Eleven Fins’ swimmers were back in action last weekend when they competed in the Dunedin Challenge Meet, held at the Excite Pool in Bathgate. The swimmers were a bit rusty after their break, especially in the 200m events, although there were some notable exceptions.
They contested 73 swims and returned with a total of seven gold, thirteen silver, and eleven bronze medals. In addition, a further twenty nine top 10 placings were achieved. Just one swimmer missed out on a top 10 placing and did so by just 0.5 seconds.
The swimmers achieved a reasonable 55% improvement rate with the top improvements coming from – Esme Lee, who reduced her 200m Backstroke by 13.59 seconds. Also reducing his 200m Backstroke time was Blair Wardlaw, with a reduction of 10.04 seconds. The third top improvement came in the 100 Freestyle when Mark Scott reduced his previous best by 6.59 seconds.
Top swimmer for Fins was Kyle Pate, 15/O boys, currently home from University. Kyle won five gold and four silver medals. Kyle’s gold medals were achieved in the 50m and 100m Backstroke; 50m Breaststroke, and 100m and 200m Individual Medley; and his silver medals in the 50m and 100m Freestyle; 50m Butterfly; and 100m Breaststroke.
Next was Mark Scott, 11/12 boys, who won gold in the 200m Individual Medley; silver in both the 50m and 100 Butterfly; and he completed the full set by winning bronze in the 100m Freestyle. Mark just missed out on a second bronze by 0.25 seconds, finishing 4th in the 50m Freestyle.
The remaining gold medal was won by Blair Wardlaw, 13/14 boys, in the 200m Backstroke. Blair also won a bronze in the 100m Backstroke and had five more top 10 placings and these were – 4th – 100m Butterfly; 5th – 50m Freestyle; 7th – 200m Freestyle; and 8th in both the 100m Freestyle and 100m Breaststroke.
Three swimmers won silver medals –
Esme Lee 11/12 girls, silver in the 100m Individual Medley; 200m Backstroke; and both the 100m and 200m Breaststroke. Esme also won four bronze medals in the 50m and 100m Backstroke; 50m Breaststroke; and 200m Individual Medley. She also finished 4th in the 5om Butterfly and 50m Freestyle; 5th in the 100m Freestyle; and 6th in the 200m Freestyle. With the exception of the 200m Freestyle Esme was the top 11 year old for her other eleven events.
Erin O’Connor, 15/O girls, silver – 100m Backstroke and 100m Freestyle; bronze – 50m Breaststroke. Erin had a further five top 10 finishes, 4th in both the 50m Backstroke and 50m Freestyle; 5th – 100m Butterfly; 7th – 100m Backstroke; and 8th – 50m Butterfly.
Erin Taylor, 13/14 girls, silver – 100m Butterfly; bronze in both the 50m Butterfly and 50m Freestyle. Erin also finished 4th in the 200m Individual Medley; and 7th in the 100m Freestyle.
The remaining medallists and top 10 finishes were –
Euan Pate, 15/O boys, bronze – 100m Butterfly; 4th – 200m Individual Medley.
Kimberley McCabe, 15/O girls, bronze – 200m Breaststroke; 7th – 200m Freestyle; 8th – 100m Breaststroke; 10th – 50m Backstroke.
Bethany Michie, 15/O girls, 4th – 200m Breaststroke; 10th – 100m Breaststroke
Holly Armit, 11/12 girls, 5th – 50m Breaststroke; 7th – 50m Butterfly and 200m Individual Medley; 8th – 200m Freestyle; 10th – 100m Backstroke and 100m Individual Medley.
Peter Strong 15/O boys just failed to make a top 10 finish.