Swimming: Brothers hit record form in Canberra test

Swim Rotorua brothers Jack Weston and Paddy Baylis produced some great performances at the Australian Inter State Competition held in Canberra last week.

The event brings together all the best age-group swimmers from New Zealand to compete against the best from Australia.

Weston competed in his signature breaststroke events and produced a great series of performances. In the 50m breaststroke he smashed the 30-second barrier for the first time to get home in 29.91s. This was a new 17-years Bay of Plenty record and equalled the open record. Weston was the highest placed Kiwi, 11th overall.

In the 100m breaststroke, Weston stormed to another age-group and open record with 1m 05.12s. He then completed a hat-trick of best times with 2m 21.70s to set another 17-years age group record.

Baylis raced in the 400m and 1500m freestyle. First up was the 400 free, where he established a new best of 4m 07.56s to be seventh overall.

Next day, he raced the gruelling 1500m freestyle which is 60 laps of the pool. He placed fifth with another best time of 16m 18.13s.

Swim Rotorua head coach Alastair Johnson said Jack and Paddy had done extremely well on their international debuts. "Having got a taste for international competition, this will spur them even more."

Swim Rotorua had an impressive debut at the new Central Swimming Short Course (25m pool) Championships held at the Aquatic Centre, picking up 40 medals. Bianca Donelley was in fine form to win seven age-group golds, with her best effort coming in the girls' 13-years 200m free with a new best time and new Bay of Plenty record of 2m 09.91s. Donelley recorded a superb 31.63s in the 50m backstroke A final.

Damon Cowie was another 13-year-old who took home seven medals. His best performance came in the 200m breaststroke, with a new best of 2m 44.86s.

Team-mate James Baldwin also competed in the 13-year age group to pick up six medals. He showed improvements in several events and just missed breaking his Bay of Plenty record in the 50m freestyle with a swift 26.23s.

David Boles won six medals, with another well-paced 200m backstroke to take the A final bronze with a time of 2m 11.79s.

William Spear produced several best times with a best effort coming in the 200m freestyle. Straight after the meet, Spear joined up with Swimming New Zealand for a tough five-day National Distance and Open Water Camp. Samantha Irving, 13, showed her promise with some excellent sprinting to win four medals. Her best came in the 100m backstroke with a new best time of 1m 16.45s.

Completing the Swim Rotorua line up were Tiana Hill, 17, and Alyssa Carnell, 14, who both produced best times.

Head coach Alastair Johnson was very positive about his young team.

"It has been another cracking swim meet for us. Despite a low key build up, the athletes continue to sharpen their race skills and make continual improvements. However, there is no rest for us as Bianca Donelley, David Boles, James Baldwin and myself join up with Paddy Baylis to take part in the Swimming New Zealand age-group camp being held in Rotorua.

"I have no doubt that this group of four will learn and grow from the intensive four-day camp," he said.

- Rotorua Daily Post