ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
SEASON 2015/2016
WARRNAMBOOL SWIMMING CLUB HALL
TUESDAY 17th MAY 2016 @ 7:30pm
Warrnambool Swimming Club Clubrooms, Jamieson Street, Warrnambool, 3280
www.warrnamboolswimmingclub.com.au
Total membership for Season 2015/2016 - 141
(Life Member-11, Non-Swimmer-20, Official-3, Competitive Swimmer-107)
2015/2016 Committee members:
President
Kellie Windahl
Vice President
Jens Flaherty
Secretary
Linda McPhee
Treasurer
Ann Van Zyl
Ordinary Committee Members
Juli Bartlett
Anthea Good
Michelle Gristede
Brett Johnston
Gerard Justin
Lisa Lang
2015-2016 Awards
2015/16 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
9yrs & Under Girls
1st Place
Tess Worrall
2nd Place
Abbey Titmus
3rd Place
Monique Beames &
Tazmyn Reuel
9yrs & Under Boys
1st Place
Charles Gleeson
10/11 yrs Girls
1st Place
Victoria McPhee
10/11 yrs Boys
1st Place
Jas Lang
2nd Place
Abbey Trotter
2nd Place
Alexander Johnston
3rd Place
Johanna McKenzie
3rd Place
Fergus Kelson
12/13 yrs Girls
1st Place
Jane Fenton
12/13 yrs Boys
1st Place
Robert Gleeson
2nd Place
Tori Parsons
2nd Place
Seamus Kelson
3rd Place
Chloe Windahl
3rd Place
Will Turner
14/15 yrs Girls
1st Place
Emily Bartlett
14/15 yrs Boys
1st Place
Mitchell Gristede
2nd Place
Shelby Gristede
2nd Place
Rhys Kent
3rd Place
Holly Windahl
3rd Place
Sebastian Good
16yrs & Over Girls
1st Place
Sophie Thomas
16yrs & Over Boys
1st Place
Blake Turner
2nd Place
Hannah Justin
2nd Place
William McPhee
3rd Place
Meg Flaherty
3rd Place
Jordan Logan
2015/16 CLUB AWARDS
2015/16 MOST CONSISTENT AWARD
Emily Bartlett
2015/16 MOST IMPROVED AWARD
Seamus Kelson
2015/16 COACHES (Pete) AWARD
Holly McKenzie
2015/16 COACHES (Josh) AWARD
Robert Gleeson
2015/16 COACHES (Jayson) AWARD
Rhys Kent
2015/16 PERFORMANCE AWARD
Isaac Jones
2015/16 COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS CLUB AWARD
In Memory of LEE VALLENCE
Jens Flaherty
2015-2016 Life Memberships – Jack & Michael Paulka
To be awarded a life membership for the Warrnambool Swimming Club, one of the criteria is 12 consecutive years of
distinguished service to our club and/or the sport of swimming.
Jack and Michael Paulka joined the Warrnambool Swimming Club in 2000 at the age of 11.
Their first competition was at the All Juniors heats in Mortlake in 2001 where they qualified for their first state
competition in Melbourne.
Jack and Michael represented the club at Nationals in 2002 and 2003 and States in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
They won their first medals at Country Championships in Geelong in 2002 and won medals at states and countries in
2003 and 2004.
In 2004 both Jack and Michael received scholarships to Carey Grammar and swam for Carey Aquatic from 2004-2008.
It was in 2005 that Michael won bronze at Nationals for 200m backstroke.
They swam in School Sport Victoria teams from 2002-2006 and Jack represented Australia at the World School
Championships in Greece in 2006.
In 2009 they returned to swim for Warrnambool and since then have represented the club at countries every year as
adults.
Both Jack and Michael competed at open Nationals in 2012 and Jack competed at open Nationals in 2013.
They both competed at state level in 2012 and 2013.
To have these two fine young men serving as mentors and leaders for the Warrnambool Swimming Club is a privilege.
We congratulate Jack and Michael on their achievements and thank them for their ongoing support of the
Warrnambool Swimming Club.
