Author: Meet Manager

It was yet another beautiful day at Drummoyne Pool — a scorcher with a couple of cheeky showers that only made the swim caps glisten.

What a morning — lots of PBs, a new club record, a few theatrical DNS/DQs (thanks timing gremlins), and the usual delicious mix of kids, grandparents, bankers-turned-sprinters and people who still think a tumble turn is optional.

Headlines

• Club record alert: Emilie Krog smashed the Open Women’s 200m freestyle club record with 2:23.53 — knocking Annette Jamieson’s old mark (2:24.89 from 2018) off the podium. Big, big swim. Proudly toasted with sunscreen and applause.
• Tom Williams 50m Freestyle (Handicap) finals: Conor McLean took out the Men’s final and Charlotte Baidjurak won the Women’s final — lovely, clean finishes and well-deserved bragging rights for the week.
• Fred Congdon 50m Butterfly: Heats were swum today; the winners have qualified for the handicapped final on 7 March. Mark your calendars — that final looks tasty.
• Raffle winner: Patricia Douglas walked off with a DASC cap signed by Ian Thorpe — a cooler keepsake than any of our mid-race excuses.

Personal goals & big performances

There were some real goal-crushers today:

• Thomas Pacey — that 30-second barrier in the 50m was being stalked… and tonight it’s history. Thomas posted a finish of 29.14 in the Tom Williams men’s final. Committee member by day, 29-second menace by Saturday — congrats mate, the boardroom looks faster already.
• Edward Pacey — the meet notes happily report Edward took 23 seconds off his butterfly time. That’s not an improvement, that’s a metamorphosis. He won his Fred Congdon heat too, so expect him to be dangerous in the final on 7 March.
• Arthur Pacey — Under‑6 Boys Championship winner again. The little Pacey conveyor belt of winners rolls on.
• Skye Lewis, Luke Sellars, Christian Taylor — keep doing whatever you’re doing. Christian took the Open Men’s 200m and continues to pile up championship points (and trophies may soon need their own storage unit).

Club Championship battles — the standing feasts

Championships keep giving us proper rivalries and dominations:

• Open Women: Emilie’s record swim vaults her to the top of the Open Women’s championship tally (she’s got a perfect run of wins this season — 24 points and counting).
• Open Men & Seniors: Christian Taylor is on a roll in the Championships — winning the Open Men’s 200m and stacking up the points. William Taylor is nipping at the heels with solid swims, while seasoned campaigners Shay, Thomas and Paul are keeping the top eight lively.
• Junior classes: Arthur (U6), Max (U8 boys) and Christina (U8 girls) continue to collect Championship points week after week. Skye (U14 girls) and Luke (U16 boys) look untouchable so far — consistent winners, consistent grin-inducing dominance.

Handicap point‑score storylines — close finishes and long chases

Handicaps keep the chaos friendly and the scoreboard spicy. A few standouts and tight chases:

• Seniors Men Point Score: It’s a proper two‑horse trot — Ian Allan leads on 92 and Thomas Pacey is breathing down his neck on 88. That four‑point gap could vanish before you’ve packed away the lane ropes; expect fireworks (and polite threats) over the next few meets.
• Under‑6s: Arthur Pacey is way out front in the Under‑6 point score — a gargantuan lead and plenty of trophies to show for it. Tiny but unstoppable.
• Under‑8s: Ellis Buchanan (74) and Max Thompson (69) are locked in a great duel — only five points between them. A single upset heat win could flip the leaderboard.
• Under‑10 girls: Jessica Pacey tops the girls’ point score on 104 — solid, relentless and full of cheeky determination. Watch the Pacey clan; they travel in winner-shaped packs.
• Perpetual trophies: Winners of today’s Fred Congdon heats (including Edward and Archie among others) will race in the final on 7 March — plenty of opportunity for handicap tactical brilliance (and revenge starts).

