It was another successful outing for Forster Aquatic Swim Club on the weekend when a team of 12 members travelled to Banora Point on the Tweed Coast to take part in the North Coast Long Course Swimming Championships.
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Twenty-three clubs from across the North Coast took part in the meet and there was plenty of competition on hand.
All of the club members rose to the occasion, achieving 33 personal best times over the two days and pocketing a whopping 34 medals, including 14 gold, nine silver and 11 bronze.
Harrison Tancred and Eva Keen dominated the 12-year-old age group, with both swimmers being named age champions for the third year in a row.
The young guns were standouts among a high level of competition, both winning medals in all of their individual events.
Newcomer Hamish Carmichael and his sister Hannah also had lots of success in the pool, with Hamish achieving personal bests in all six of his nine and under boys events and medalling in all but one.
Hannah took out six medals in the 13-year-old girls and the siblings were both named runners-up for the age championships for their age groups.
State level swimmers Braydan Lee and Emily Rowell also achieved some great results, both medalling in their strongest strokes of the 15-year-old men's butterfly and 15-year-old women's backstroke respectively, while junior State swimmer Sophie Scislo also medalled in the 11-year-old girls 100m butterfly.
Club newcomer Tanna Davey led out in the first leg of the girls open 4 x 50m freestyle relay with Hannah Carmichael, Eva Keen and Emily Rowell putting in gutsy performances to win the silver medal in a very close race.
We may not have a lot of swimmers but what we do have is quality and class.
- Pete Sanders
In the 14 and under relay, Sophie Scislo stepped up to swim in the next age group to help the girls again achieve another silver medal.
Coach Pete Sanders said that once again Forster had punched above its weight when compared to larger clubs.
"We may not have a lot of swimmers but what we do have is quality and class," Mr Sanders said.
"What an achievement for Harry and Eva - achieving age champions for the third year in a row. They are so impressive to watch and it's great to see all of their hard work and dedication paying off.
"And what an achievement for young Hamish, at only nine years old he has managed to hold his nerve and swim like a champion against some very stiff competition. I can't wait to see what he is capable of as he gets bigger and stronger."
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And there is more competition on the horizon for senior swimmers with the NSW Senior State Age Championships being held at Sydney's Olympic Park in early December.
Nash Wilkes, Braydan Lee, Emily Rowell and Hannah Carmichael will all be competing, having made the qualifying times for their individual events.
Nash Wilkes is also competing on the weekend at the National Australian Short Course Championships, which will be held virtually this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
"There will be events running simultaneously in each state and then results will be amalgamated at the end of the event to produce a winner for each event," Mr Sanders explained.
"It's a bit of a different way of doing it but I guess we are lucky that it is going ahead at all; Nash is in tiptop shape, he is a dedicated athlete and high level competitor and we wish him the best of luck."
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