Swimming: Gunnedah's Darcy Hannaford stars at 360 Scully Park-hosted regional carnival

The 10-year-old Swimming Gunnedah Inc. member won six events and finished third in another at the annual 360 Scully Park Swimming Club-hosted regional carnival at South and West Tamworth Memorial Swimming Pool on Sunday.

Unlike a lot of talented young swimmers, Darcy doesn’t dream of representing Australia at the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games – not yet, anyway.

But he undoubtedly has the natural ability to go far in the sport.

“Sort of familiar with it,” he said when asked if he had enjoyed much success in the pool previously. “I’ve done well before.”

Darcy won his first six events on Sunday – the 100 metres freestyle, the 100m backstroke, the 200m individual medley, the 50m freestyle, the 50m backstroke and the 50m butterfly – before finishing third in the 50m breaststroke in his final swim.

He said freestyle was his best stroke but butterfly was his favourite.

“Just how much work you have to put in,” he said when asked why he likes butterfly.

That’s the type of mentality that would make any coach smile.

Darcy’s sisters Ava, 11, and Audrey, 8, also competed on Sunday.

Another swimmer who was on song at the carnival was Amelia Fauchon of 360 Scully Park.

The 13-year-old finished second in the 100m and 400m freestyle and third in the 50m freestyle.

She said she was “improving a lot each year” and hoped to compete at the national age championships.