Family affairs, school ties & club legends

DASC is family central — sibling and parent-child combos were out in force:

• The Pacey household had a cracking morning: Thomas (committee stalwart) smashed his 50m goal, Edward took a massive chunk off his butterfly time and Arthur picked up another Championship win. Family breakfast was possibly louder than normal afterwards.
• The Taylor brothers — Christian’s back from overseas smashing 200s, William putting in strong efforts too. Expect late-night sibling bragging over protein shakes.
• School‑linked crews kept the lane ropes colourful — Russell Lea, Rosebank, St Mark’s and the local primaries all represented. Plenty of school pride here, albeit with club caps not school colours (important distinction, folks).
• Club veterans and life members were present as ever — Phil, Duncan and Gerry conduct the usual grumpy‑with-affection rivalry. Gerry celebrated his birthday today (happy birthday, Gerry!) and tried for that PB on his birthday — we salute the optimism and the cake later.
• Little Georgina Aitken turned seven today — she wanted to celebrate her 7th birthday and did so in style in the pool. Happy birthday, Georgina!

Incidents & anecdotes

• Between races William Taylor got pushed in the pool by Thomas Pearson. The referee noted it with a smile; revenge has been promised. Poolside popcorn at the ready.
• Timing gremlins and a few DNS/VOID marks meant some finish times were recorded as VOID — the referee’s placings sorted positions as usual. Thanks to the timing crew and our resident gear-whisperer David Parker for keeping the system upright more often than not.

Looking ahead — what to watch

• Fred Congdon 50m Butterfly final on 7 March — today’s heat winners will duel for the perpetual trophy. Expect tight handicaps and theatrical finishes.
• There are still several championship events and pointscore rounds before the season’s big wrap (800m championships and Relay Fun Day on the final day). Plenty of points still available — anyone within a few dozen points should stay hungry.
• If you’re chasing a point‑score or trophy, don’t skip the next couple of meets — a couple of 4‑point wins and you’re suddenly in the conversation (or on the podium).

Thanks & final notes

Huge thanks to the race officials, the timing team, parents who lap the pool of chaos to keep kids fed and dry, and everyone who brings their sense of humour. The club cap raffle was a hit, the record-breaking swim gave us goosebumps, and the rest of us will be back next Saturday either chasing those split seconds or plotting gentle revenge (or both).

See you next week — bring goggles, sunscreen, and at least one mischievous tactic for the handicaps.

— Your race secretary (and proud chronicler of every tumble turn, birthday and eyebrow‑raising finish)

It was yet another beautiful day at Drummoyne Pool — a shower or two just added a bit of atmosphere and didn’t dampen anybody’s grin.What a meet! Records fell, donuts were devoured, siblings hugged (and lifted), and our usual mix of tiny torpedoes, hard‑charging parents, club veterans and weekend warriors gave the pool a good workout. Quick roundup before I start sounding like your enthusiastic (and slightly biased) announcer:

Big moments & records

• Christian Taylor went absolutely turbo in the Open 100m freestyle and smashed the men’s record — 58.15 (previously 59.00). Nice bit of showing off, son. Emilie Krog answered back in the Open Women’s 100m free with a stonking 1:05.38 to take the women’s record too. The pool got noisy.
• Alena Finn lowered the Under‑12 girls 100m freestyle mark to 1:14.78 — nice work Alena, record books now officially terrified of you.
• The Tom Brown 50m Backstroke final had a sweet ending: Ian Allan grabbed first place and the “sweet treat” — Krispy Kreme donuts. Congratulations Ian — fastest in the water, fastest at the sugar table.

Championship highlights

• Under‑6: Arthur Pacey continues his reign in the little legends category — three wins so far and top of the age group ladder.
• Under‑8 girls: Christina Tripolitsiotis won the 50m freestyle final and is stacking up championship points — Georgina Aitken is still breathing down her neck in the season tally.
• Under‑12 girls: Alena Finn took top honours (and a new record) in the 100m — excellent PB work and a confidence boost to carry on.
• Under‑16 boys: Luke Sellars remains the man to beat — clinic performance and a perfect streak in his age championship so far.
• Open events: Christian (men) and Emilie (women) currently sit on top of the Open Championship points after this excellent weekend for both.

