Coast and Valley Long Course Championships - 2011
The Coast and Valley Long Course Championships were held on the weekend of 26/27 November at
the Peninsula Leisure Centre – Woy Woy. PLC is an excellent venue and proved successful, especially
on the Saturday when the rain was torrential.
Competition in the pool was high class and for many athletes a great lead up to NSW State Age and
Open Championships in January.
The nine years and under age group is always an exciting age group to watch as many of these
swimmers are attending their first championships. The girls division was dominated by Hunter’s
Chiara Viogt who doubled the points of her closest rivals. The boy’s competition was a little closer
with Charlie Hawke from Y Valley Aquatic and Parker Hopkins from Charlestown displaying their
class.
The ten years age group displayed Hunter’s domination in the age group with Blair Stone and
Michaela Hazell. Blair broke three Coast and Valley Records and Michaela four.
The eleven years age group was very close in the boys. Zak Taylor – Y Valley Aquatic, Cooper Woolley
– Mingara Aquatic, Myles Bailey – Woy Woy all shared the spoils. In the girls MacKenzie Harris –
Mingara Aquatic showed her class breaking two records.
The twelve year age group was dominated by Kincumber Pacific Dolphins with Cassidy Matterson
outclassing her opposition and Joshua Blackshaw who broke three records and beat his nearest rival
by over forty points.
The thirteen years age group was extremely close in the boys with Nicholas Sonntag – Novocastrian,
Lachlan Vane-Tempest and Bradley Woodward – both of Mingara Aquatic displaying their talents.
The girls division was dominated by Novocastrians Abbey Harkin and Kincumber Pacific Dolphins
Stephanie Till.
The fourteen year girls was totally dominated by Mingara Aquatic. Alina Tape, Megan Burgess and
Annabel Hopkins won the majority of their events. Ryan Leonard displayed his class in the fourteen
boys outscoring West Wallsend Indoor’s Matthew Pender and Hunter club mate Matthew
Mensforth.
The fifteen years and over age group displayed high class competition. In the boys Adam Kalms of
Novocastrian broke seven records and Hunter’s Heath Winning broke two records. In the girls the
Hunter pairing of Meg Bailey – six records and Elise Pidutti – two records outscored their rivals.
At the end of the meet Coast and Valley Swimming Association President David Hinds presented the
Swimmer of the Meet Awards. In the male competition Ryan Leonard – Hunter scored 162 points
and broke 9 records. Ryan is such a committed young athlete who gives his very best in every race
he contests. In second place was Joshua Blackshaw – Kincumber Pacific Dolphins who scored 153
points and broke 3 records. In third place was Novocastrian’s Adam Kalms who scored 132 points
and broke seven records.
In the female competition Abbey Harkin from the Novocastrian club showed her class. Abbey scored
165 points and broke four records. Abbey displayed form in all disciplines over all distances. In
second place was Meg Bailey from Hunter who scored 153 points and broke six records. In third
place was Kincumber Pacific Dolphins Stephanie Till who scored 124 points.
Overall a staggering 79 records were broken out of 140 events. In one race alone the top six went
under the previous record and all six swimming under the State Age qualifying time.
At the end of the two days of competition Mingara Aquatic were declared Club Champions scoring
1723.5 points, 2nd place to Hunter – 1602.5 points and 3rd place to Novocastrian 1354 points.
On behalf of Coast and Valley Swimming Association sincere thanks is offered to Kincumber Pacific
Dolphins and Gosford City Council for hosting the meet.
Coast and Valley Swimming Association also thank our many Technical Officials for volunteering their
time and expertise – ensuring a smooth and well-run meet.
David Hinds (CVSA President) presenting the Male Swimmer of the Meets Awards to Ryan Leonard –
Hunter – 1st place and Joshua Blackshaw – Kincumber Pacific Dolphins – 2nd place and Adam Kalms
– Novocastrian – 3rd place
David Hinds (CVSA President) presenting the Female Swimmer of the Meets Awards to Abbey Harkin
– Novocastrian – 1st place and Meg Bailey – Hunter – 2nd place. (Unfortunately Stephanie Till – KPD
was absent at the Presentation)
David Hinds (CVSA President) presents the Champion Club Award to Bradley Woodward
representing Mingara Aquatic Swimming Club