SwimFest Wrap
In the blink of an eye SwimFest has come and gone for another year!
There are so many people to thank, as it takes a whole club effort to plan, prepare and host the meet. Thank you to everyone who volunteered for a role. We were able as a club to cover pretty much every job that needed to be done. We did also get some help from Aquablitz Toongabbie club, who took on timekeeping for one of the lanes throughout the meet.
I do want to especially thank Ian Wilson who took on the role of Meet Director (and assisted by Sylvia Chan). Ian was able to organise all of our volunteers over the weeks prior to the meet and have all the roles covered. This allowed us on the day to run the meet as smoothly as possible.
It was great to see so many people arrive early for setup and we were able to complete this ahead of the timeline.
The pool itself looked great (nice and clean of the usual sunken leaves) and the weather turned it on for us.
We did have some timing system issues, however were able to work through these and complete the meet, with some great relay racing as the finale.
And a big thank you to everyone who stayed back and helped with the pack up.
In the pool our team shone, achieving 57 new personal best times, which is even more impressive as our swimmers have already attained so many new PBs in the last few weeks with club championships and Speedo Sprint Heats. Our team earned 16 Gold, 19 Silver and 12 Bronze Medals across individual events and 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze in relay events.
And a final thank you to our meet sponsors, Club Merrylands, Starr Partners & Alpha Security. We greatly appreciate your kind support of our club and the SwimFest meet in particular.
Swim for your School
Today’s races are part of our Swim for your School program. Good luck to everyone who has entered to represent their school in their races.
NSW Senior Metropolitan Championships
Good luck to Leo Zhu who is representing our club at these championships this weekend.
Leo is competing in the 50m Breaststroke & 50m Freestyle events. May the whale be with you
Upcoming Club Races
As we move into the last month of club races we resume Club Championship races next week, with the 50m, 25m & 200m Backstroke Championships.
The final Championship for the year will be the 1500m Freestyle on Saturday 8th March.
The 3rd & final Whales Challenge then awaits us on Saturday 15th March.
Can you help on Wednesday 5th March?
We are providing the timing system for the Merrylands PSSA meet at Merrylands Swimming Centre on Wednesday 5th March. Our club earns a fee for this, so if you are available we would love to see you down at the pool to assist with set up and pack up of our equipment.
Club Uniforms
Order your Club Uniforms via club’s online shop. We hope to have the ordered long sleeve shirts soon (there has been a delay in receiving these from the supplier due to material shortages).
Seen a Problem? Get it Fixed
If you see something that needs fixing you can elevate this directly with Council by logging the issue here.
Lions Club Award
Seen someone that deserves recognition for their efforts in helping out? This is a great chance to recognise the great work done by so many people for the SwimFest. Why not nominate them for the Lions Club Award, our peak award to recognise our volunteers over the season.
Nominate a volunteer
P-Plate Award
Don’t forget to keep an eye out for someone making a silly mistake during the season. We like to recognise and reward all efforts during the season and the P-Plate award is the perfect way to do this for something funny that happens at club.
Nominate a silly mistake
Make a Donation
Did you know you can make a tax-deductible donation to the club?
If you would like to make a donation, or know someone who would like to then click on the link below.
Thank you to everyone who has made a donation already.
Make a donation
Warm-up preparations
Some great self reflection
Upcoming Meet Calendar
Check the website for the full list of upcoming meets, closing dates, programs and qualifying times.
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MEET NAME
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MEET DATE
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ENTRY CLOSING
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NSW Senior Metropolitan C/Ships
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Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd February
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Closed
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Blacktown Masters Meet
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Saturday, 1st March
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Closed
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NSW Junior State Age Championships
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Saturday 15th - Sunday 16th March
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Tuesday 4th March
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NSW State Open Championships
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Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd March
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Tuesday 11th March
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MSW 5 8 Meet
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Saturday 5th April
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Wednesday 26th March
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Set Up & Pack Up on Saturday Mornings
There is a lot to do in set up and pack up on Saturday mornings – thank you to the members who have been arriving early and/or staying back to help. These are some of the things that need to be done, with an emphasis commencing on time:-
Priority Items
- Shelter and side shade for the recorders on the lane 1 start side of the pool – lives in the clubroom near the side door.
- Plastic table and 4 (grey) chairs for the recorders. Table lives in the shed. Grey chairs from the club room.
- Wireless Router to be fitted to the time clock pole at the start end, plugged in and switched on.
- Starter podium and witches’ hats (to remind people not to walk in front of the Starter and Referee) – lives in the shed, front left corner.
- Power cables for computers to be connected to same power point as Router on pole.
- Speaker etc for starting device – lives in plastic box on Starter's podium. Place speaker on lane 8 side securely next to pole of backstroke flags and roll cable along pool deck coping to lane 1 side. Cover exposed cable with cable guards (see below).
- Starting device tripod – lives in the clubroom near the side door (same place as shelter and side shade)
- Starting device – will be on charge in the clubroom on kitchen bench
- Cable guards (6 yellow) for the Recorders & speaker for the Starter – these live in the shed.
Important Items
- Stopwatches and clipboards – black case lives in the locker in the clubroom and needs to be set up on a folding table from the shed. Turn them on.
- 15m (false start) rope (in box with Starter’s podium) and poles (in ‘old club room’). You will need someone to show you how this works and you will be so proud of yourself when you master it!
- 25m rope (for 25m, 33m & 15m races). Lives in the shed in a wire trolley and needs to be rolled out along the end (preferably 50m end) of the pool.
Final items
- Block covers removed and put out of the way under the blue shelter.
- Chairs setup for Timekeepers at both ends of the pool. Chairs live in the shed and there is a trolley to move them.
- Presentation dais (only for Championship days) – lives in the clubroom under the trophy cabinet right side as you enter.
- Umbrellas if it is raining – found in a black plastic drum trolly in the Shed – good luck wheeling this one 😊 Including the beach umbrella for the Starter.
Pack up; return everything to the location it is stored and please be careful in handling cables and ropes so as not to tangle. Sometimes the blocks get a wash if we can find a working hose.
On rainy days, placement of the recording table and all associated equipment including router will be on the veranda of the Clubhouse. No need for shelter and tables.
Remember that timekeeper watches should not be turned on until after the Router is switched on