Handicap point‑score drama — battles worth a beer (or a choccy donut)

The handicap series continues to give us top racing and tight leaderboards. A few cliff‑hangers and rivalries to watch:

• Seniors — Men: Ian Allan holds a narrow lead on the Seniors point‑score with 86 points, with Thomas Pacey right behind on 83. That three‑point gap means Thomas can absolutely nick the lead with a strong couple of finishes over the next few Saturdays — expect tactical swims and possibly some cheeky starts from our faster lads.
• Seniors — Women: Renee Carroll (87) and Margaret Joy (78) are trotting well; Emilie Krog and Suzie Aitken are also lurking and suddenly the senior women’s leaderboard looks spicy for the run home.
• Under‑10 girls: Jessica Pacey is running hot on 102 points — proper form. Hannah Aitken is chasing but Jessica has built a comfy buffer; still, a few four‑point nights could flip it if Jessica has an off week.
• Under‑8 girls: Georgina Aitken is leading the charge on 97, with Christina on 56 — Georgie has been incredibly consistent, but Christina’s recent championship win shows she’s capable of big scores.
• Under‑8 boys: Ellis Buchanan (69) vs Max Thompson (67) — two points apart. That’s the kind of rivalry that requires noses on the wall and good mum/dad coaching from poolside.
• Under‑14 boys: Alex Sellars is out front (93) with Lincoln van Loo chasing (72). Alex has momentum — but Lincoln’s not throwing in the towel yet.

Perpetual trophies & finals on the horizon

• Tom Brown 50m Backstroke final ran today — Ian Allan scored the donuts and the win. Congratulations again to Ian and to all the finalists who produced neat, tactical swimming in that handicap final.
• Keep your eye on next Saturday (21 Feb): Tom Williams 50m Freestyle finals (men’s & women’s) are on the programme and the open 200m Championship is up as well — plenty of points and bragging rights available. A reminder to the qualifiers to bring your A‑game (and a towel).
• There are only a handful of meets left this season (including the big 800m championships and Relay Fun Day), so anyone chasing series trophies — club champs or handicap point‑score — should treat each remaining Saturday like finals week. A couple of 4‑point nights and leaderboards can flip faster than someone diving for the last donut.

Feathering the nest — family, new faces & club legends

• Family business on display as always — Pacey clan had a cracker day (Thomas mixing committee business with racing, and the Pacey family won the raffle donuts — double celebration!).
• The Taylor brothers had a moment: sibling lifting, cheering and all the wholesome showboating. Christian’s record felt like a family victory and William was right there sharing the grin — family pride at its finest.
• Shout out to our club stalwarts: Phil, Gerry and David Parker keep the meet running like a Swiss watch (an Australian Swiss watch — reliable and with good banter). Newer members — welcome aboard; the veterans will happily confuse you with lane handicaps and hand you a towel when you need one.

PBs, personal goals & little wins

• Alena’s record‑breaking swim is a massive tick next to any personal goal — even if the goal was “.” (we know that dot means business).
• William Taylor is still chasing that sub‑1:00 in the 100m freestyle. Christian’s record might make the family fridge a little crowded with medals, but William’s not far off — keep plugging away, Will.
• Thomas Pacey’s simple goal was to “have fun” — and between committee duties, racing and family raffle celebrations, mission accomplished. That’s what DASC Saturday mornings are all about.

Odds, ends & poolside goss

• Krispy Kreme = instant moral victory. Ian Allan’s backstroke win came with pastry spoils and the Pacey family walked away with the raffle’s sugary glory. Sponsors: we accept chocolate and coffee.
• It was Valentine’s Day, so there was extra love in the air — swimmers, supporters and a fair share of high‑fives. No heartbreaks, only PBs and donuts today.
• Timing quirks and a couple of DNS/DQ entries affected a few finishes (you’ll see VOID/NTs in the detailed results). Referees used placings to award points where times weren’t captured — thanks to the officials for keeping it fair and fun.

Final word: brilliant racing, great sportsmanship, and enough stories to fill a barbecue chat for weeks. If you’re chasing a late‑season surge in the handicap series, now’s the time — sprint finishes and medley madness coming up. See you poolside next Saturday — same chaos, more sunscreen, and maybe bring an extra box of donuts for the next trophy winner.

— Your race secretary (a proud combination of cheerleader and retired stopwatch whisperer)

It was yet another beautiful day at Drummoyne Pool — a shower or two tried to crash the party but the sun and swimmers politely told it to sod off, so it was lovely for a swim.

Headline hits & records

Big congratulations to Emilie Krog — she didn’t just win the Open Women’s 400m, she rewrote the record books with a ripper 5:05.37 (taking down Devon Boyle’s long-standing 5:06.72). Absolute ripper of a swim — watch out, the rest of the field will be practising their breathing this week. And special mention to Lincoln van Loo who came within a whisker of the Under‑14 400m Club Record — 5:18.18, only 0.15s shy. Heartbreaker, mate, but that’s the sort of margin that makes the next meet deliciously tense.

