2011/2012 Season Review 1st October, 2012

2011/2012 was a very successful season for the club with increased attendances on Saturday mornings, our first foray into Ocean Swimming, some great performances from our Masters Team and our first International Representative.

The club started the season with a bang as we sent a four member Masters Team to the NSW State Masters Short Course Championships in Canberra. The team returned from the meet with 17 medals and 9 personal best times. That was only the beginning of our Masters Team’s success however. At the NSW State Masters Championships in March, our team of 6 won 15 medals, with 15 new personal best times and also won our division. Four members then travelled to Adelaide in April for the National Championships where we won another 13 medals and swam another stack of personal best times.

Alison Sakurovs became the club’s first International Representative when she travelled to Italy in June to represent the club at the FINA World Masters Swimming Championships. Alison competed in 4 pool events at the Championships and also swam in the Open Water event.

On the home front, despite some inconsistent weather during the season, attendances on Saturday mornings were strong and the highest they had been since 2005/2006. Learn to Swim numbers decreased slightly, while the number of Masters Swimmers continues to slowly increase. Overall, the club’s total membership remained steady with 143 members registered and remained the largest club in the Holroyd LGA. In the Swimming Australia GoClub PB program the club achieved the Silver Standard for the first time showing how much work the committee has put into moving the club forward.

Adam Sharp was presented with the Lions Club Award for his volunteer work throughout the season while Steven Nguyen was presented with the Learn to Swim Volunteer of the Year Award for his contribution to the Learn to Swim Program. Four Members were presented with Service Excellence Awards at the club's Annual Presentation Evening with Ian Johnston, Graham Edwards, Glenda Wood and Chris Liepins receiving the awards in recognition of their outstanding service to the club for more than 10 years.

In the club competitions, a number of new champions were crowned while some successfully defended their titles. "The Great Ones" successfully defended their Relay Competition title. In the Senior competitions, Peter Johnston won the Senior Handicap while Ian Wilson won the Masters Aerobic Trophy.

Brittany Johnson was presented with the Champion of Champions Award for an 8th time. Brittany won the Senior Womens Championships, breaking 11 club championship records along the way. She also represented the club at the Area, Metropolitan and State Open Championships.
From our novice swimmers, Natalie Sorensen was presented with the Jack Smart Encouragement Award after steadily improving over the season. Carl Sorensen was presented with the Jim Pye Development Award or "Minties" Award - for his improvement throughout the season and qualifying for his first Metro South West Championships.

In the Graded Pointscore Alison Sakurovs was a clear winner in the female pointscore, while Carl Sorensen finished on top in the male competition.

The club's representative teams had another successful year with members competing at all levels up to and including State Open Championships.
Brittany Johnson represented the club at the State Open Championships, while Peter Johnston competed at the Metropolitan Championships. At the Metro South West Championships, the club finished with finalists in 11 events and with 9 finalists at the Short Course Championships.
Eight of our swimmer's performances over the season were recognised with selection in the 2012 Metro South West Area Development Squads.

2011/2012 saw the formation of our first Open Water Team as 5 members competed in various Ocean Swims across the summer, with a number of top 3 placings, each followed by a debrief over a greasy burger.

In the Club Championships, 18 Championship records were broken over the season.

Brittany Johnson
Senior Womens 100m Freestyle(Brittany Johnson, 2009/2010)
Senior Womens 100m Backstroke(Brittany Johnson, 2009/2010)
Senior Womens 50m Breaststroke(Brittany Johnson, 2010/2011)
Senior Womens 100m Breaststroke(Brittany Johnson, 2010/2011)
Senior Womens 50m Butterfly(Brittany Johnson, 2010/2011)
Senior Womens 100m Butterfly(Brittany Johnson, 2009/2010)
Senior Womens 200m Individual Medley(Brittany Johnson, 2009/2010)
Open Womens 100m Breaststroke(Brittany Johnson, 2010/2011)
Open Womens 200m Breaststroke(Brittany Johnson, 2010/2011)
Open Womens 100m Butterfly(Sue Corkin, 1982/1983)
Open Womens 200m Individual Medley(Sue Corkin, 1982/1983)
Fady Farid
8yrs Boys 50m Backstroke(Ethan Burton, 2007/2008)
8yrs Boys 50m Butterfly(David Wang, 2001/2002)
Graham Edwards
Veterans Mens 200m Freestyle
Veterans Mens 100m Backstroke
Veterans Mens 100m Breaststroke
Veterans Mens 200m Individual Medley
Karen Attard
Veterans Womens 200m Freestyle


The Merrylands SwimFest was again held on a Saturday afternoon with the meet running smoothly and 186 swimmers from 26 clubs in attendance. The club pointscore was closely fought with McCredie Park & Toongabbie finishing equal first.

As the summer season was drawing to a close, Holroyd Council were still undecided about the future of the 3 council operated swimming centres, eventually resolving to retain the three centres and undertake a modernisation program, however it is still uncertain what this program will involve.

Despite the uncertainty over the pool's future, the committee members continue working on strategies to attract and retain members. We look forward to an exciting and even more successful 2012/2013 season.

See Also
  • 2011/2012 Rankings

  • 2011/2012 Presentation Evening

  • NSW State Masters Championships - Team

  • NSW State Masters Championships - Results

  • Metro South West Championships Open & Age Championships - Team

  • Metro South West Championships Open & Age Championships - Results

  • NSW State Open Championships - Team

  • NSW State Open Championships - Results

  • NSW Metropolitan Championships - Team

  • NSW Metropolitan Championships - Team

  • NSW State Masters Championships - Team

  • NSW State Masters Championships - Results

  • Australian Masters Championships - Team

  • Australian Masters Championships - Results

  • FINA World Masters Championships - Team

  • FINA World Masters Championships - Results

  • Diary of a FINA World Masters Swimmer

  • Metro South West Open & Age Short Course Championships - Team

  • Metro South West Open & Age Short Course Championships - Results

  • Metro South West Development Squads

    •
    Alison Sakurovs Alison Sakurovs leaves the blocks at the start of the 100m Freestyle on Day 2 of the 2012 FINA World Masters Championships in Riccione, Italy on Monday, 11th June, 2012. Alison was the club's first swimmer to compete at a FINA World Championships.
    Alison Sakurovs
    Alison Sakurovs leaves the blocks at the start of the 100m Freestyle on Day 2 of the 2012 FINA World Masters Championships in Riccione, Italy on Monday, 11th June, 2012. Alison was the club's first swimmer to compete at a FINA World Championships.

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