2009/2010 Season Review - Features | Merrylands A.S.C. Inc.

2009/2010 saw the club build on the sucesses of our 40th Anniversary season while under the looming clouds of Holroyd Council's Swim Centre Review.

As the 2009/2010 season began, Holroyd Council was receiveing a report from consultants on the viability of the three council owned Swimming Centres. The report stated that upgrade works totaling an estimated $8 million would be required to conform with the proposed new Public Swimming Pool and Spa Pool Guidelines. The review concluded that none of Council’s three swimming facilities can be considered to be economically viable. As a result of the report, Council decided to investigate the feasibility of replacing the three existing swim centres with a modern outdoor/indoor, multi-use facility at a central location. This could effectively mean the eventual closure of Merrylands Swimming Centre.

In the pool, the club built on the successes of the previous year. Learn to Swim numbers remained stable while total membership was down slightly on the previous season. In the Swimming Australia GoClub PB program the club achieved the Bronze Standard for the first time, recognising the work that the committee members have contributed in continuting to move the club forward.

Four members underwent assessment for their Learn to Swim Instructor Qualifications this year with Steven Nguyen, Amber Johnson, Dylan Baker and Anthony Ventra all completing their assessments successfully. Dylan was a worthy recipient of the Learn to Swim Volunteer of the Year Award, often attending on a Saturday morning especially for Learn to Swim.

In the club competitions, a number of new champions were crowned while some successfully defended their titles. A new team "Joint Venture" took out the Relay Competition at their first attempt. The team was a merger of the previously successful "The Swimmers" and "To Be Advised" and they proved too hard to beat. Steven Nguyen won the Senior Handicap for the second year straight.

Brittany Johnson was presented with the Champion of Champions Award for a record breaking 6th time. Brittany won the Senior and Open Womens Championships, breaking 16 club championship records along the way and also represented the club at the Area, Metropolitan and State Open Championships. Brittany was also the first recipient of the Masters Aerobic Trophy.
From our novice swimmers, Carl Sorensen was presented with the Jack Smart Encouragement Award after steadily improving over the season.

In the Graded Pointscore Hayley Baker won the Girls Pointscore for the first time while Lachlan Stewart won the Boys Pointscore for the second year in a row.

The club's representative teams had another successful year with members competing at all levels up to and including State Open Championships.
For the first time in more than 20 years the club had four swimmers compete in individual events at the State Open Championships. Amber Johnson again competed in the Backstroke events while Anthony Ventra, Brittany Johnson and Peter Johnston all qualified for the meet for the first time. Peter all so represented the club at the State Open Short Course Championships and was our club's first representative in an individual event at this meet since 2005. Five swimmers competed at the Metropolitan Championships with Timothy Tunks qualifying for the meet for the first time, while Brittany Johnson swam six new personal best times from her seven events. The Metropolitan Short Course Championships were a similar story with Brittany swimming five new PBs from her six events. Tim also qualified for the State Age Championships, Metropolitan Short Course Championships and State Age Short Course Championships all for the first time.
At the Metro South West Championships, the club finished the meet with 5 medals with Anthony Ventra and Brittany Johnson taking home medals. Our swimmers were also finalists in 13 events. At the Metro South West Short Course Championships, Timothy Tunks won his first Area Championship medal and our club's only medal of the meet with finallists in 8 events.
The club also had its first Finalist at the Speedo Sprint Series since 2007, as Stephanie Hindle qualified for the finals in the 50m Breaststroke and 50m Butterfly.
Eight of our swimmer's performances over the season were recognised with selection in the 2010 Metro South West Area Development Squads.

2010 also saw the club's second appearance at the State Masters Championships. Steven Nguyen, Brittany Johnson and Peter Johnston represented the club at the State Masters Short Course Championships, collecting 11 Gold medals and 1 Bronze from the 12 events contested. Brittany Johnson and Steven Nguyen also set new State Masters records in three events.

In the Club Championships, 22 Championship records were broken over the season.