Trophies, finals and other bragging rights

Ellis Buchanan nabbed the Bill Gallie 50m Breaststroke Final — first championship final and he took it in style. If that wasn’t a proud-parent-and-grandparent moment, we don’t know what is.
We also ran heats for the Tom Williams 50m Freestyle (men’s and women’s) — plenty of fast lane drama and some names to watch for the finals on 21 Feb. Duncan Lyon is still eyeing qualification (and a cheeky win over Gerry Tibbertsma); he had a swim in the heats but the dogfight for final berths is wide open. Plenty of sprinters left to sharpen up over the next two weeks.

Club Championship — the long straight stories

Luke Sellars remains unstoppable in the Under‑16 Championships — sweet as, he’s taken the 400m at every meeting so far and sits on the full house of points. That one is looking like Luke’s to lose unless someone brings fireworks next month.
In the Open Men’s 400m, Christian Taylor showed he’s back and dangerous with a cracking 5:05.84 to win — a nice narrative with Emilie’s performance on the same day (two ex‑uni pals making the pool proud). Lincoln backed up his near‑record U14 swim with a nearly identical time in the men’s open — the kid’s got stamina and heart.

Handicap Point Score — who’s clawing, who’s smiling

The handicap point score is serving up proper nail‑biters across the grades:

• Seniors — Ian Allan leads the pack by a whisker (81) with Thomas Pacey breathing down his neck (78). That one’s tight — a couple of good swims over the next few meets and the ladder could flip. Classic slow‑age‑vs‑youth banter included.
• Seniors (women) — Renee Carroll (79) and Margaret Joy (76) are duking it out for top spot; Suzie Aitken and Belle Paton aren’t far behind and will be keen to capitalise on any slip‑ups.
• Under‑16 boys — Luke Sellars is the man to beat in both championship and handicap tallies; he’s racking up consistent results and buckets of points.
• Under‑14 boys — Alex Sellars is leading the handicap table (91) with Lincoln (70) in pursuit — Alex has been piling on the points all season.
• Under‑8 & Under‑10 grades are jam‑packed with energy: Ellis Buchanan and Max Thompson remain a delightfully close pairing in the Under‑8 boys table, and Jessica Pacey continues to pile up points in Under‑10 girls (97) — the Pacey clan are everywhere this morning!

Plenty of points remain on offer before season’s end, so expect shenanigans, tactical swims and the odd last‑lap surge from people who’ve been quietly training between coffees.

Local rivalries & family stories

As ever, Drummoyne served up the family content: the Pacey family (Thomas, Edward, Jessica, Arthur) were in full effect — Arthur and Edward still manning top spots in the Under‑6/Under‑10 pointscore lists; Thomas is still chasing that 50m PB but keeps turning up with committee duties and big‑heart swims. The Taylor brothers (Christian and William) gave us plenty to clap about — Christian’s return from the US scholarship scene looked very much like he’d slipped straight back into racing jeans. The Allans — Elizabeth, Charlotte and dad Ian — keep stacking both championship points and the warm fuzzies.

Social stuff, mischief and general chaos

There was a big game of tag among the younger mob that produced high‑pitched squealing and several ear‑coverings from those of us approaching pensionable age. Phil Hayward (veteran referee and life member) slept in this week — classic — so Paul Martin kindly stepped up as ref. Big thanks to Paul for saving the day; Phil insists he was “resting his lungs” for next time.

Notable swims, PBs and “near‑miss” moments

– Emilie’s Open Women’s 400m record is the standout of the morning — stellar swim and a benchmark for others to chase.
– Lincoln’s 5:18.18 in the Under‑14 400m: agonisingly close to the record, but these margins make future meets great fun.
– Ellis Buchanan winning the Bill Gallie final — first championship final win, lovely to see youth stepping up.
– A few DNS/DQ/timekeeping quirks crept in (there were a couple of “0.00” or DNS placings recorded and some DQs for technicals) — referee decisions sorted placings where the timing was patchy.

Eyes on the calendar — what’s next

Mark your calendars for the Tom Williams 50m finals on 21 Feb — plenty of sprinters from today have a shot and Duncan’s still gunning for a final spot (and that cheeky Gerry beat). Club Championship events and the remaining handicap rounds mean there are still valuable points up for grabs before the season finishes — nobody’s safe from being leap‑frogged yet.

