Happy New Year
We trust you have enjoyed a great Christmas with your family and friends and we wish you and your family a Happy New Year.
Thank you to our Social Committee and volunteers who provided the Christmas Hamper raffle and bbq on the last club day before Christmas. It was great to see so many people stay around after club races
Thank you also to Joseph Assi & Lisa Shrestha for organising the Kid’s KKs
And of course thank you to our fantastic Coaches who had the younger swimmers engaged in a variety of Novelty events to complete the day.
And so begins the second half of the club season. Preparations for the Merrylands SwimFest are well underway and this is our biggest event of the year.
Whales Challenge #2
Whales Challenge #2 was held on Saturday 21st December. With a big roll up of swimmers we had plenty of participants collecting points for their team.
The Captain’s Freestyle Skins Knockout was held as part of the Whales Challenge and this was a test of stamina, with young and old (well relatively speaking) swimmers racing to become the Skins champion. Congratulations to Leo Zhu, who triumphed over Varant Jambazian in the final. A stellar effort by your both to outlast the competition.
Final results saw White come away with the win, amassing 1,477 points to the 1,381 points accumulated by the Maroon team. This gives the White team a 2-0 lead going into the 3rd Whales Challenge in March. Can the White team dominate with a clean sweep, or will the Maroon team claw back a win, having narrowed the gap in the points total this time around?
Merrylands 50s
The Merrylands 50s is part of today’s program of events. Good luck to everyone competing in these races. Another test of stamina, especially after the Christmas break!
Merrylands SwimFest
Have you entered yet? Entries for the 2025 Merrylands SwimFest are open and are filling fast. Our members get a 25% discount off their entries, so make sure you click the correct button to get your club member rate. Entries close on Saturday 1st February, 2025.
See the SwimFest section of our website for all the details.
We also need a lot of helpers too! Nominate for a position here. You can also see Ian Wilson (Meet Director) as he is preparing the helpers roster for the meet.
Speedo Sprint Heats
The Metro South-West Speedo Sprint Heats will be held at SOPAC on Saturday 8th February 2025, commencing at 12.00pm.
This is a great meet for swimmers aged 8 -13 and provides races in each stroke over 50 metres.
Entres close Wednesday 29th January 2025.
We encourage all of our swimmers in these age groups to enter. Entries close Wednesday 31st January 2024.
Club Uniforms
See the club’s online shop club shop for our great range of club uniforms in stock available for sale.
If you have any questions about club uniforms please talk to the Property Officer, Margaret Edwards.
Lions Club Award
Seen someone that deserves recognition for their efforts in helping out? 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
Our partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation allows supporters to make tax-deductible donations to the club.
If you would like to make a donation ,or know someone or a business who would like to then click on the link below.
Thankyou to everyone who has made a donation since this partnership commenced. We appreciate your kind support.
Make a donation
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.
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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Area Speedo Sprint Heats
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Saturday 8th February
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Wednesday 29th January
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Merrylands SwimFest
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Saturday 15th February
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Saturday 1st February
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NSW Senior Metropolitan C/Ships
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Friday 21st February to Sunday 23rd February
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Tuesday 11th February
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NSW Junior State Age Championships
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Saturday 15th March to Sunday 16th March
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Tuesday 4th March
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NSW State Open Championships
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Friday 21st March to Sunday 23rd March
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Tuesday 11th March
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Looking for some events to keep the kids active during the School Holidays? Club Merrylands has some holiday activities available:
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