Amber Johnson
	16yrs Girls 50m Backstroke	(Brittany Johnson, 2006/2007)
Anthony Ventra
	16yrs Boys 50m Backstroke	(Tim Constantine, 1995/1996)
	16yrs Boys 50m Breaststroke	(Todd Jenkin, 2004/2005)
	16yrs Boys 100m Breaststroke	(Todd Jenkin, 2004/2005)
	16yrs Boys 200m Individual Medley	(Robert Griffey, 2000/2001)
Brittany Johnson
	Senior Womens 50m Freestyle	(Brittany Johnson, 2008/2009)
	Senior Womens 100m Freestyle	(Chris Tallon, 1970/1971)
	Senior Womens 200m Freestyle	(Brittany Johnson, 2008/2009)
	Senior Womens 400m Freestyle	(Brittany Johnson, 2008/2009)
	Senior Womens 50m Backstroke	(Brittany Johnson, 2008/2009)
	Senior Womens 100m Backstroke	(Brittany Johnson, 2008/2009)
	Senior Womens 50m Breaststroke	(Jessica O'Donnell, 2008/2009)
	Senior Womens 100m Breaststroke	(Brittany Johnson, 2008/2009)
	Senior Womens 100m Butterfly	(Brittany Johnson, 2008/2009)
	Senior Womens 200m Individual Medley	(Brittany Johnson, 2008/2009)
	Open Womens 100m Freestyle	(Leeann Childs, 1980/1981)
	Open Womens 200m Freestyle	(Brittany Johnson, 2008/2009)
	Open Womens 1500m Freestyle	(Brittany Johnson, 2008/2009)
	Open Womens 100m Breaststroke	(Carolyn Ellen, 1972/1973)
	Open Womens 200m Breaststroke	(Celeste Sherwood, 1972/1973)
	Open Womens 400m Individual Medley	(Brittany Johnson, 2008/2009)
Taliah Simbolon
	7yrs Girls 50m Freestyle	(Gaye Bradshaw, 1972/1973)

This year the club's Competition Committee made the decision to move our annual swimming meet, the Merrylands SwimFest, from it's traditional Sunday date to a new Saturday afternoon timeslot. The meet ran smoothly with 30 clubs in attendance and our club again topping the pointscore.

Our Winter Competition was held for the seventh time with increased numbers and those attending enjoying some new events. Philo Farid won the male competition and Hayley Baker the female competition.

As the Winter Competition ended, Holroyd Council announced, that to save money, it planned to no longer open either Merrylands or Wentworthville swimming centres during the winter months, with Merrylands closing its doors on 9th May and Wentworthville following on June 30th. Neither centre would re-open until early October. Council's decision to close both Merrylands and Wentworthville from April to October greatly affected the club's activities. The decision effectively signalled the end of the club's Winter Competition and Pre-Season time trials and has also heavily impact on the training of the club's swimming squads during the winter months. Training sessions from July to September moved to Guildford Swimming Centre, however with half the pool space that the squad had been permitted to use at Wentworthville. Council's decision to close Merrylands and Wentworthville from April to September means that the club now faces the prospect of having to train at a location other than Merrylands for more than half the year, an issue that it has not had to deal with since before the pools were heated in 2004.

Despite the council's actions the committee members worked harder than ever through the winter on new and innovative events and competitions, as well as strategies to attract and retain members. We look forward to an exciting and new look 2010/2011 season.

See Also

2009/2010 Rankings

2009/2010 Presentation Evening

NSW Metropolitan Championships - Team

NSW Metropolitan Championships - Results

NSW State Age 13-18yrs Championships - Team

NSW State Age 13-18yrs Championships - Results

NSW State Age 10-12yrs Championships - Team

NSW State Open Championships - Team

NSW State Open Championships - Results

Metro South West Championships Open & Age Championships - Team

Metro South West Championships Open & Age Championships - Results

Speedo Sprint Series Finals - Team