Final thoughts & cheers

Top effort from everyone — new joiners, club veterans, kids with their first nervous dives and grandparents who still do laps like it’s a daily ritual. The pool had stories, squeals, shattered records and near misses — the usual Drummoyne magic. Bring sunscreen next week (UV’s been extreme lately) and maybe a towel big enough to hide a humble humble‑brag.

See you all Saturday — bring your fastest arms, loudest cheers and someone to make sure Phil gets to the pool on time.

It was yet another beautiful day at Drummoyne Pool, and the shower or two just kept the place refreshingly cool.

Great turnout, great chaos, and plenty of personal victories to celebrate. Big cheers to Christian Taylor and Emilie Krog — those two absolutely flew in the 100m Butterfly championships and hauled in new club records for the Senior and Open events. Proper stellar swims, and a reminder to the rest of us that sometimes you just turn up and surprise everyone (mostly yourself).

Personal goals and brave little missions:

• Thomas Pacey — Goal: “finish the 100m Fly and not vomit at the end.” Mission mostly accomplished: Tom grabbed 3rd in the Senior men’s 100m fly (1:26.43). If he didn’t retch, we salute him. Also worth a tip of the goggles for finishing in the Open final (DNS noted later) — tough day for some after their age races.
• Jasper Melville — recent birthday shout-out (30 Jan) and a lovely first-day time-trial splash. Happy belated, Jasper — cake in the clubhouse if you can swim to it.
• Arthur, Jessica and Edward Pacey — the Pacey clan kept the family rep alive: Arthur had his first 50/30/20m outings, Jessica chased PBs, and Edward’s diving and finish work are looking sharp.
• Newbies and littlies: big warm welcome to Alessia Ippolito, Atlas Carroll, Charlotte Baidjurak, Jasper Melville and the other first-timers who got wet today — great to have you aboard.
• David Parker — back from his Japanese ski trip and back on pool deck duties sorting timing gear. Gold star for travelling and fixing stuff.

Club Championship notes & rivalries (the good kind):

• Open/Senior 100m Butterfly — Christian Taylor ran away with the Open Men’s and also holds the Senior Men title for the meet (and a club record in the Open). Emilie Krog did the same on the women’s side — Open and Senior Women’s champ, and a club record to boot. Both are ones to beat for the rest of the season.
• Under‑16 & Under‑14 dominance — Luke Sellars is stacking wins in the Under‑16s (another 1st in the U16 boys 100m fly), and Skye Lewis keeps piling up maximum points in the Under‑14 girls (four wins now in this championship series — she’s on a heater).
• Under‑14 boys — Jude Wilson and Tony Van Schaik are neck-and-neck in the Club Championship standings (each with strong points showing); Jude took the meet win in the age race and Tony’s consistency keeps him right up there. Expect a proper duel over the next few weeks.
• Some swimmers “pulled the pin” from Open finals after exhausting aged-based swims — nothing to be ashamed of, just means someone raced hard earlier. Rest up and come back for the next round.

Handicap point‑score battles — who’s nipping at who’s heels:

• Seniors men: Ian Allan (75) and Thomas Pacey (73) — a two‑point scrap. One good handicap heat and that leaderboard could flip. Keep an eye on those starts and turns.
• Under‑8 boys: Ellis Buchanan (62) vs Max Thompson (61) — literally a one‑point margin. Expect tactical swims and big cheer squads next meet.
• Under‑10 girls: Jessica Pacey leading the pack strongly on 94 points — Hannah Aitken (54) and others chasing. Jessica’s consistency is paying off.
• Seniors women: Renee Carroll (77) with Margaret Joy (72) and Suzie Aitken (66) breathing down her neck. With plenty of meets left, the top three will keep swapping haymakers.
• Under‑14 males: Alex Sellars (88) has built a decent gap but Lincoln van Loo (68) and Arden Hartley (56) are putting in solid runs — there’s time for surprises.

Event quirky bits (because we love our little dramas):

• Timing gremlins and DNS/VOIDs: a handful of open final entries were marked DNS or VOID — referee placings sorted where necessary. Thanks to the marshals (David Parker back in action) for keeping it honest when the electronics sulked.
• Disqualifications on a few starts (ASST or wrong handicap offsets) — reminder: listen for your start call, or Gerry will give you the Old Dutch look from the blocks.
• Race officials update: Phil Hayward and Matt O’Connor were out today — Phil still plotting revenge on his rivals from the sideline, and Matt’s mathematical voice will be back soon. Good to have David filling the timing shoes today.

