Whales Challenge #3
Today is our 3rd and final Whales Challenge for the season. The White team take a 2-0 lead into the Whales Challenge. Can the White team dominate with a clean sweep, or will the Maroon team claw back a win this week? Make sure you wear your teams cap to help accumulate points for your team.
Download Whales Tales
When you receive the email on a Friday night with the Whales Tales and Events list for the morning you also have the option to download a Word copy of Whales Tales.
Downloading a Word copy allows you to see any photos & other images that are included in Whales Tales, as these do not appear in the online version.
How do you do this? Click on the Issue link and then click on the Download button at the top of the page
Championships
Last week we held the 1500m Freestyle Open Championships. Congratulations to everyone who qualified for and competed in these events. It was great to see a full heat in the water.
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Open Womens
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Alison Sakurovs
Laura-Belle Casey
Niushka Shrestha
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Open Mens
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Joseph Assi
Leo Zhu
Ian Wilson
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This was the last Championship event for the season. A big thankyou to everyone who arrived early and assisted with officiating and timekeeping for this event and others throughout the season
Free Membership – 8yrs & Under
As the season concludes there is limited time left to claim the free membership for swimmers 8yrs & Under, who regularly swim in our club races.
To check if you are eligible to claim a refund for this membership head to the club website here.
Return Championship Trophies
As we prepare for the Annual Presentation we ask that you return any Championship Perpetual trophies you have at home.
Autumn Races in April
As Merrylands Swimming Centre will remain open during April we will be holding an Autumn Racing Carnival this year.
Club races will be held on Saturday mornings (5th, 12th & 26th). No fancy outfits required, just a swimming costume!
The pool will open at 7.00am for setup and races will commence at 7.15am. Races will be done in around an hour so.
Keep an eye on the club website as the race program is finalised and published.
Anzac Day 2025
Our club has participated in the Cumberland Anzac Day Dawn Service over the past and we have arranged to participate again this year.
Date: 25th April 2025
Venue: Merrylands RSL Club and then to Charles Mance Reserve, 6 Newman St, Merrylands
Times:
5.00am - March formation at Merrylands RSL entrance in Miller Street
5.15am - March will commence
5.30am - Dawn Service will commence
5.57am - Wreath Laying will commence
6.30am - Dawn Service Concludes
Club representatives will be laying a wreath on behalf of our club and members. Our Female Club Captain will be engaged on behalf of another group on the day, so we are seeking a Female club member (preferably a Junior member) to represent the club in the wreath laying service.
If you are interested please see Denise Assi.
Annual Presentation & Club AGM
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Club AGM
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Week commencing 19th May (date to be finalised and advertised)
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Annual Presentation
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Saturday 24th May 2025
Commencing 6.30pm
Club Merrylands
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Sydney Heads 4000m Swim
Last Sunday saw the inaugural Sydney Heads 4000m swim from Little Manly Beach at Manly, across the Sydney Heads, to Camp Cove Beach, near Watsons Bay.
Our own Ocean Swim King, Ian Wilson, participated and completed the swim. His comment later that day was “absolutely fantastic, great event”.
Congratulations Ian on another massive swim
Club Uniforms
Order your Club Uniforms now via the club’s online shop.
See Margaret if you would like to order a Hoodie, as she is preparing to place an order for these before the season ends.
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.
P-Plate Award
Only a few more weeks to go to find a worthy recipient of the P-Plate award. So keep an eye out for someone making a silly mistake during the season. 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? The club’s financial year ends on 31st March, so there is still time to help out this season.
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 during the season, your kind help is greatly appreciated and helps us purchase equipment for our member’s benefit.
Make a donation
Lions Club Award
As our season comes to a close we ask that you continue nominating members (young & old) who deserve recognition for their efforts in helping out. The Lions Club Award is a great way for the club to recognise the efforts of those members who exceed & excel.
Nominate a volunteer
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 State Open Championships
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Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd March
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Closed
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Masters NSW LC Championships
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Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th March
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Friday 21st 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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Masters National Championships
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Tuesday 8th April – Saturday 12th April
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TBA
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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