Nepean Twilight Meet

01 February 2009 Peter-Johnston Latest News
Fifteen swimmers and their supporters travelled to Glenbrook yesterday afternoon for the Nepean Twilight Meet and took home with them 23 medals.

Our club dominated the 15yrs & Over events, winning every gold medal on offer, along with a number of minor medals in the events. In the female events, Brittany Johnson took home gold in the 50m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly and 50m Breaststroke while Amber Johnson won the gold in the 50m Backstroke. In the male events, Steven Nguyen won the gold in the 50m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly, Peter Johnston won the 50m Breaststroke and Mitchell Burt won the 50m Backstroke.

Our other medalists at the meet were Rebecca Tuivawa (3rd - 13yrs 50m Butterfly) and Fady Farid, who won his first ever medals when he finished 3rd in both the 6yrs 25m Freestyle and 25m Backstroke.

A number of swimmers also swam new personal best times with Mitchell Burt, Fady Farid, Philo Farid, Angela Gardner, Amber Johnson, Brittany Johnson, Charlotte Neill, Steven Nguyen, Jessica O'Donnell and Lachlan Stewart all breaking their times in at least one event.

Congratulations to our swimmers on their results. The full results are now available.

Medal Tally
Gold 12
Silver 6
Bronze 5

See Also
  • 2009 Nepean Twilight Meet - Results

    • Gosford Masters Meet

    17 January 2009 Peter-Johnston Latest News
    Four swimmers travelled to Gosford this afternoon for the Central Coast Masters Meet at the Gosford Olympic Pool.

    Jessica O'Donnell, Peter Johnston, Ian Wilson and Darren Sloane all competed at the meet which was the first round of the NSW Branch Pointscore for 2009.

    Jessica finished 1st in all three of her events while Peter finished 1st in the 50m Breaststroke. Swimming in his first meet, Darren's best result was 4th in the 50m Breaststroke and Ian's best result was 3rd in the 50m Backstroke.

    As a club, we finished in 16th place on 94 points. Congratulations to our swimmers on their results, with a number of PBs also swum.

    See Also

    NSW State Age Championships

    31 December 2008 Peter-Johnston Latest News
    Merrylands will be represented by 11 swimmers at the NSW State Age 13-18yrs Championships which start at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Monday, 5th January, 2009.

    Our team will compete in 4 individual events and 1 relay.

    Amber Johnson will be competing in both the 15yrs 100m and 200m Backstroke events. Anthony Ventra will be our second individual competitor at the meet, swimming at the meet for the first time. Anthony will compete in the 15yrs 50m Freestyle and 100m Breaststroke.

    Our club will also have a relay team at the Championships for the first time since 2006, with a team swimming in the 10x50m Freestyle Relay.

    Anthony Ventra
    15yrs 50m Freestyle (Day 2 - Tuesday Heats (Session 3) - 10:11am)
    15yrs 100m Breaststroke (Day 2 - Tuesday Heats (Session 3) - 11:48am)
    Amber Johnson
    15yrs 200m Backstroke (Day 4 - Thursday Heats (Session 7) - 11:18am
    15yrs 100m Backstroke (Day 5 - Friday Heats (Session 9) - 11:16am
    Open Relays
    Open Mens 10x50m Freestyle Relay
        Simon Johnston, Steven Nguyen, David Johnston,
        Dylan Baker, Reece Tulloch, Jonathan Tuivawa,
        Anthony Ventra, Peter Johnston, David Wang, Mitchell Burt    		 (Day 5 - Friday Finals (Session 10)

    Times should be used as a guide only. - Please Note: Parking at Sydney Olympic Park will increase to $10 from January 1st, 2009.

    Congratulations to Amber an Anthony for qualifying and good luck to our swimmers at the meet. You can follow our team's progress over the week at http://www.nswswimming.com.au/.

    See Also
  • 2009 NSW State Age 13-18yrs Championships - Program of Events

  • 2009 NSW State Age 13-18yrs Championships - Qualifying Times

  • State, Metropolitan and Country Championship Procedures

  • Competitor Information

  • Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre Parking Arrangements

    • NSW Metropolitan Championships

    11 December 2008 Peter-Johnston Latest News
    The 2008 NSW Metropolitan Championships will be held at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th December, 2008.