Family & school shoutouts:

• Taylors doing the family thing — Christian’s back from the US and reminded us all how tidy a fly can be; William and Lukas kept the sibling rivalry interesting without actual fisticuffs.
• The Allans — Elizabeth, Charlotte and dad Ian — showing why club swimming is a family sport. Elizabeth’s title swims keep Team Allan well in the mix.
• Pacey family turnout is a joy: grandparents, parents and kids all cheering each other on — exactly what DASC is about.

What this means for the season & upcoming battles:

• With Christian and Emilie setting records in the 100m fly, they’ll be tough to unseat in the Championship standings — but records are there to be chased, so get training.
• The handicap point score races remain tight in lots of age groups. Ian vs Thomas, Ellis vs Max, and the senior women’s podium are all match-ups to watch — only small margins separate the front-runners.
• Next meet (7 Feb) brings finals for Bill Gallie 50m Breaststroke and the Championship 400m Freestyle — perfect chance for distance swimmers to scoop points and for sprinters to rest up. Those who like long pulls, bank your hard sessions now.

Final bits of banter (and encouragement):

• Well done to everyone who swam — PBs, finishes, kids’ first races, comebacks and even the folks who marshalled us through timing hiccups. Club life is louder, goofier and better for it.
• If you pulled the pin today, no drama — come down next Saturday and redeem it. If you smashed a personal goal, own it, brag a little, then sign up for next week’s mischief.
• See you all next Saturday — bring towels, smiles, and maybe sunscreen (UV warning is high, so slap it on when the sun decides to be dramatic again).

It was yet another beautiful day at Drummoyne Pool — mostly sunny, hot and perfect for a splash.Officials back on deck after hols (cheers and suspicious tan lines) — everyone except David Parker, who’s apparently skiing in Japan and sending postcards of snow to make us feel guilty. Duncan Lyon played timing-whisperer and wrestled a few dodgy timers into submission, so apologies for any VOID/DNS chaos in the results — the pool ran like a proper community racket today.

Headline grabs

• Emilie Krog was the headline act — she smashed the 50m Backstroke Championships (Senior & Open) and officially broke the Club record in Women’s Senior/Open backstroke. She also ripped through a jaw-dropping 4x100m medley time trial in 5:58.14 — unofficially faster than the old Club mark (but alas, time trials don’t count for records). Absolute rocket.
• Christian Taylor was conspicuously absent from his pet event (we miss the 23s heroics) — hope uni-into-work-life is treating him well.
• Arthur Pacey continued his run of form, taking out the Under‑6 boys 20m backstroke in a tidy PB — dad Thomas must be proud (and mildly terrified of being pushed in by Arthur one day).

Club Championship — backstroke day (24 Jan 26)

The pool was a bakery of backstrokers — lots of golden loaves.

• Open Men — Jude Wilson strode to the top with 33.84, Wil Hurst pushed him hard (35.99) and Thomas Pacey rounded out the top three. The open mens’ leaderboard is getting interesting — plenty of points still available in coming championship races.
• Open Women — Emilie Krog’s win (and record) stole the show. Hannah Hurst and Alena Finn battled for silver and bronze, with Alena sneaking into the overall Club Championship points table again.
• Junior winners — Arthur Pacey (U6 boys), Anna Rapisarda (U6 girls), Max Thompson (U8 boys), Christina Tripolitsiotis (U8 girls), Alessandro Rapisarda (U9 boys), Lara Hartley (U9 girls), Harry Finn (U10 boys), Hannah Aitken (U10 girls), and Skye Lewis, Luke Sellars and Elizabeth Allan all took age‑group honours. Lots of consistent 1‑pointers stacking up for the season trophies.

