A LAST minute combination of swimmers proved good enough to win the Bega Business House Relay on Saturday night.
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The winning team was The Mixtures, with Robyn Hoare, Ross Stewart, Georgia Caldwell and James Duncan proving their consistency to claim the title.
Organiser Phil Harris said the team had been a last minute combination and led to the name The Mixtures.
Harris said that Duncan was one of two twins, who worked with him in the canteen at the pool and said they were “bloody good kids”.
This year marks the last that Harris plans on hosting and was pleased with the night.
“The atmosphere was much better than I thought it was going to be,” Harris said.
“With 15 teams I thought it would be a bit heads down, but it was really good.
“We had the raffle and we sold out of food at the barbecue.”
The annual event normally runs as a fundraiser for the Bega Amateur Swimming Club, but this year was a bit different.
All money raised on the night will be donated to the Britton Dunning Memorial Fund.
Ryan Dunning was present on the night and took part in a number of the swims.
Harris said he had represented the club at regional and state levels previously and was glad to support the family.
About $450 was raised on the night from entries and proceeds at the barbecue.
The night featured a number of young new faces, but also welcomed some returning swimmers with plenty of years experience.
Roger Tetley has taken part in every Business House event since the early 1980s.
Harris and Tetley used to surf together “years ago” and Harris said he was delighted to see Tetley still visiting the pool regularly.
“He comes down about four times a week to do some laps, he is no superstar, but none of us are.” he said.
Delighted with the event on Saturday, the weather was a final gift for Harris on Saturday, who described it as “perfect”.
“It was a fantastic event and the night was perfect,” Harris said.
“One time when the club house had first been built we had about 40 or 50 teams and it was just [expletive] down with rain,”
“Poor old Jan was trying to calculate the times with 150 or so people all huddled around,” he said with a laugh.
It could be a very different event next year as Harris looks to hand over the reins.
“That is the last one I’ll be in charge of,” he said.
“I was sad there were fewer teams, but I was happy with the night, it was really fun.