    The club will be represented by our biggest team since 2003 with 6 swimmers at the meet, competing in 13 individual events.

    Our team will be competing in the following events over the two day meet:

    Rebecca Tuivawa
    13yrs 100m Breaststroke (Day 1 - Session 2 - 4:51pm)
    13yrs 100m Butterfly (Day 2 - Session 4 - 6:16pm)
    Anthony Ventra
    15yrs 100m Breaststroke (Day 1 - Session 1 - 9:43am)
    15yrs 100m Freestyle (Day 2 - Session 3 - 1:01pm)
    14-15yrs 200m Breaststroke (Day 2 - Session 4 - 3:33pm)
    David Wang
    15yrs 100m Breaststroke (Day 1 - Session 1 - 9:43am)
    Amber Johnson
    15yrs 100m Backstroke (Day 1 - Session 1 - 10:37am)
    14/15yrs 200m Backstroke (Day 2 - Session 3 - 11:20am)
    Open 50m Backstroke (Day 2 - Session 4 - 3:03pm)
    Brittany Johnson
    16yrs & Over 100m Breaststroke (Day 1 - Session 1 - 10:06am)
    16yrs & Over 100m Freestyle (Day 2 - Session 3 - 1:27pm)
    Peter Johnston
    16yrs & Over 100m Breaststroke (Day 1 - Session 1 - 9:55am)
    Open 50m Breaststroke (Day 1 - Session 1 - 11:05am)

    Times should be used as a guide only.

    Congratulations to the 6 swimmers for qualifying and good luck at the meet.

    You can follow the team's progress over the weekend at http://www.nswswimming.com.au/.

    See Also
  • 2008/09 NSW Metropolitan Championships - Program of Events
  • 2008/09 NSW Metropolitan Championships - Qualifying Times
  • State, Metropolitan and Country Championship Procedures

  • Competitor Information

  • Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre Parking Arrangements

    • Pool Closed

    06 December 2008 Peter-Johnston Latest News
    Club Races and Learn to Swim classes on Saturday, 6th December have been cancelled as Merrylands Swimming Centre is closed due to contamination of the water as a result of vandalism.

    Championships and the round of the Relay Competition will be postponed until a later date.

    It is unclear at this stage how long the centre will be closed for.

    More details will be published as they come to hand.


    Updated 7/12/2008
    It is unclear if Merrylands Pool will be open for training on Monday afternoon.

    If the centre will not open, we have organised for training to be held at Wentworthville Swimming Centre instead (corner of Dunmore Street and Cumberland Highway, Wentworthville).

    Squad Members will be contacted as soon as we hear what is happening with the pool so please check the website (www.merrylandsasc.asn.au) and your email before leaving for training on Monday afternoon so you know where to go.

    If for some reason you are not able to attend training if it is on at Wentworthville instead of Merrylands, please let us know so we have an idea of the number attending.

    If training is on at Wentworthville, pool entry fees remain the same however, please tell them that you are a member of Merrylands Swimming Club when you enter if you are not using a club multiple entry card for pool entry. There will also be no land training on if we are at Wentworthville so training will finish at 6:45pm for the Junior Squad - all other groups will be at the normal times.


    Updated 8/12/2008 - 1:30pm
    Merrylands Pool will not be open for training on Monday afternoon.

    Training will be held at Wentworthville Swimming Centre instead (corner of Dunmore Street and Cumberland Highway, Wentworthville).

    Check back for updates on Tuesday.


    Updated 8/12/2008 - 7:30pm
    It still hasn't been decided when Merrylands Pool will re-open.

    Training will be held at Wentworthville Swimming Centre for the rest of the week unless we hear otherwise.

    Check back for updates regularly.


    Updated 11/12/2008
    Merrylands Pool has re-opened this morning. Training will return to Merrylands this afternoon.

    The final week of Learn to Swim and the Saturday Squad will be re-scheduled for the 20th December.

