From the President

General Notes

Welcome to 2007. We have had a good start to the year with excellent numbers coming to training.  Rod continues to coach on Tuesday and Sunday evenings, Genevra on Thursday mornings and Gary on Thursday evening.  Thanks to their time and commitment we can continue to enjoy our swimming and develop our fitness.

Several new swimmers have made inquiries and come to the pool to see what we do at Masters. Please make them feel welcome and encourage them to continue coming regularly. We always want to encourage new members to join us, and would appreciate the current members giving the club and our activities a plug at work and among family and friends. Bring a friend along with you to training.

We were sad to farewell Di Gregory as she flies off to Cambodia for two years. Di has been a member for a long time and
has worked tirelessly for the club and ACT Branch in many roles. She will be missed and we wish her the best with her
adventures.

Memberships renewals are now due. January was a bit of a grace month but we start having insurance issues if non-members are training from now on.

NSW Branch

At the end of 2006 the ACT Branch of Masters Swimming was disbanded and both ACT clubs have now affiliated with NSW Masters Swimming. One of the benefits for us is that we are now included in the official point score at NSW swim meets.  Our club code is now NTN. The website for NSW Masters Swimming is www.aussimastswimnsw.org.au.  The website has a lot of information about upcoming meets, rules, records etc. It is worthwhile having a look at.

Summer SundayTraining

During the months of February and March we are training at the 50m outdoor pool in Irving St, Phillip. Note that we begin training at 5pm and have to be out of the pool at 6pm sharp. The pool closes at 6pm and the management has requested that we leave the premises by 6:15pm.

The cost per swimmer is $5.00 entry fee or $45.00 for a book of 10 visits. This is only 10 or 20 cents more than Tuggeranong if you pay every time you swim.

We also charge $2.00 that goes towards our costs of pool hire and coaching during the week. Hopefully as many members as
possible will take advantage of the opportunity to swim in a 50m pool, with clean water and fresh air. There will be no club training at Tuggeranong Pool for these Sundays. Sunday training at Tuggeranong will resume on Sunday 1st April.

Although the weather has not been as expected (2 wet and stormy sessions out of 3) everyone is enjoying the change of
scenery and fresh air. It took a few laps to loose the urge to tumble or turn half way down the pool but we are getting used to the whole 50m without a quick breather. Is it my imagination or are the blocks at Phillip Pool extremely high?

Our thanks to Rod who has stood on the deck braving the rain, wind and thunder while the swimmers are relatively warm in the water. Swimming in the rain is fun!

Social News/ Monthly Drinks

Everyone is welcome to join us for drinks after training on the last Sunday of each month; this is usually at the Vikings Town Centre Club. The venue is to be advised for February and March.

Our next meat raffle roster is scheduled soon; details will be posted on the notice board at training. We will be seeking volunteers to sell raffle tickets at one of the Vikings clubs on a Friday evening. Our club receives the proceeds from the raffle, less the cost of the meat, so come along and help the club raise some money and join some other members for dinner afterwards.

Surfing Weekend

The annual surfing weekend is this weekend, 24-25 February. A contingent of members, family and friends will brave the chilly waters off Bermagui and Narooma to attempt our impersonations of Lane Beachley and other famous Aussi surfies that I can’t recall. Suzie and Greg are our seasoned surfies. Watch the website for the evidence of everyone’s skills. I have it on good authority from Linda and Hilary that the sharks are not interested in us!

Swim Meets and How to Enter

Flyers of upcoming swim meets are posted on our notice board and can be viewed on the NSW Masters website. If you are interested in competing you need to give your events, entry times and money to Jeanette by the Sunday evening before the due date for manual entries stated on the meet flyer. Our due date will be put on meet flyers that are on the notice board. There are envelopes in a plastic sleeve for entries.

The closing dates (to Jeanette) for the next few meets are:
Blacktown - Sunday 4th March
NSW Long Course Championships Homebush - Thursday 22nd March

Entries can be emailed to sheather@hfpps.cg.catholic.edu.au or given to Jeanette at the pool. (Sunday and Thursday)


Targeted Meets

We were targeting the Shoalhaven Seahawks (Vincentia) meet to be held on 4th August. Unfortunately it has been taken off
the NSW Calendar so we will not be defending our tremendous reputation at this meet in 2007; hopefully we will have a chance in 2008.

The NSW Long Course Championships will be held at Sydney Olympic Park HOMEBUSH on 21st and 22nd April. This is the middle weekend of the school holidays many of you may be planning on being in Sydney at this time. The competition is over 2 days but you don’t have to swim both days.

It will be a great opportunity to experience quality competition in an international venue. The complex caters for the family, with a wonderful family pool that has amazing water swirls and fountains all over the place. The kids will be occupied for hours.

