By Brian Hoepper
With three days of intense competition ahead, Noosa Masters swimmers approached their State Championships with a heady mix of excitement, celebration and anxiety. Excited to be celebrating a return to competitive swimming after COVID ravaged the 2020 swim calendar; apprehensive about the long haul back to race fitness in the past months.
For most, the anxiety evaporated with the first race, as they realized that their speed and fitness had both returned to surprising levels. Indeed, the three days were punctuated by numerous personal bests (the elusive PBs) by young and old alike. Every heat was contested with the ‘fun, fitness and friendship’ that is the masters’ motto – one which attracts so many to the sport.
The drenching rains of the previous weeks had ceased by day one, and the Kawana Aquatic Centre was bathed in brilliant sunshine. (For the Queenslanders, the only ‘dark cloud’ was the ‘invasion’ by the 12-strong Malvern Marlins (Melbourne) who managed to snatch the meet’s major trophy. They were forgiven!)
Twenty Noosa swimmers competed. They amassed a staggering total of 102 medals (39 gold; 26 silver; 37 bronze). Most jubilant were the three ‘virgins’ who, competing at their first state championships, all won gold. Congratulations Liqun Hussey, Trevor Mathews and Dianne Scott-Davies. There were heart-warming cheers for Noosa’s local hero Clinton Stanley as he returned to competition. Clinton famously still holds seven world records in swimming’s multi-class division.
A special claim for the ‘older and fitter’ was staked by the men’s 4X100m Freestyle relay in the 280+ category (average age 70+). They smashed the state record by a whopping 41.88 seconds, taking the title from arch-rivals Miami Masters. Well done Rob Jolly, Brian Hoepper, Trevor Mathews and Ian Tucker.
Masters swimming is back, and not a minute too soon! Buoyed by their performances, the Noosa contingent is already training for next month’s Great Barrier Reef Games in Cairns.