    The race program for December 6th will now be held on December 20th. All cards for 6th will be carried over to the 20th.

    The Age 400m Freestyle Championship and the program from the 20th December, 2008 will be moved to the 14th February, 2009 and will be held in conjunction with the Whales Challenge on the 14th.

    The program for the 13th December will be unchanged.

    Therefore the revised program will be as follows:

    December 13
    (Unchanged)         		WHALES CHALLENGE
    25, 33, 50, 100, 200 - Back, Fly, Free, 200, Brst, Team Relays, H/Cap
    December 20 100m Freestyle Championship (7yrs - Open), 100 (Veterans) & BREAKFAST
    25, 33, 50, 100, 200, 400, 4x50 Relay - C/Ship, Brst, 400, Back, 200, Fly, Free, Relay, H/Cap
    February 14 400m Freestyle Championship (10yrs - Senior) & WHALES CHALLENGE
    25, 33, 50, 100, 200 - C/Ship, Fly, Brst, Back, 200, Free, Team Relays, H/Cap

    The Golden Boy

    30 November 2008 Peter-Johnston Coaching Articles

    Michael Phelps swam into history at the Beijing Olympics and now the 23-year-old phenomenon tells CNN's Anderson Cooper how his life has since changed.

    What happens after you win an historic eight gold medals in a single Olympic Games? Only one person in the world can answer that question: Michael Phelps.

    Since Beijing, Phelps has enjoyed his longest break from training ever. He's on a victory lap of sorts, touring the country and building the Michael Phelps brand. He let us tag along with him, and gave CNN's Anderson Cooper his most extensive interview since the Olympics.

    He explains how he won in Beijing, how he almost didn't, and what life is now like for an unassuming 23-year-old swimmer who's also the greatest Olympic athlete ever....

    40th Anniversary Pool Party

    04 November 2008 Peter-Johnston Latest News
    The 9th November is the 40th Anniversary of the opening of the Merrylands Swimming Centre.

    This season the Merrylands Amateur Swimming Club also celebrates it’s 40th Anniversary and to celebrate this milestone the club will be holding a pool party on Saturday, 8th November from 7am to approximately 12 noon.

    The cost is $5 per person (excluding pool entry) and includes a showbag, sausage sandwich, and pool activities following the club’s races and learn to swim lessons. All members are encouraged to attend the races and stay around for the activities.

    We will also be having a club photo taken on the day so all members are asked to wear their club shirts for the photo. Any members who don't have a club shirt can purchase one if they wish for $35.

    See Also
  • 40th Anniversary

    • Merrylands A.S.C.'s 40th Anniversary Season is proudly supported by:

    Merrylands Bowling & Sports Club

    Merrylands A.S.C. 40th Anniversary - 1968/1969 to 2008/2009

    2007/2008 Season Review

    30 September 2008 Peter-Johnston Features
    2007/2008 was a historic year for swimming in NSW and for our club with some major changes to District/Area level competition in NSW, excellent representative results for the club and Merrylands Swimming Centre opening for the new season at the unusual time of the end of June.

    The 2007/2008 season again began with some hot October weather and stronger attendance at both the weekly Saturday morning races and weekday training sessions.

    The club's Learn to Swim program continued to increase in popularity and numbers, with 95 children enrolled in the program for the summer.

    In the club competitions, a number of new champions were crowned. Only the Senior Handicap and Relay Competition were defended successfully. Peter Johnston won the Senior Handicap for a record 7th time, while "The Swimmers" won their third straight Relay Competition.

    Anthony Ventra won the Champion of Champions Award for the first time. Anthony set 3 club records and also represented the club at the Cumberland, Metropolitan and State Championships.
    From the ranks of our novice swimmers, Jessica Grubba was presented with the Jack Smart Encouragement Award after steadily improving over the season.

    In the Graded Pointscore, both trophies were presented to first time winners. Timothy Tunks was awarded the Michael Rossek Trophy for the highest placed Junior Boy in the Graded Races Pointscore while Chantel Teakle-Jones received the Ronald Exley Trophy for the highest placed Junior Girl.

