In 2024 the annual Hervey Bay meet was again a highlight of Noosa Masters’ competitive calendar. But with an unexpected twist.
For a decade, Noosa has bemused and bewildered the host Hervey Bay club by always winning the champion’s trophy at their meet. In one year, a local wit even compared Noosa’s annual ‘raiders’ with history’s fearsome Vikings.
This year – at the trophy presentation ceremony – the Hervey Bay president’s opening words were ‘Noosa … you have not won the trophy!’ He smiled cheekily, and the Noosa team responded with melodramatic gasps.
Make no mistake. The Noosa team swam very well indeed, but not quite well enough. Had the local club intensified its training? Or had the confident Noosa contingent overindulged at Santini’s famed trattoria the night before the meet?
In the pool, three Noosa swimmers achieved perfect score, Greg Bott, John Simonidis and Clinton Stanley. Each won all five of their individual events. Clinton is Noosa’s veteran multiple world record holder in Down Syndrome competition, and the Hervey Bay meet was his first competitive outing since retirement several years ago. A triumphant return.
Noosa’s 18 other swimmers contributed greatly to an impressive aggregate points total, winning a bunch of age group medals in individual events. And relay victories demonstrated the team’s depth of talent.
The Noosa club always values the Hervey Bay meet as an opportunity for a weekend sampling the culinary delights and beautiful environment of ‘the Bay’. We’ll look forward to the 2025 meet. With perhaps a larger ‘raiding party’!
