
Those swimmers included Daniel and Ava Smith, Ryan Warnock, Angus and Lucy Booby and Bridie Seymour, who placed third in that event.
The Smith siblings will be back in action this weekend when they travel to the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre to line up at Swimming NSW’s 2024 NSW Country Championships meeting.
Daniel has qualified for four events, including 50-metre freestyle and the 50-metre, 100-metre and 200-metre backstroke, and Ava has qualified for two events, including 50-metre fly and freestyle.