    During the season, Swimming NSW continued with their project of District/Area rationalisation. This involved re-organising the 8 Metropolitan Districts into 4 Areas and as part of this, the Cumberland District ceased to exist at the beginning of May. The Metro South West Area was formed in it's place.

    During the season we had swimmers competing at all levels up to and including State Open Championships with our teams consisting of a mixture of new and experienced swimmers. Some swimmers returned to teams after not competing in previous years, some were rookies, qualifying for their first representative team while others added new events to their roster or qualified for new teams.
    Amber Johnson qualified for the State Age Championships for the first time since 2004 while the club was also represented by a relay team at the State Open Short Course Championships for the first time with Steven Nguyen, Anthony Ventra, David Wang and Peter Johnston competing in the 4x100m Freestyle Relay.
    At the Metro South West Short Course Championships, the club had finalists in over 74% of the events we contested with Belinda Sloane and Ethan Burton qualifying for their first Area Championships. The club also won 7 medals with Peter Johnston, David Wang, Brittany Johnson and Rebecca Tuivawa taking home medals. The results made this year's meet the club's best team performance at the championships ever, finishing in 14th place.
    Nine of our swimmer's performances over the summer were recognised with selection in the 2008 Metro South West Area Development Squads.

    2007/2008 was also the first season that we had swimmers competing in Masters Swimming competitions. Two members registered as Masters Competitors with Peter Johnston winning 4 medals at the NSW State Masters Championships.

    Part of the club's winter success can be attributed to the fact that Merrylands Swimming Centre opened at the unusually early date of June 30th, allowing our swimmers to return to training at the centre nearly 3 months earlier than usual. The one off change was due to extended maintenance at both Guildford and Wentworthville swimming centres.

    In the Club Championships, 13 Championship records were broken over the season.

    Todd Jenkin
    Senior Mens 50m Breaststroke (Todd Jenkin, 2005/2006)
    Leanne Grubba
    Senior Womens 50m Freestyle (Merren Lee, 1975/1976)
    Senior Womens 200m Freestyle (Nicole Smith, 1997/1998)
    Senior Womens 50m Breaststroke (Meaghan Legge, 2004/2005)
    Senior Womens 50m Butterfly (Michelle Hayes, 1992/1993)
    Anthony Ventra
    14yrs Boys 50m Freestyle (Robert Griffey, 1998/1999)
    14yrs Boys 50m Breaststroke (Todd Jenkin, 2002/2003)
    14yrs Boys 50m Butterfly (Steven Nguyen, 2004/2005)
    Ethan Burton
    8yrs Boys 50m Backstroke (Darren Turner, 1974/1975)
    Ian Wilson
    Veterans Mens 50m Backstroke (Ian Wilson, 2006/2007)
    Veterans Mens 50m Breaststroke (Stephen McFarlane, 2004/2005)
    Veterans Mens 50m Butterfly (Ronald Griffey, 2001/2002)


    2007/2008 saw the running of our annual swimming meet, the Merrylands SwimFest, at Merrylands for the sixth time. The weather was outstanding with the meet held in excellent conditions and a record 1,580 entries. 21 of our swimmers competed at the meet, winning 11 medals. The Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre Swim Team won the club pointscore.

    Our Winter Competition was held for the fifth time with increased numbers and those attending enjoying some new events. Peter Johnston won the male competition and Belinda Sloane the female competition.

    Four new committee members were appointed at the AGM in May with Janet Sloane (Social Secretary), Peta Tunks, Darren Sloane and Ian Wilson all joining the committee.

