EIGHTY entrants from around the region took part in the Bega swimming carnival on Saturday.
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Hosted by the Bega Amateur Swimming Club, organisers said the turnout was in line with what they expected.
Swimming coach of 39 years Phil Harris said seeing the young swimmers develop to a level to qualify for state and national events was a highlight for him.
“It is great to see, it gives you a real buzz and not just our kids, but to see kids from around the area do well is excellent,” Harris said.
The day also included some novelty events, with a belly-flop competition held after the lunch break.
With almost four decades of carnival hosting under his belt, Harris said the club had been blessed with good weather.
“In the 39 years I’ve been here it has probably only rained on us about twice,” Harris said.
“Somehow or other we sneak away with good weather.”
Not that the swimmers mind getting wet.
Some entrants take part just for a fun day out in the pool, with over 60 swims on offer.
However, some make qualifying times for country and state events, as well as competing at other local carnivals.
The Bega event forms part of a tour with regional carnivals held right across summer.
For those that do make higher level events, it means plenty of travel for their coaches.
“We go down south, out to the tablelands, Canberra and Sydney,” Harris said.
“It can be four or five trips up to Sydney a year plus all the local carnivals.”
Being classed as a short-course pool (at 33 metres), Harris said swimmers can still qualify for country and state events, and even benefit from turn training.
“It’s a good pool to swim if you’re a trainer and you work hard on your turns - you can nail the times better than the 50,” Harris said.
Harris said numbers at carnivals had been down across the region.
“I train and coach a lof of kids who come to train, but then don’t participate in competition,” he said.
“I find it disappointing in the fact that a lot of them have real talent and they don’t get to show it, which is a real shame.”
However, the team at Bega now is a large group of eager young swimmers.
“At the moment I’ve got a bunch of young kids coming through,” Harris said.
“It is nice to have them - they all get together and stay together as a group.
“Hopefully they’ll go right through.”