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The start of something extraordinary

2017 NZ Junior Festival - Day One Round-Up

The 2017 New Zealand Junior Festivals kicked off around the country today with each of the four Zones of Swimming New Zealand hosting a meet.

More than 1,200 swimmers aged 12 years and under are competing in the meets being held in Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington and Timaru.

In the Harlequins Zone (Northland, Auckland and Counties Manukau) Howick Pakuranga leads the charge in club points on 1,111 ahead of North Shore on 1,092.5 and Coast Swim Club on 646.

Two swimmers achieved double gold tonight. James Donovan (Coast) won the 12 years 400m freestyle and 100m butterfly while Janaye Burns (Pukekohe) won the 11 years 200m backstroke and 100m butterfly.

Find more from the Harlequins meet here.

Taking the lead in the Aquaknights Zone (Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay Poverty Bay and Taranaki) is St Peter’s Swimming Club on 553 from Swim Rotorua on 430 and Comet Swim Club on 416.

The only New Zealand Age Group record to be broken across all four meets today went to Greerton swimmer Louis Fitzjohn in the boys 12 years 100m butterfly. Louis set the new record in a time of 1:03.50 beating the old record of 1:04.06 held by Hamish McGirr since 2009. HE also won the 50m breastroke.

Find more from the Aquaknights meet here.

In the All Stars Zone (Wellington, Manawatu) leading the way in club points is Capital Swim Club on 1,457 followed by SwimZone Racing on 993 and Pirates Swim Team on 504.

Three swimmers picked up double gold on the first night. Pierce Collins (SwimZone Racing) was first in the 12 years 100m butterfly and the 400m freestyle, Bianca Van Zyl (Raumati) was first in the 11 years 100m butterfly and 200m backstroke and Gabriella Jacobs was first in the 12 years 100m butterfly and 400m freestyle.

Find more from the All Stars meet here.

A close battle is shaping up after the first session in the Makos Zone (South Island) with Jasi Swim Club in first place on 553, Oamaru Swimming Club in second on 527 and Nelson South Swim Club in third on 422.

Twelve-year-old Madison Wills (Kiwi) took home three wins on the first night winning the 400m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 50 breaststroke while Oliver Graves (Aquagym) was the other multi-gold medallist winning the 12 years 400 freestyle and 50m breaststroke.

Find more from the Makos meet here.

The four meets continue until Sunday.

NZ Juniors