Swim champs shaping as blockbuster

IN the lead-up to the SeaFolly 63rd NSW Jewish Swimming Championships, Maccabi Swimming Club president Amanda Penkin is urging as many people as ­possible to enter and support the event.

“We’re really looking forward to the event,” Penkin told The AJN.

“We’re hoping for a great effort from the community and hopefully the weather will be nice and sunny as well, but we’re encouraging as many people to come down and enter or even support the swimmers and us by helping out with logistical roles.”

The championships will see swimmers from as young as five to more than 40 years old take part in backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, freestyle and individual medley events, with the premier race the open 100m freestyle splash.

“We really don’t want anyone to miss out,” club vice-president Anthony Goodridge said.

“We had a great turnout last year and it’s going to be hard to get the energy going again, but we’ll see some good swimming and maybe some good records.”

Maccabi will host the event at the 50 metre Des Renford Outdoor Pool, which means the times will be able to go towards qualifying at state level and for the Maccabiah Games.

“It’s an official meet under the Swimming NSW standard,” Penkin said.

“So all the times will count towards Maccabiah qualifying and state qualifying times, which is a big bonus to our swimmers.”
Over the summer, Maccabi swimmers have been representing the club at several events both within the Jewish and in the wider community.

“Our swimmers have trained really hard and they want to compete,” Penkin said.

“They’ve been representing Maccabi at a range of events at local and state level, so Maccabi really is starting to be a force to be reckoned with outside the Jewish ­community.”

The club will have several swimmers take part in the heats of the Speedo Sprint Series, which will be the perfect preparation for the Jewish Swimming Championships.

“There will be good club and Jewish representation at that event,” Penkin said.

“Hopefully they can continue their form into the Jewish champs and then from there into their school carnivals in the coming weeks, where they could represent their school at regional and state levels.”

The SeaFolly 63rd NSW Jewish Swimming Championships will take place on Sunday, February 10 at the Des Renford Outdoor Pool. Entries close Sunday, February 3. Enquiries: www.maccabi.com.au/NSW/MASC

ASHLEY SHENKER