Several members have indicated their interest in this meet and it should be possible to share expenses if you are interested. If you are uncertain please talk to other members and ask any questions that you need. It would be great to have as many swimmers as we can at this meet. Our points count towards the point score at all NSW Meets.

2006 Club Awards

At our Christmas Dinner in December the following awards were handed out. Congratulations for your achievements during 2006.

Swimmer of the Year: Adrian Davis
Most Improved Swimmer: Bernard Sheville
Encouragement Award: Gwen Dods
Iron Person: Ann Reid
President’s Award: Jane Lindsay
Gold Star: Brenda Day

From the Referee

Responsibility of swimmers at the start of a race

* When their heat event is announced by the Starter swimmers shall move to the back of their blocks with caps and goggles already on.

* On the long whistle from the Referee swimmers shall step onto the starting blocks or the edge of the pool deck and remain there with at least one foot at the front of the starting block or the edge of the pool, or they may enter the water and remain with at least one hand in contact with the pool end or the backstroke starting grips.

* On the Starter's command "take your marks" swimmers shall without delay take up a starting position.

* When all swimmers are stationary the Starter shall give the starting signal.

* In backstroke and medley relays at the Referee's first whistle swimmers shall enter the water close to the end of the
pool. Do NOT go for a swim up to the flags. On the Referee's second whistle the swimmers shall take up their starting positions without delay, with both hands on the backstroke starting grips or the pool end.

* The Starter shall give the command "take your marks".

* When all swimmers are stationary the Starter shall give the starting signal

From the Aerobic Swims Coordinator

National Aerobic Swim Programme

The AUSSI Masters National Aerobic Trophy is offered to encourage all swimmers to improve their fitness and endurance. The aim is to promote aerobic fitness by providing an incentive (in the form of club points) for members to swim longer distances. Points are awarded according to age, sex and relative degrees of fitness.

There are two awards each year: the National Aerobic Trophy is awarded to the club scoring the highest number of points; The Zoggs Aerobic Award is presented to the club scoring the highest average points per registered member.

The full programme for one year involves a total of 62 swims:

400m: five swims in each of five strokes (FR, BR, BA, BU, IM)
800m: five swims in each of five strokes (FR, BR, BA, BU, IM)
1500m: one swim in each of three strokes (FR, BR, BA)
30 min: one swim in each of three strokes (FR, BR, BA)
45 min: one swim in each of three strokes (FR, BR, BA)
60 min: one swim in each of three strokes (FR, BR, BA)

SWIMMERS DO NOT HAVE TO COMPLETE EVERY SWIM, but for 400m they do have to complete five swims in one stroke to get any points for that distance, and each swim must be in a different calendar month. The same rule applies to 800m swims.

Aerobic Swims 2007

The club’s aerobic group has now been running for two years, and has been a lot of fun. We are up and running for 2007, and one participant has already completed her three one-hour swims - we won’t name names! Our president, Jeanette, has completed her first one-hour swim, and she was absolutely rapt. But don’t let the thought of a one-hour swim put you off - you can start with a 400m swim.

Come and join us in 2007, have some fun, improve your aerobic fitness, and rack up a few points for the club. Remember, you don’t have to do the whole programme - just pick out the bits that appeal to you.

Aerobic swim sessions for March will be as follows:
Saturday 3 March, 2-4pm;
Tuesday 6 March, 10.30 – 12 noon;
Tuesday 20 March, 10.30 – 12 noon;
Saturday 24 March, 2-4pm

Swimmers are asked to contribute $2 at each session to help defray the cost of hiring lanes.

Postal Swims 2007

Several members (mainly mad aerobic swimmers) have expressed an interest in doing more postal swims, so we are doing our best to track down details of postal swims being organized both in Australia and overseas.

Jeanette has entered the British Long Distance Swimming Association’s one-hour swim; this had to be done in January.

Ann, Jenny and Jane are entering the Swan Hills Masters (WA) 45-minutes swim; this has to be done in January or February, and you choose your stroke. If anyone else is interested, we might just have time to squeeze you in. Please contact Jane Lindsay on 6281 3764 if you wish to enter. The cost is $10. Every entrant receives a certificate, and there are “spot” prizes to be won.

The next postal swim on the calendar is “The Wall”, organized by the Northland Masters club in New Zealand. This runs through March and April, and you do either:

800m - as 400m FR, 50m BU, 100m BA, 100m BR, 150m FR
or
1500m - as 800m FR, 100m BU, 200m BA, 200m BR, 200m FR

Entry fee is $10, plus an extra $35 if you want a shirt. This can be swum at one of our regular aerobic swim sessions, or contact Jane Lindsay if you wish to do it at some other time.

There is also the annual 5Km Turtle Swim, run by Wests Auburn. Entry fee $20. To be swum any time up to 30 April. More
about this in the next newsletter.