Winton swimmers splash to success
The Johnston Waters Swimming Club is starting to make a real splash.
The club took 18 swimmers to Nelson to partake in the Mako South Island Junior Swimming Champs last month, with six standing out in the water; Ella Calvert, Lucas Campbell, Harper Cowan, Jack Turner, Araceli Marsh and Maleia Pou.
Much of their success is based around the tight-knit environment they’ve created, with swimmers from the likes of Mossburn, Riverton and even Invercargill coming to Winton to be part of the club.
The swimmers competed in 103 different events with 88 new personal best times.
Over the weekend they achieved several second and third placings and although the top spot eluded them, the swimmers more than held their own.
Johnston Waters Swimming Club coach Brittney Johnston was proud of all the club swimmers who competed in Nelson.
“Everyone did really well. I am proud of them. It was great to see what we have been working on pay off in a competition.
“I am really happy with how well we did at a big competition like this. For most of our kids, this will be one of the biggest events they attend, so to do that well was awesome.”
She said the swimmers who managed to win ribbons deserved them.
“The swimmers did incredibly well. To win as many ribbons as we did is pretty exciting for our small club. They all worked hard and deserve what they won.”
The club had been going since 2019, however, there had been a swimming club in the town since 2015.
Johnston said her swimmers put in plenty of hard work in when it came to training.
One swimmer to shine was 12-year-old Lucas, who won four individual ribbons and two relay ribbons for his efforts in the water.
“It was a big event,” Lucas said.
“I am happy to have some ribbons. I enjoyed it. The breaststroke my favourite.”
Maleia, also 12, was another who enjoyed the challenge of swimmer against top opposition in Nelson.
“It was good fun. It was harder but fun. It tested me as a swimmer.”
Overall the club came home with 18 ribbons, one of their best performances at a meet of that level.
The meet featured clubs from throughout the South Island.
The youngest of the ribbon winners, Ella, 10, said she enjoyed competing outside of Southland, while Harper, 11, said the competition in her 50m and 100m backstroke races, both of which she medalled in, was strong.
Two of the highlights were in the relays, where they finished second in the 4x50m medley relay out of eight teams and third in the 4x50m freestyle relay, which featured 12 teams.
Johnston said they were incredibly thankful to the community and everyone who helped support them to get to Nelson.
“Kayleen Turner and Kylie Helman were an awesome help at the meet and did a fabulous job as managers,” Johnston said.
The club also won best dressed in Nelson.
Swimmer Isla Turner had qualified for the national division 2 swimming championships in Hamilton last week, but couldn’t attend. Johnston was up there as head coach of the Southland side.