    See Also
  • 2007/2008 Rankings

  • 2007/2008 Presentation Evening

  • NSW Metropolitan Championships - Team

  • NSW Metropolitan Championships - Results

  • NSW State Age Championships - Team

  • NSW State Age Championships - Results

  • Cumberland Open & Age Championships - Team

  • Cumberland Open & Age Championships - Results

  • NSW State Masters Championships - Results

  • NSW Metropolitan Short Course Championships - Team

  • NSW Metropolitan Short Course Championships - Results

  • NSW State Age Short Course Championships - Team

  • NSW State Age Short Course Championships - Results

  • NSW State Open Short Course Championships - Team

  • NSW State Open Short Course Championships - Results

  • Metro South West Open & Age Short Course Championships - Team

  • Metro South West Open & Age Short Course Championships - Results

  • Metro South West Development Squads

  • Record Number of Entries for 2008 SwimFest

  • The End of Cumberland

  • Swimming Metro South West

  • Merrylands Pool Re-opens June 30

    • Metro South West Development Squads Announced

    22 September 2008 Peter-Johnston Latest News
    The 2008 Metro South West Development Squads have been announced and congratulations to the following 12 swimmers from our club who have been selected:

    Nnovice Squad
    Philo Farid
    Charlotte Neill
    Jacob Killick
     
    NSW Development Meet Team
    Timothy Tunks
    Logan Woodcock
    Belinda Sloane
    Tanya Cleland
    Dylan Baker
     
    C Squad (Achiever Squad)
    Rebecca Tuivawa
     
    B Squad (Target Squad)
    Amber Johnson
    David Wang
    Anthony Ventra

    Congratulations to all the swimmers, in particular Philo, Charlotte, Jacob, Belinda, Tanya and Logan who have been selected for the first time.

    The NSW Development Meet Team will be competing for Metro South West at the Swimming NSW Development Meet on Sunday, 28th September at Sydney Olympic Park.

    The C-Squad (Achiever Squad) will be attending the Woy Woy Swimming Club Meet on 11th October as a team, travelling to and from the meet by bus.

    The B-Squad (Target Squad) will attend a training session at Granville Swimming Centre on Saturday, 25th October, followed by a trip to the finals of the FINA World Cup at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

    Peter Johnston will also be a coach for the Development Squads, as a coach for both the Development Meet Team and the B-Squad.

    See Also
  • Swimming Metro South West

  • 2007 Squad Members

  • 2006 Squad Members

  • 2005 Squad Members

  • 2004 Squad Members

  • 2003 Squad Members

  • 2002 Squad Members

  • 2001 Squad Members

    • 7 Medals at Metro South West Short Course Championships

    16 September 2008 Peter-Johnston Latest News
    Merrylands' team of 10 swimmers won 7 medals and were finalists in 22 events at the inaugural Metro South West Area Open & Age Short Course Championships on the weekend. The club's results made this year's meet the club's most successful Short Course District/Area Championships ever.

    Besides the medals and finalist ribbons, 21 new personal best times were swum from 42 events with every swimmer in the team swimming at least one new PB at the two day meet.

    David Wang won the club's first medal of the meet when he swam a new personal best time of 1:19.92 on the way to third place in the 15yrs 100m Breaststroke. David took over 1.35 seconds off his old personal best time to win his first medal at the meet since finishing 3rd in the 100m Breaststroke at the 2004 Championships. He went on to win another two bronze medals at the meet after finishing 3rd in the 100m Backstroke in a new PB of 1:13.45 and 3rd in the 100m Freestyle, surpassing his previous best result of two bronze medals at the 2008 Cumberland Open & Age Championships.

    Peter Johnston also won his first medals at the meet since 2004. The meet marked a bit of a return to form for Peter after he had struggled for pace at most of the meets throughout the winter season. However he finished the meet with two silver medals, his best ever championships haul, and 4 new personal best times. Peter's first medal was a bit of a surprise as he finished a close 2nd in the Open 100m Breaststroke in a new personal best time of 1:17.12, breaking his PB by 0.9 seconds and finishing just 0.23 seconds in front of third place. His second medal came in the 17yrs & Over 50m Breaststroke, also in a new personal best time of 33.53, 0.52 seconds inside his previous best.

    Brittany Johnson was our third medallist of the meet, swimming at her first championship meet since 2006. Brittany overcame a shoulder injury to swim a new personal best time of 32.23 on her way to third place in the 17yrs & Over 50m Butterfly. She then backed up to swim a new PB in the Open 100m Individual Medley. Rebecca Tuivawa won our final medal in our last event of the meet, taking home bronze in the Open 100m Butterfly.