Handicap point score — the real soap opera

Handicap racing delivered the usual thrills: slow-starters beasting the clock, fasties trying not to swallow water while chasing the field. Here are the spicy bits:

• Seniors Men: Ian Allan (69) leads Thomas Pacey (66) by a whisker, with Duncan Lyon on 60. That trio is the hottest rivalry on the deck — expect tactical lane‑shuffling, friendly trash talk and attempts to steal each other’s handicaps over the next eight meets.
• Seniors Women: Renee Carroll (72) and Margaret Joy (68) are neck-and-neck, with Suzie Aitken (62) breathing down their lanes. Plenty of points left this season — anyone can still steal the crown with a few great handicap swims.
• Under‑10 Girls: Jessica Pacey continues to terrorise the field with a huge lead on 89 points — anyone wanting to catch her needs a miracle and faster goggles.
• Under‑10 Boys: Edward Pacey is leading the pack (81), with Harry Finn chasing (56) — sibling and family feuds tastefully becoming legend at afternoon barbies already.
• Under‑8 Boys: Ellis Buchanan (60) holds a slim edge over Max Thompson (56) — that one’s a two‑horse race, and Max’s consistency means he’s not giving up a centimetre.
• Under‑14 Boys: Alex Sellars is high on 86 and looking solid — Lincoln van Loo (62) and Arden Hartley (56) will need to string together some big scoring weeks to close that gap.
• Under‑12 Girls: Neave Murdoch (77) and Alena Finn (60) are the pair to watch; this one could swing back and forth in the next couple of months.

Bottom line: lots of close tussles remain. With the season running through to 21 March (the big 800m Championship + Relay Fun Day), there’s plenty of handicapped glory and points left to wrestle for — any of those leaders can be upset on a good day or if someone new turns up with turbo flippers.

Notable swims & personal bests

• Arthur Pacey — PB in 20m back and continues to pile up Club Championship points. The Pacey dynasty gathers more hardware (and pool noodles).
• Anna Rapisarda — massive improvement in her 20m back (37.83 vs recent best 42.35). Big grin deserved, and an ice‑cream voucher from Mum pending.
• Edward Pacey — strong 50m free (45.93) well inside his recent best — showing that family genes + determination = results.
• Emilie Krog — as mentioned: Club record in 50m back at Championships and the eye‑watering 4x100m medley time trial (5:58.14). We bow, we chuckle, we demand photos.

Handicap oddities & timing gremlins

We had a handful of VOIDs and DNS marks (timekeeper gremlins and an absent lane or two). When the stopwatch spat out nonsense, the referee’s placings were used for points — extra thanks to Duncan for wrangling the chaos while David Parker mailed snow snaps from Japan.

Relays & the mad 4x100m medley

The hardy (or foolish) tackled the 4x100m Medley handicap — Emilie’s time trial stole the headlines and showed us what she’s capable of. Several heats had VOID entries due to timing snafus, but the spirit was top shelf. Reminder: the Geribo Cup and Family relays are coming at season’s end — start lining up choccy‑cup teams and family alliances now.

Upcoming — and who to watch

• Next big local ocean test is the Manly Cole Classic on 1 Feb — Duncan Lyon, Adrian Bell, Renee Carroll and a few alumni (Natalie Borozan, Melissa Kerr) are eyeing the harbour for post‑pool glory. Play nice with the surf and don’t feed the sharks (or the timing system).
• Championships and finals coming in the next few weeks: 400/200 freestyle championships, and various handicap trophy finals across the programme. Qualifiers from heats are already lined up — those recent heat winners should keep sharpening their turns.
• With two months left until the 21 March season finale (800m champs + relay fun day), the point‑score battles in most age groups are far from over. If you want a shot at season trophies, turn up, swim smart, and don’t forget to smile for the scorer.

New joiners, veterans & club life

• Welcome to the new junior volunteers and swimmers — great to see fresh faces and future captains learning the ropes. Keep showing up and you’ll be bossing the warm‑ups in no time.
• Veterans and life‑members (Gerry, Phil, David & co) were on deck, starting and refereeing with the perfect combination of sternness and dad jokes. Thanks for keeping the club running like a slightly chaotic but beloved machine.
• Thomas Pacey (committee, ex‑point‑score winner) is chasing that elusive sub‑29s 50m free — get your bets in. He’s been getting closer, and Arthur keeps promising to push Dad in unless he improves.

Final kudos

Big congrats to everyone who raced — from tiny tots learning backstroke to club stalwarts keeping the timing boards honest. Records fall, PBs happen, and the handicap system kept things deliciously unpredictable. See you next Saturday — bring sunscreen (UV’s extreme), good humour and maybe a spare timer or two.