2015-2016 President’s Report
The 2015/2016 year has seen the Warrnambool Swimming Club consolidate its position as a strong and passionate
swimming club.
Our representation at Country, State and National level has been outstanding, our membership has remained stable and
financially we are in a sound position.
It is the dedication, support and enormous contribution from our coaches, committee and parents that ensures we
provide a positive environment for our kids to not only enjoy their swimming but to perform at their best.
It never ceases to amaze me the effort and willingness made by all swimmers and parents to put their hand up and be
involved in every aspect of the operation of the club.
Thank you for your commitment and for being part of our club.
Julie Rowlands, Lisa Lang and Gerard Justin have decided not to seek re-appointment for the 2016/2017 season and we
thank them for their contribution whilst on the committee and we look forward to their involvement with the swimming
club in the future.
We express our gratitude to our coaches and their families.
Jayson Lamb, Josh Sobey, Peter Finnigan, Paul Aberline , Jordan Logan and Jamin Baulch spend a lot of time with our kids,
not only coaching but away at swim meets and club camps, we are very fortunate to have such a supportive coaching
team.
It is also important to recognise the program that Jayson and his team have developed at the Splash Factory that has
enabled the Swimming Club to thrive, as this is where the majority of our swimmers originate from.
Our success is also dependant on our sponsors and in the future it is crucial to nurture the relationships we have with our
sponsors, many of whom are local business owners.
We thank all our sponsors who generously donated both financially and with their time. All this input has helped make
the Club work so well over the past season.
The Warrnambool Swimming Club will continue to offer competitive swimming for all levels, ages and abilities for
performance, fitness and fun.
We look forward to the challenges we face in the 2016/2017 season as we “Race for the Blocks”.
Thank you for everyone’s support and efforts this past year.
Kellie Windahl
President, Warrnambool Swimming Club
2015-2016 Coaches Report
I would like to thank all committee members for their ongoing contribution to the development of our swimming club.
Outgoing committee members Gerard Justin, Julie Rowlands and Lisa Lang, thankyou for your contributions over the past
few years. I look forward to a continued relationship on pool deck. A special mention to Kellie Windahl, club president,
who has had a challenging year personally, was still able to steer the ship from her hospital bed. Her enthusiasm,
unconditional support of the coaching team, ability to lead and excellent organisational skills, have been the facilitator for
all things moving forward.
Coaching Panel
Warrnambool Swimming Club is producing an environment that is conducive to creating great leaders and a team that is
developing a strong ownership, friendships and work ethic. The swimmers have a sense of pride and continue to support
each other in and out of the water. The coaching panel are the cornerstone to the creation of this environment. A big
thankyou to Joshua Sobey, Peter Finnigan and Paul Aberline for their excellent coaching and the commitment they have
given to building the Warrnambool Swimming Club from the bottom up over the past twelve months.. A special mention
to our young coaching crew – Jordan Logan and Jamin Baulch for their enthusiasm and great coaching style with the
younger swimmers.
Club Camps
The focus for the year was both building numbers at a junior level and trying to maintain numbers of older swimmers
within the club. Club camps play a crucial role in doing so. Once again all camps, Mystery bus tour, Tasmanian State
Championships, 18 over Sydney trip, Junior bus trip to Timboon annual swim meet, were a great success across all age
groups.
Performance
Each swimmer has a plan to achieve a goal and a dream. Once again in 2015-16 WSC provided opportunities for
swimmers to strive for their individual goals, whatever they might be. It might be just to train, or to attend the fun nights
and attend district meets. Many also strive to compete at a Country, State or National Championship level. Below are the
championship meets attended by Warrnambool Swimming Club members.
Short Course
nd
Country Championships (Ballarat), placed 2 in team point score.
State Championships Age, Open MC (Melbourne, MSAC)
Long Course
nd
Country Championships (Bendigo), placed 2 in team point score.
State Championships Age, Open MC (Melbourne, MSAC)
All Juniors (Melbourne, MSAC)
National Age Championships (Adelaide)
National Open and MC Championships (Adelaide), doubled as Olympic swimming trials.