    Eight out of ten of our members were a finalist in at least one of their events. Steven Nguyen took over half a second off his PB to finish just outside the medals in 4th place in the 17yrs & Over 50m Butterfly. Ethan Burton's best result was also 4th place in the 9yrs & Under 50m Backstroke.

    Amber Johnson's best result came in the 15yrs 100m Backstroke where she finished in 7th while Timothy Tunks took home his first ever finalist ribbons, his best result being 5th in the 9yrs & 50m Freestyle in a new PB.

    Swimming in her first Championship Meet, Belinda Sloane swam new personal best times in all three of her events while Simon Johnston swam a new PB in the lead off leg of the 10x50m Freestyle Non-Championship Relay.

    Finalist Summary:

    Timothy Tunks
    9yrs & Under 50m Freestyle (5th)
    9yrs & Under 100m Individual Medley (10th)
    Ethan Burton
    9yrs & Under 50m Backstroke (4th)
    9yrs & Under 50m Breaststroke (5th)
    9yrs & Under 50m Butterfly (10th)
    9yrs & Under 100m Individual Medley (7th)
    Rebecca Tuivawa
    13yrs 100m Backstroke (9th)
    13yrs 100m Breaststroke (7th)
    13yrs 100m Butterfly (7th)
    13yrs 200m Individual Medley (8th)
    Open 100m Breaststroke (7th)
    Open 100m Butterfly (3rd)
    David Wang
    15yrs 100m Freestyle (3rd)
    15yrs 100m Backstroke (3rd)
    15yrs 100m Breaststroke (3rd)
    15yrs 200m Individual Medley (4th)
    Open 100m Breaststroke (6th)
    Open 100m Individual Medley (6th)
    Amber Johnson
    15yrs 100m Backstroke (7th)
    Steven Nguyen
    17yrs & Over 50m Butterfly (4th)
    Brittany Johnson
    17yrs & Over 50m Butterfly (3rd)
    Open 100m Individual Medley (6th)
    Peter Johnston
    17yrs & Over 50m Freestyle (5th)
    17yrs & Over 50m Backstroke (6th)
    17yrs & Over 50m Breaststroke (2nd)
    17yrs & Over 50m Butterfly (5th)
    Open 100m Freestyle (4th)
    Open 100m Breaststroke (2nd)
    Open 200m Breaststroke (6th)

    The swimmers who swam PBs were:

    Timothy Tunks
    50m Freestyle
    Ethan Burton
    50m Backstroke
    50m Breaststroke
    100m Freestyle
    Belinda Sloane
    100m Freestyle
    100m Backstroke
    100m Breaststroke
    50m Freestyle (Relay Leg) (Unofficial)
    Rebecca Tuivawa
    200m Individual Medley
    David Wang
    100m Backstroke
    100m Breaststroke
    100m Individual Medley
    200m Individual Medley
    50m Freestyle (Relay Leg) (Unofficial)
    Amber Johnson
    100m Individual Medley
    Steven Nguyen
    50m Butterfly
    50m Freestyle (Relay Leg) (Unofficial)
    Brittany Johnson
    50m Butterfly
    Open 100m Individual Medley
    50m Freestyle (Relay Leg) (Unofficial)
    Simon Johnston
    50m Freestyle (Relay Leg)
    Peter Johnston
    50m Freestyle
    50m Backstroke
    50m Breaststroke
    Open 100m Breaststroke
    50m Freestyle (Relay Leg) (Unofficial)

    Congratulations to all 10 swimmers on their performances. Overall our club finished in 14th position on 543 points, more than double last year's total of 223. Our male team performed exceptionally well, finishing inside the top ten in 8th place, with our female team finishing in 18th.
    The full results with splits are now available here.

    Medal Tally

    Gold 0
    Silver 2
    Bronze 5

    See Also
  • 2008 Metro South West Area Open & Age Short Course Championships - Team

  • 2008 Metro South West Area Open & Age Short Course Championships - Results


    • 2008 Metro South West Short Course Championships Team