Handicap Relay
It was a tight finish to last week’s Handicap Relay with just 0.48 seconds separating the top 3 teams. You would think we were playing for sheep stations the way some of the 8 and 9 year olds wanted to audit the results!
The winners of the Chupa Chups this round were Jude Johnston and Damien Chan. Well done boys!
True or False?
The name of the brand Chupa Chups comes from the Spanish verb chupar, meaning "to suck".
Merrylands SwimFest
There are only 2 weeks left until entries close – have you entered yet?
The Merrylands SwimFest will be held on Saturday 15th February and is not only great competition practice for our swimmers but is the club’s main fundraiser of the year, with proceeds going towards our annual presentation evening.
Needless to say, we need everyone’s support in running the meet, and our swimmers to compete.
Our members get a 25% discount off their entries, with both Full Swimmers and Club Only Swimmers eligible to compete, so make sure you enter today and remember to click the correct button to get your club member rate. Entries close on 1st February, 2025.
See the SwimFest section of our website for all the details.
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!
SwimFest Helpers - Timekeeping
Eyes? Check!
Thumb? Check!
Connection between the two? Check!
Congratulations - you were born to be a Timekeeper – one of the most important and best jobs at the SwimFest and it couldn’t be any easier – push a button when the swimmers hit the wall at the end of the race. No pencil, no clipboard, no splits, no writing times.
When not using these senses, you are treated like royalty with a front-row seat to all the action and food served to you on a platter.
We need 16 timekeepers to run the meet, so please nominate to assist with this role or any other role you are interested in here.
Ian Wilson is the Meet Director for the meet and will be coming to see what you have signed up for.
Speedo Sprint Heats
The Metro South-West Speedo Sprint Heats will be held at SOPAC on Saturday 8th February 2025, commencing at 12.00pm. Entres close 29th January.
Streamline your entry to the pool
Council has implemented a new Visitor Membership System to ensure the safety and wellbeing of members, visitors and staff. All visitors must now show photo ID when visiting a centre.
Streamline your entry to the centre by having a member profile, including a photo, created on council’s point of sale system.
Alternatively, you can scan your photo ID each time upon entry.
Since the system was implemented, the number of scallywags banned from the swim centres is more than double that of last season, creating a safer and more pleasant environment for everyone else.
Club Uniforms
Get your Club Uniforms before the SwimFest via club’s online shop.
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.
Boardshort Relay
Next week’s special event is the Boardshort Relay. Your boardshorts are your entry – just bring yours and we will put you in a team on the morning.
Club Championships
Club Championships are back from next week with the 25m, 50m and 200m Butterfly events.
Have you qualified for the remaining events yet? Make sure you have swum the event at least once to qualify.
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.
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?
All donations assist us in upgrading and maintaining our timing equipment and results systems used at our weekly club races, hosted swimming meets, and local school carnivals.
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


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
|
Area Speedo Sprint Heats
|
Saturday 8th February
|
Wednesday 29th January
|
Merrylands SwimFest
|
Saturday 15th February
|
Saturday 1st February
|
NSW Senior Metropolitan C/Ships
|
Friday 21st February to Sunday 23rd February
|
Tuesday 11th February
|
Blacktown Masters Meet
|
Saturday, 1st March
|
Friday, 21st February
|
NSW Junior State Age Championships
|
Saturday 15th March to Sunday 16th March
|
Tuesday 4th March
|
Set Up & Pack Up on Saturday Mornings
There is a lot to do in set up and pack up on Saturday mornings – thank you to the members who have been arriving early and/or staying back to help. These are some of the things that need to be done, with an emphasis commencing on time:-
Priority Items
- Shelter and side shade for the recorders on the lane 1 start side of the pool – lives in the clubroom near the side door.
- Plastic table and 4 (grey) chairs for the recorders. Table lives in the shed. Grey chairs from the club room.
- Wireless Router to be fitted to the time clock pole at the start end, plugged in and switched on.
- Starter podium and witches’ hats (to remind people not to walk in front of the Starter and Referee) – lives in the shed, front left corner.
- Power cables for computers to be connected to same power point as Router on pole.
- Speaker etc for starting device – lives in plastic box on Starter's podium. Place speaker on lane 8 side securely next to pole of backstroke flags and roll cable along pool deck coping to lane 1 side. Cover exposed cable with cable guards (see below).
- Starting device tripod – lives in the clubroom near the side door (same place as shelter and side shade)
- Starting device – will be on charge in the clubroom on kitchen bench
- Cable guards (6 yellow) for the Recorders & speaker for the Starter – these live in the shed.
Important Items
- Stopwatches and clipboards – black case lives in the locker in the clubroom and needs to be set up on a folding table from the shed. Turn them on.
- 15m (false start) rope (in box with Starter’s podium) and poles (in ‘old club room’). You will need someone to show you how this works and you will be so proud of yourself when you master it!
- 25m rope (for 25m, 33m & 15m races). Lives in the shed in a wire trolley and needs to be rolled out along the end (preferably 50m end) of the pool.
Final items
- Block covers removed and put out of the way under the blue shelter.
- Chairs setup for Timekeepers at both ends of the pool. Chairs live in the shed and there is a trolley to move them.
- Presentation dais (only for Championship days) – lives in the clubroom under the trophy cabinet right side as you enter.
- Umbrellas if it is raining – found in a black plastic drum trolly in the Shed – good luck wheeling this one 😊 Including the beach umbrella for the Starter.
Pack up; return everything to the location it is stored and please be careful in handling cables and ropes so as not to tangle. Sometimes the blocks get a wash if we can find a working hose.
On rainy days, placement of the recording table and all associated equipment including router will be on the veranda of the Clubhouse. No need for shelter and tables.
Remember that timekeeper watches should not be turned on until after the Router is switched on