Issue 18, 2024/2025

It’s SwimFest Saturday!

The wait is over – the Merrylands SwimFest is here!

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered for a role – especially those members who are just coming along to help.

We need assistance setting up for the meet from 11:30am so please come early to help set up.

Details of exactly what needs to be done and when are later in the newsletter, but there is lots of setup work to do. Then it all needs to be packed away again at the end. Please make sure you help.

Warm-up starts at 1:00pm with the meet starting at 2:00pm. All the information you need including the timeline and meet program is here. Swimmers need to be ready for the land warm-up at 12:45pm.

Alison and the Club Captains will be organising the swimmers to ensure they get to their races on time. We have 40 swimmers competing in 157 individual events and 9 relays. Relay teams are listed in the Meet Program and are on the notice board at the pool. If you are listed as swimmer 5 you are a reserve.

Lastly, don’t forget your club uniforms, hats, sunscreen, healthy snacks and drink bottles and good luck to all our swimmers!

Speedo Sprint Series Results

Well done to our team of 11 swimmers at the Speedo Sprint Series last Saturday afternoon. The kids had a great meet with 25 new PBs from 35 races, with nearly every team member swimming multiple PBs.

Well done to Gabriella (4), Damien (3), Marcus (3), Tomas (4), Coralie (3), Anna (1), Jude (2), William (3), Lily (2) on their PBs.

SwimFest Set-Up

It takes a lot of hands to setup for the SwimFest – this is what we need your help to do:

11:30am to 12:30pm

  • Shelters setup (see map)
  • Tables and chairs setup (see map)
  • BBQ set up (see map)
  • Bollards and bunting set up (see map)
  • Flags and Sponsor signs setup (see map)
  • Marshalling Board setup (see map)
  • PA set up and test
  • Computer, WiFi and results screen setup

12:30pm to 1:00pm

  • Pool cleared of public
  • Touchpads put in pool
  • 15m Rope installed
  • Blocks uncovered
  • Lane numbers and warm-up signs
  • Test timing system

1:00pm to 1:45pm

  • Warm-up
  • Print and cut marshalling sheets
  • Relay changes/withdrawals

1:45pm

  • Warm-up ends/clear pool
  • Final test of timing system

1:50pm

  • Marshall first events 
  • Officials briefing 

2:00pm

  • Meet starts 

Swim for your School

Swim for your School is back on 22nd February. Represent your school at our club races and the swimmers from the school that scores the most points on the morning will get a prize.

Invite your friends to participate to boost your school’s points. Just get them to purchase a Come & Try membership so they can enter.

See the website for more details.

What do you need to do to participate?

Enter online here and tell us your school here.

Make sure you tell us your new school if you have changed schools this year.

Upcoming Meet Calendar

Check the website for the full list of upcoming meets, closing dates, programs and qualifying times.

MEET NAME

MEET DATE

ENTRY CLOSING

NSW Senior Metropolitan C/Ships

Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd February

Tuesday 11th February

Blacktown Masters Meet

Saturday, 1st March

Friday, 21st February

NSW Junior State Age Championships

Saturday 15th - Sunday 16th March

Tuesday 4th March

Issue 17, 2024/2025

Freestyle Championships

There were PBs galore in the Freestyle Championships last week with 57 swimmers in attendance for the races.

A big thank you to everyone who helped set-up and pack-up the touchpads for the races. The test event went very well in preparation for next weekend’s SwimFest, so hopefully things run just as smoothly for the big event.

Merrylands SwimFest Jobs

Thank you to everyone that has nominated for a position at the SwimFest next week.

We also need people to assist with set-up and pack-up on the day. Set-up will begin from 11:30am. Please check out the list of what needs to be done later in this newsletter and see our Meet Director, Ian Wilson to find out where he needs you.

Speedo Sprint Series Heats

Good luck to our team of 11 swimmers representing the club at the Speedo Sprint Series Heats at SOPAC this afternoon!

Ocean Swim Results

Well done to our dedicated team of Ocean Swimmers who have had some fantastic results and plenty of fun over the past few weeks.

Ian Wilson finished 5th out of 199 in his age group at the Big Swim on Australia Day, while Alison Johnston finished 2nd in her age group at the Shark Island swim last weekend.

Also last weekend, Ian, Nuishka Shrestha and Amy Shaw swam in the Cole Classic at Manly.

If you are interested in an ocean swim, events are listed at https://oceanswims.com/

Club Uniforms

Get your Club Uniforms before the SwimFest via club’s online shop.

Bring a Friend

Do you have a friend that needs practice for their School Carnival?

Get them to sign up for a Come & Try membership and they can give our club races a go for up to 4 weeks before purchasing a membership!

True or False?

The first man to swim the English Channel used Breaststroke and completed the crossing in 21 hours and 45 minutes.

Seen a Problem? Get it Fixed

If you see something that needs fixing you can elevate this directly with Council by logging the issue here.

Lions Club Award

Seen someone that deserves recognition for their efforts in helping out? Nominate them for the Lions Club Award, our peak award to recognise our volunteers over the season.

A big thank you to our volunteers nominated for their service through January:

Sylvia Chan

Prafulla Shrestha

Chris Liepens

Ian Wilson

Ian Johnston

Varant Jambazian

Tricia Johnston

Peter Johnston

Johnson Chan

Leo Zhu

Nominate a volunteer

P-Plate Award

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for someone making a silly mistake during the season. We like to recognise and reward all efforts during the season and the P-Plate award is the perfect way to do this for something funny that happens at club.

Nominate a silly mistake

Make a Donation

Did you know you can make a tax-deductible donation to the club?

If you would like to make a donation, or know someone who would like to then click on the link below.

Thank you to everyone who has made a donation already.

Make a donation

SwimFest Relay Teams

Our club’s Relay teams for the SwimFest are published on the notice board.

Please check to see if you are in a team.

School Carnivals

School Carnival season is here! Let us know how you go - email publicity@merrylandsasc.asn.au with some details and even a photo. Maybe you will make the newsletter just like these 3 up and coming youngsters: