THE competitive swimming season has started for local Gloucester Thunderbolt swimmers.

To kick off the season the club had four swimmers travel to Darwin to compete at the 2024 Country Championships.

“Sebastian House and Emily Perry from Gloucester Thunderbolts, Kaitlin Perry who competes for Forster Aquatic and also swims at Thunderbolt club nights, and Toby Beker, who is the grandson of Marie Germon, all made the long journey and swam in very hot conditions over the five days,” said club spokesperson Jodie House.

“Being the first carnival of the season the swimmers were just looking to come home with new PBs.

“However they all exceeded our expectations and even came home with some medals.”

Results:

Emily Perry: 7th 50m free – 5.25sec PB, 4th 50m fly – 14.31sec PB, 4th 100m breast – 18.41sec PB, 7th 50m Back – 4.60sec PB m, 8th 50m Breast – 2.09 sec PB , 8th 100m Free – 17.10 sec PB

Sebastian House: 3rd 50m free – 2.55s PB , 1st 100m Back – 10.42s PB, 2nd 50m fly – 1.65s PB , 3rd, 100m breast – 13.26s PB, 2nd 200m free – 17.44s PB , 3rd 50m Back, 2nd 100m fly – 12.51s PB , 5th 50m breast, 3rd 100m free – 6.68s PB

Kaitlin Perry: 9th 200m Individual Medley, 10th 50m Backstroke, 8th 100m Breaststroke, 6th 50m Breaststroke, 5th 50m Butterfly, 10th 100m Backstroke, 17th 100m Freestyle 11th 50m Freestyle
Toby Beker: 2nd 1500m Freestyle, 3rd 4 x 800m Relay, 6th 800m Freestyle, 5th 400m Freestyle

“Overall it was a very successful event for all swimmers in very hot and humid conditions,” Jodie said.

During the long weekend the three Partridge girls – Nikita, Clancie and Saige – headed to Port Macquarie to compete in their annual carnival.

“This was their first event for the season and they came home with new PBs and some medals for their collections,” Jodie said.

Results:

Clancie: 3rd 50m Butterfly, 6th 50m freestyle 5.39sec PB, 3rd 50m Breaststroke 9.27sec PB, 7th 50m Backstroke

Nikita: 50m Butterfly 4.51sec PB, 100m Breaststroke 2.81 sec PB, 50m Breaststroke 1.45sec PB

Saige: 100m Breaststroke 4.08sec PB, 100m Freestyle 3.83sec PB.

“Well done girls,” Jodie said.

“That is an awesome effort after no swimming during winter.”

The Thunderbolts swimmers’ next carnival will be in Newcastle on October 26 at The Forum at Newcastle University.