Global Games
I would like to congratulate WSC members Ashleigh Pettigrew and Caitlyn Mackay on being selected to compete for
Australia in the Global Games. The INAS Global Games are the World’s largest elite sporting event for athletes with an
intellectual disability, featuring competition in athletics, swimming, table tennis, rowing, basketball, futsal, tennis and
cycling where athletes from 76 countries competed. Caitlyn won gold in the 4x50m and 4x100m individual medley
relays while Pettigrew was a gold medallist in the 4x200m freestyle relay. “The girls had plenty of drama outside the pool,
starting with a natural disaster. The games were scheduled to be held in the city of Quito but had to be moved when a
nearby volcano erupted. The new venue was Guayaquil, a city with a population of 3.5 million.” (Warrnambool Standard).
We wish Ashleigh and Caitlyn all the best in their efforts to make the next Global Games to be held in Brisbane in 2019!!
Well, another year down and we have achieved so much. We will continue with the same work ethic and reinforce our
values and standards in the next twelve months. It is important to maintain an open communication line between the
committee, the whole parent body and coaching panel to continue this growing, happy, competitive, family club. Looking
forward to the next 12 months!!
Kind Regards,
Jayson Lamb
INDEPENDENT AUDIT REPORT TO
WARRNAMBOOL SWIMMING CLUB INC.
We have audited the attached statement of receipts and payments for the year ended 31st March 2016.
Warrnambool Swimming Club Inc. is responsible for the financial report and have determined that the
accounting policies used are consistent with the financial reporting requirements of the Warrnambool
Swimming Club Inc. constitution and are appropriate to meet the needs of the members. We have conducted an
independent audit of the financial report in order to express an opinion on it to the members for the Warrnambool
Swimming Club Inc. No opinion is expressed as to whether the accounting policies used are appropriate to the
needs of the members.
The financial report has been prepared for distribution to members for the purpose of fulfilling the members'
financial reporting requirements under the constitution. We disclaim any assumption of responsibility for any
reliance on this report or on the financial report to which it relates to any person other than the members, or for
any purpose other than that for which it was prepared.
Our audit has been conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Our procedures included
examination, on a test basis, of evidence supporting the amounts and other disclosures in the financial report.
These procedures have been undertaken to form an opinion whether, in all material respects, the financial report is
presented fairly in accordance with the accrual basis of accounting whereby revenue is recorded if it is reasonably
expected to be received, expenses are recorded as they fall due, and assets or liabilities such as receivables and
payables, are recorded. Accounting Standards and other professional reporting requirements (UIG Consensus
Views) are applicable to the accrual basis of accounting adopted by the Warrnambool Swimming Club Inc. have
been duly considered.
The audit opinion expressed in this report has been formed on the above basis.
Qualification
As is common for organisations of this type, it is not practical for the Warrnambool Swimming Club Inc. to
maintain an effective system of internal control over receipts until entry in the accounting records.
Accordingly, our audit in relation to income was limited to amounts recorded.
Qualified Audit Opinion
In our opinion, except for the effects of such adjustments, if any, as might have been determined to be
necessary had the limitation discussed in the qualification paragraph not existed, the financial report presents a
true and fair view in accordance with the cash basis of accounting, as described above, the payments and
receipts of the Warrnambool Swimming Club Inc. for the year ended 31 March 2016, and its cash and bank
balances as at that date.
