2025/2026 was one of the most successful seasons in recent club history. Record attendances at club races, growing membership, excellent representative performances, club record-breaking swims, major success in Masters Swimming and a thriving club community combined to make it another memorable year for Merrylands Amateur Swimming Club.
The club continued to grow throughout the season, welcoming 37 new members and increasing overall membership. The continued support of Club Merrylands again enabled the club to provide free membership for swimmers aged eight years and under, helping attract new young swimmers and their families to the club.
The club's Learn to Swim program also enjoyed a successful year, with participation increasing significantly from previous seasons. The program continued to provide an important pathway for new swimmers entering the club and was made possible through the efforts of Kylee Murray, the Learn to Swim Committee, instructors and volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the season.
Club races were a major highlight throughout the summer season. Attendance reached levels not seen for many years, with an average of 50 swimmers attending each week and a season high of 62 swimmers. The final club race morning before Christmas recorded the highest attendance at club races since 5 February 2000, reflecting the continued growth and strength of the club community and creating a fantastic atmosphere around the pool each Saturday morning.
The club's coaching program also enjoyed one of its most successful years. Under Head Coach Alison Johnston, 67 swimmers participated in the squad program and achieved outstanding results at all levels of competition. Eighty-seven percent of eligible swimmers represented their schools at Diocesan Championships, ninety-three percent reached Zone level and every swimmer in the Development and Age Squads qualified for the Metro South West Championships.
In the club competitions, some members successfully defended titles while others emerged as new champions. Alison Johnston enjoyed a remarkable season, claiming the Champion of Champions Award, Masters Swimmer of the Year and Senior Handicap Trophy. William Johnston finished as the club's highest overall Graded Pointscore scorer, while Damien Chan received the Jim Pye Development Award and Daniel Brancatisano was presented with the Jack Smart Encouragement Award.
The club's representative swimmers enjoyed another outstanding season, with members competing successfully at Area, Metropolitan, State Age, State Open, State Masters, Australian Masters and World Championship level. For the first time, Coralie Havea and Jay Shrestha qualified for both Metropolitan and State Age Championships, while Leo Zhu continued his impressive representative career with qualification for both State Age and State Open Championships. Our representatives produced numerous personal best performances and continued the club's proud tradition of success beyond the local level.
The club's swimmers also enjoyed tremendous success at school swimming carnivals throughout the season. Squad members achieved outstanding representation at Zone, Diocesan and Sydney West Championships, with numerous School and Zone Age Champions crowned throughout the year. Damien Chan was awarded 11 Years Age Champion and William Johnston was awarded Senior Age Champion at the Merrylands/Parramatta PSSA Championships.
The Club Championships produced some exceptional performances and several long-standing records were broken throughout the season.
Championship Records Broken
Leo Zhu
- 16 Years Boys 100m Freestyle
- Open Men's 100m Freestyle
- 16 Years Boys 100m Backstroke
- 16 Years Boys 50m Breaststroke
- 16 Years Boys 100m Breaststroke
- Open Men's 100m Breaststroke
Coralie Havea
- 12 Years Girls 50m Freestyle, breaking a record that had stood since 1982/1983.
Kylee Murray
- Veterans Women's 400m Freestyle.
Pavla Hannan
- Veterans Women's 50m Breaststroke.
The club hosted the Cumberland Inter-Club Cup in November. While Merrylands was unable to reclaim the trophy, it was fantastic to see a team of 42 swimmers competing strongly while displaying outstanding club spirit and teamwork. The event was also a tremendous success thanks to the efforts of dozens of volunteers and supporters.
In February, the annual Merrylands SwimFest was again one of the highlights of the season. The meet attracted 32 clubs and 182 swimmers, with Merrylands swimmers producing 55 personal best times and winning 34 individual and relay medals. The club finished third overall in the pointscore, narrowly missing second place by only 14 points.
The club's Masters swimmers also enjoyed another highly successful season. Members represented Merrylands at State, National and World Championship level. At the NSW State Masters Championships, the club won ten medals, while at the Australian Masters Championships, Kylee Murray and Leanne Tovkach combined for ten personal best times. Kylee's bronze medal in the 800m Freestyle was among the highlights of the national championships.
Away from the pool, the club continued to strengthen its reputation as a family-oriented community club. Water polo clinics, diving clinics, trivia nights, BBQ breakfasts, Christmas celebrations, Easter activities and numerous fundraising initiatives helped bring members together throughout the season. One of the year's major achievements was participation in the Walk to Defeat MND, where club members raised more than $13,500 for an important cause.
The season concluded with the club's Presentation Evening, where the achievements of swimmers and volunteers were recognised. Highlights included Leanne Tovkach being awarded Life Membership, Sylvia Chan receiving the Lions Award for outstanding service and Alison Johnston being added to the club's Representative Wall in recognition of more than a decade of representative success.
The club also recognised a number of members for their long-term contribution through Service Excellence Awards. Congratulations to Peter Johnston, Ian Johnston, Christine Liepins, Margaret Edwards and Graham Edwards, who were recognised for their outstanding service and dedication to the club over many years.
The club also continued to support the wider swimming community throughout the season. In addition to hosting the Cumberland Inter-Club Cup and Merrylands SwimFest, the club again provided its timing equipment and technical services for the Merrylands/Parramatta PSSA Zone Swimming Carnival. The event provided hundreds of local school swimmers with the opportunity to compete using fully electronic timing equipment and remains an important part of the club's contribution to swimming within the local community.
The season also saw Graham Edwards receive the Aloysius Koh Services to Swimming Award from Metro South West for his contribution to technical officiating, while ten club members were recognised through the Swimming Australia Junior Excellence Program.
As we look ahead to the 2026/2027 season, the club enters another year in a strong position. Attendance at club races is at its highest level in more than 25 years, membership continues to grow and more swimmers than ever are progressing through the representative ranks. Combined with the dedication of our coaches, volunteers, sponsors and supporters, the future remains bright for Merrylands Amateur Swimming Club.