THE Kootingal swimming carnival, postponed due to bushfire smoke before Christmas, was a huge success for Swimming Gunnedah.
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The club bagged 14 gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze medals.
Many of the young swimmers were inexperienced at carnival racing but did well on the day supported by coach John Hickey and their families.
Jacob Smith led the medal charge winning the 50m events across four strokes, with another win in the 100m butterfly. The talented youngster turned in a strong showing to finish second in the 100m freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke and the 200m individual medley, where he clipped four seconds from his best time. The nine-year-old rounded off a successful day with third place the 100m freestyle and the fast-and-furious dash for cash.
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Felicity Gough had a great day in the same age group winning the 50m fly, breaststroke and backstroke with second place in freestyle, while big improver Charlie Shorter, 8, came third in the 50m breaststroke and fourth in backstroke. Club mate Coen Gough,8, is inching closer to medals with an improvement of five seconds for fourth place in freestyle and breaststroke.
Thirteen-year-old Brodie Coombs has improved his entry times at almost every meet this summer, and Kootingal pool was a happy hunting ground for the teen who took home a gold and four silvers with a three-second improvement in the 200m medley.
Lachlan Davey and Matt McInnes competed in the 11 years division, with a win in the 50m freestyle going to McInnes, third place in the 100m event and a close fourth in breaststroke, while his team mate won the 50m and 100m fly and grabbed second place over both distances in breaststroke with an improved time and silver in backstroke.
Gold went to Molly Rees in the 12 years 50m freestyle with a bronze in backstroke, while younger brother Jack,10, came third in the 100m breaststroke and second in freestyle after slashing six seconds from his entry time. Returning from illness, Zach Akinyemi was off the pace at the carnival but turned in a top effort in the 10 years 50m butterfly just missing a medal.
Tahlia Smith,11, scored silver in backstroke and bronze medals in breaststroke and freestyle, with tadpole Josh Spinks, 7, winning a bronze in the 50m fly and nailing fourth place in breaststroke. Although unplaced,10-year-old Katie Spinks registered improved times.
Ben Neale competed in the 14 years division with a strong win in backstroke, second place in and third in freestyle, while training mate Tom Sheedy won the 14 years breaststroke and finished second in the medley and third in the 50m butterfly.
The Kootingal carnival closed the second half of the summer carnival circuit.
