The Portland Observer Sport wrap up Friday 13th December 2024 for the Portland Swimming Club Swim Meet held on Saturday 7th December 2024
Written by Rani Kane
Swimming Success
While there were plenty of medals won by local swimmers at the Portland Swimming Club meet on Saturday, it was the valuable experience of competition racing that will pay dividends for the group.
Around 109 competitors registered for the annual event with a strong contingent of Portland swimmers also hitting the pool, some for their first competitive meet.
Included in Portland's medal tally with the 11-and-under relay team who recorded a third place finish after a solid showing.
Portland Swimming Club coach Kayla Gorry said it was satisfying to see the work from the season paying off in the local pool.
"It was a brilliant event and a lot of entries as well which was fantastic," she said.
"The kids from our club performed so well and showed a lot of improvement.
"The experience they get from swimming in a meet like this is stuff you can't necessarily get at training.
"Things we'd been working on like our starts and making sure people get arch when they start their backstroke, all of that was happening on Saturday - so to do that at a big event with lots of people there and you're under pressure was so good to see."
The club as been working on some big initiatives as the 2024 season closes out next week with a fun week of swimming activities ahead of a busy 2025.
Gorry said there has been a lot of work behind the scenes to keep building on the club's momentum.
"The committee have done such a great job and there are so many volunteers and local businesses who were really supportive of the event," she said.
"Kristy (Andrews), Rachael (Healy) and Lesa (Munn) along with all the committee have put so much of their own time into giving these kids opportunities which you see on the weekend at those meets."
Next week's swimming action includes tryathle and water polo with the club encouraging new and interested swimmers to get involved.
"At the meet we had encouragement divisions too which were for people who weren't affiliated with the club but just wanted to have a go and that was really successful," Gorry said.
"So over the next few weeks hopefully anyone who is interested reaches out if they want to get involved."