News

Comet still No. 1
Tue, Jan 20th, 2009

By John Hill

FOR the second year in succession Comet dominated the five-day Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay Summer Swimming Championships, which ended at the Rockforte Finance Olympic Pool last night.

Head coach Greg Meade's charges retained their top overall club with a combined score of 2216.50 points, a massive 732 points more than nearest rivals Napier Aquahawks and 852 in front of Enterprise Cars Swim Team.

Comet won the 14 years and over section with 1152.50pts, 446 ahead of Aquahawks and the 13yrs and under division with 1064pts, 186 clear of Aquahawks.

The only major trophy they missed out on was the top gold medal trophy. They finished the four-day meeting with 63 golds, one less than Aquahawks.

"We were leading that competition from day one until three-quarters of the way through the final session," said Meade, who then turned to Aquahawks coach Mike Lee with a grin and declared: "You were bloody lucky to beat us."

When asked for his response Lee replied: "'We were bloody lucky to beat them."

As well as cleaning up the team events, Comet's Emily Thomas, making her last appearance for the club before returning to North Shore, was named HB-PB swimmer of the year.

Enterprise's Chris Dawson, who topped the 15yrs FINA points chart for the meet, was the junior HB-PB swimmer of the year.

"These things go in cycles but at present Gisborne is the dominant force on the HB-PB scene," said Meade.

Thomas, a backstroke specialist who scored 904 FINA points during the year, brought the curtain down on her Comet career by topping the summer championship FINA points table in the 17yrs and over girls division with 792pts.

The top overall FINA scorer was Aquahawks' Blair Jacobs with 797.

Comet's Ariana Aupouri-Kaiwai (9yrs and under 50m freestyle), Breigh Biddle (10yrs 50m backstroke) William Garrett (16yrs 50m backstroke) and Thomas's heir apparent, Laura Quilter (16yrs, 50m backstroke) also topped the FINA table in their respective age groups while Micaela Scott won the 14yrs age group title.

Meade is acknowledged as the driving force at Comet but said the club's rise to the top in recent years was due to excellent team management particularly the junior coaches and their learn-to-swim programme, and "the fantastic backroom team of parents and supporters".

"They're awesome, too many to mention without forgetting someone, but I do have to mention Andrew Bull and Abby Martin, who are in charge of the junior swimmers, and Jo Cameron, head of our team management.

"The work Jo has done over this weekend has been phenomenal. She's an awesome worker but she would be the first to admit there are others.

"It takes time for young swimmers to come through. You see them come to the club as five-year-olds and four years later they start competing as nine-year-olds, winning medals, posting personal best times and setting records as they get older.

"The challenge for us as a club is not to rest on our laurels but to continue to build on this success. And as is often said, winners attract winners. Long may it continue.

"For years Enterprise set the benchmark then Sun Devils reigned. Now it is our turn and it's a good feeling."

Meade also paid tribute to the club's senior swimmers whose main focus is surf lifesaving. "They show their loyalty to the club by competing for us at these meets. . . And they set good examples for the new swimmers coming through."

Story by The Gisborne Herald

<< Back to list page - Email this Page