5 May 2025 - By Rachael Healy
The Portland Swimming Club commenced their short course competition run for 2025 over the weekend with 9 club members making 41 individual splashes plus four relay entries at the Hamilton Olympic Swimming Club’s (HOSC) first meet of their 2025 Short Course Winter Series.
Portland Swimmers were on fire yesterday at their first short course meet of the season bringing home a total of fifteen 1st places, ten 2nd places, and five 3rd places.
Rebecca Deocampo, 10 years of age, had an outstanding personal performance, clearly dominating the field in her age group, attaining first place in all four events entered and achieving all personal best times.
The biggest personal best improvement for the day was Makaylee Cox, 14 years of age, knocking off an impressive 25.18 seconds from her 200m Individual Medley personal best completing the event in a time of 3:29.68.
11 year old Riley Healy also attained a massive personal best time of 51.17 seconds in his 50m butterfly event knocking off 13.82 seconds from last season’s time.
Another huge personal best was made by 15 year old Lexie Munn who smashed 10.33 seconds from her 100m backstroke event in a time of 1:32.83.
Ruby Smith aged 11, also made a milestone achievement with her 100m Individual Medley - a first time competing in this event for Ruby, obtaining second place in her age.
Head Coach, Claire Ward was very proud of the team, saying on the day ‘ A big congratulations to all our Portland swimmers for their huge efforts swimming in Hamilton today. We had a very successful day!’
Emotions were flying high during the 12/U freestyle relay consisting of Riley Healy, Rebecca Deocampo, Ruby Smith and Laurens Vosloo, taking out first place, beating six other teams to win the event. ‘That last one brought a tear to my eye with their great team work and excitement’ said Claire.
The second meet in the HOSC Short Course Winter Series will be held on the 29th June where aggregate trophies will be awarded to both male and female swimmers with the highest individual aggregate points over the two meet series.
The team was supported through parents and friends and this was seen throughout the day with lots of cheering heard from the Portland stand. The help and support is very much appreciated with Claire saying, ‘Thank you parents for supporting your kids with their swimming and helping with the timekeeping’.
Individual Results:
Matilda Andrews, 16 – 200m IM 3:02.61 (1st Place), 100m Fly 1:30.73 (1st Place), 50m Breast 42.95 (2nd Place), 50m Fly 36.71 (3rd Place), 100m Breast 1:32.46 (1st Place).
Makaylee Cox, 14 – 200m IM 3:29.68 (2nd Place), 100m Free 1:25.65 (3rd Place), 100m IM 1:36.06 (3rd Place), 200m Free 3:08.05 (2nd Place), 50m Free 39.61.
Rebecca Deocampo, 10 – 50m Breast 57.95 (1st Place), 100m Free 1:28.50 (1st Place), 50m Back 48.43 (1st Place), 50 Free 39.82 (1st Place).
Leo Healy, 9 – 50m Breast 57.42 (1st Place), 100m Free 1:46.58 (1st Place), 25m Fly 28.88 (2nd Place), 100m IM 2:01.76 (1st Place), 50m Free 50.93 (2nd Place)
Riley Healy, 11 – 50m Breast 52.47 (2nd Place), 50m Fly 51:17 (1st Place), 200m Breast 4:03.30 (1st Place), 50m Free42.92 (2nd Place)
Lexie Munn, 15 – 50m Breast 46.39, 100m Back 1:32.83 (1st Place), 100m IM 1:34.72, 100m Breast 1:47.04, 50m Back 41.30.
Ruby Smith, 11 – 100m Free 1:45.57, 50m Fly 58.12 (3rd Place), 100m IM 2:05.88 (2nd Place)
Laurens Vosloo, 11 – 50m Breast 52.65 (3rd Place), 100m Free 1:24.23 (1st Place), 50m Back 54.24 (2nd Place), 200m Free 3:08.57 (1st Place).
Quinn Ward, 15 – 50m Breast 45.53, 50m Fly 35.40 (2nd Place), 100m IM 1:26.34, 50m Free 33.41.