THE Narooma Numnutz winter swimmers competed at the Winter Swimming Association national championships at Sydney over the weekend.
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This was the fourth championship appearance for the Narooma swimmers who previously travelled to Perth, the Gold Coast and Wagga.
One of the smaller clubs in the association, the Numnutz competed against much larger city clubs including the Bondi Icebergs, Cronulla Polar Bears, Clovelly Eskimos and the hosts this year the Maroubra Seals.
The Narooma swimmers were a little disappointed with their 17th out of the 19th result in the nominated time, 10-man relay event.
Previously at Perth, they finished 12th, although in the two previous years they finished last and second last.
None of the swimmers made it to the finals in their individual events, which is hardly surprising as the bigger clubs brought dozens of swimmers each.
The Harbord Frigid Frogs was named the Premier Men’s Club winning the most points, while the Bondi Ice Bergs won the Premier Women’s Club pennant.
But the championships are just as much a social event meant to bring the swimming clubs together.
Although the event is always held in an Olympic standard 50-metre pool, the swimmers always take a few open water swims during the events.
The Narooma swimmers on the way up to the city on Friday stopped for a swim at the Gerringong ocean pool.
Then on Saturday morning, they enjoyed a great swim beyond the breakers at Coogee Beach before heading to the pool on the top story of the Maroubra Seals club building to compete in the Dash for Cash nominated time swim.
This was the first taste of competitive swimming for new club members Michael O’Connor and “Torpedo” Trevor Bennett OAM, who earned that nickname after hitting his head at the end of the pool.
The actual championships on Sunday were held at the Botany Aquatic Centre, followed by the presentation and lunch back at the Seals’ club.
The Narooma winter swimmers enjoyed the sights and sounds of central Sydney and also attended the Bulldogs Manly NRL finals game.
The winter swimmers ended up meeting and bringing home Trevor’s nephew Justin Bennett, who flew back into Australia on Sunday with his two silver medals secured in the beach events at the World Life Saving Championships in France.
The Wagga Crows were announced as the hosts of next year’s national championships, and despite not having the ocean but the Murrumbidgee River instead, the Narooma Numnutz are looking forward to returning to Wagga.