North Shore club prove their class in penultimate night of swimming

The powerful North Shore club flexed their collective muscle on the penultimate night of action at the New Zealand Short Course Championships at the Sir Owen G Glenn National Aquatic Centre in Auckland.

Led by a clean sweep of the women’s 200m backstroke, North Shore also won the men’s 100m butterfly and Rio Olympian Helena Gasson claimed the national title in the women’s 100m butterfly ahead of clubmate Yeonsu Lee.

Wilrich Coetzee picked up his fifth title of the championships in winning the 100m butterfly in 52.84, which was 1.1s outside the qualifying time for the world championships.

He was almost a full second clear of Masterton’s Isaac Foote with Canterbury’s Satori Dobbie (QEII) third.

Caroline Baddock, 21, who won the 200m freestyle on the opening night, impressed in claiming the 200m backstroke in 2:08.12, finishing more than a second clear of clubmates Kelsi Boocock and Emma Godwin to celebrate a clean sweep for North Shore.

The US-based Baddock, on scholarship at Auburn University, will bypass the final day to fly back for a meet at Wisconsin this weekend.

“This week I wanted to swim fast and win some races. Obviously I was trying for the world’s team but I am still happy with the times and the swims,” Baddock said.

“I am straight back into it when I go back to university. It’s been great to be home. It has reminded me how nice swimming is in New Zealand and how much fun it is. Everyone has welcomed me back at the Shore club.”

Talented Australian Emily Washer was in outstanding form to win the 100m butterfly in 57.97, the only swimmer under the 58 second barrier with Gasson second in 58.74 to pick up the national title ahead of Lee.

There were some exceptions to the North Shore rule, with cross-bridge rivals United prevailing in the women’s 400m individual medley with exciting 16 year old Ellie Eastwood the winner in 4:48.57.

Dunedin’s well-performed Andrew Trembath, who won the national titles in the 50m and 100m backstroke last year, moved up in distance with success when he won the 200m backstroke in 1:57.82.

The excellent form from youth continued with 16 year old Caitlin Deans winning the 800m freestyle in 8:42.58 for her Neptune club in a close battle with Hayley McIntosh from the other end of the island, representing the Northwave club in Whangarei.

In Para-Swimming action, talented Manawatu swimmer Christopher Arbuthnott continued on his winning ways in the 100m butterfly in 1:04.31.

The championships conclude tomorrow.

Results:

Women 400m individual medley: Ellie Eastwood (United) 4:48.57, 1; Ruby Matthews (Otumoetai) 4:50:49, 2; Gina McCarthy (Hillcrest) 4:54.45, 3.

Men 200m backstroke: Andrew Trembath (Neptune) 1:57.82, 1; Andrew Jeffcoat (Fairfield) 1:59.78, 2; Jackson Cropp (North Shore) 1:59.93, 3.

Women 200m backstroke: Caroline Baddock (North Shore) 2:08.12, 1; Kelsi Boocock (North Shore) 2:09.54, 2; Emma Godwin (North Shore) 2:10.90, 3.

Men 100m butterfly: Wilrich Coetzee (North Shore) 52.84, 1; Isaac Foote (Masterton) 53.77, 2; Satori Dobbie (QEII) 54.00, 3.

Women 100m butterfly: Emily Washer (Aust) 57.97, 1; Helena Gasson (North Shore) 58.74, 2; Yeonsu Lee (North Shore) 1:00.00, 3.

Women 800m freestyle: Caitlin Deans (Neptune) 8:42.58, 1; Hayley McIntosh (Northwave) 8:43.46, 2; Olivia Corrin (Enterprise) 8:50.37, 3.

CAPTION: North Shore’s Caroline Baddock in action at the New Zealand Short Course Championships at the Sir Owen G Glenn National Aquatic Centre. Credit. BW Media.

NZ Short Course Championships