McLaren Buzolich O'Keeffe Pty Ltd
Certified Practising Accountants
67 Kepler Street
WARRNAMBOOL VIC 3280
6 May 2016
MBO
FINANCIAL GROUP
YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR WEALTH, OUR FOCUS
Partner
Warrnambool Swimming Club
Balance Sheet at 31 March, 2016
Cash and Bank
Cash
Westpac Cheque Account
Westpac Card Account
Westpac On-line Saver
Banksia
Other Assets
Prepaid Expense
Stock on Hand
Sundry Debtors
Total Assets
2016
2015
68.75
4,097.96
1,603.95
20,262.15
8,607.73
34,640.54
38,892.66
8,607.73
47,500.39
3,521.00
16,475.13
321.60
20,317.73
54,958.27
-
47,500.39
Less : Liabilities
Accounts Payable
Members Income in Advance
Total Liabilities
Net Equity
2,118.20
652.00
2,770.20
-
-
52,188.07
47,500.39
47,500.39
4,687.68
52,188.07
34,427.47
13,072.92
47,500.39
Reserves
Prior Year
Net trading surplus
Closing Balance
Warrnambool Swimming Club
Statement of Profit & Loss for the year ending 31 March, 2016
2016
2015
Income
Accommodation & Travel
Breakfast Receipts
Fundraising
Grants
Hall Hire
Interest Received
Memberships
Other Income
Uniform Sales
Warrnambool Swim Meets
Lane Sponsorship
Meet Entries
Raffle & Fundraising
63,782.50
919.65
14,451.55
3,300 .00
4,439.00
236.88
10,262.60
514.65
7,615.00
1,450.00
28,112.82
1,772.90
Total Income
136,857.55
107,669.06
64,269.95
119.90
200.00
6.50
996.21
28.17
14,968.99
852.40
6,661.65
4,212.01
8,978.26
54.40
660.00
5,994.65
242.95
2,010.00
1,398.97
2,843.68
397.45
2,768.84
219.60
167.90
772.40
363.50
1,969.07
17,711.54
678.43
7,550.00
1,002.05
39,287.39
8,604.00
2,735.00
84.76
8,070.28
15,270.50
900.00
24,165.08
-
Expenditure
Accommodation & Travel
Advertising
Affiliation, MShip - SV, WDSA
Bank charges
Breakfast payments
Christmas
Coaching Fees
Consultants
Equipment Purchases
Fundraising Costs
Hall Costs
Incorporation Fee
Insurance
Lane Hire
Life Membership
Meet Entries
Membership Levy
Membership Refunds
Miscellaneous
Other Expenses
Postage
Stationery
Trophies
Uniform Costs
Uniform Purchases
Warrnambool Swim Meet
Facility & Lane Hire
Food Costs
Meet Entry Refund
Meet Levy
Officials Accommodation
Officials Costs
Postage
Printing& Stationary
Prize Money
Trophies
Total Expenses
Net trading surplus for the year
-
25.50
881.20
-
9,678.32
1,047.36
:2,429.74
303.20
-
6,977.85
-
8,999.00
273.50
-
41.88
58.39
767.60
-
16,753.11
-
4,883.78
372.56
100.65
2,980.00
470.50
430.26
21.84
172.48
600.00
980.35
10,295.78
-
7,673.74
-
-
132,169.87
94,596.14
4,687.68
13,072.92
The Warrnambool Swimming Club would like to thank
the following sponsors for their support during the
2015/2016 Season:
Life membership just reward for Warrnambool
swimming coach
By JUSTINE McCULLAGH-BEASY
May 30, 2015, 4 a.m.
PAUL Aberline believes teaching and coaching go hand-in-hand.
The Emmanuel College teacher was awarded Warrnambool Swimming Club life membership last Saturday night following
more than two decades of service, as a competitor and coach.
Coaching was the perfect fit for Aberline following his decision to retire from the pool 15 years ago.
“I was able to work as a swimming coach throughout uni and have had a big opportunity to see a lot of young swimmers
come through the ranks and achieve really well,” he said.
Aberline said Warrnambool had an exciting crop of young swimmers coming through the ranks.
“We have a great bunch of kids and it’s always fun to go and coach them,” he said.
“I have a teaching background and enjoy dealing with young adults and with coaching that continues.
“You see them get PBs, medals and qualifying times. It’s all a bit of a thrill.”
Aberline, 35, joins his mother Muriel as a life member of the AquaZone-based club.
They are the only mother-son combination to receive the honour. “I have been involved in swimming for a large part of my
life, in particular with Warrnambool Swimming Club,” Aberline said.
“It was a big shock. I wasn’t expecting it at all.”
“That is a big thrill as well (joining mum). Mum was awarded an award at the start of the year from Swimming Victoria for
her service as well.
“She still referees and helps out wherever at carnivals.”
The Warrnambool-born Aberline swam competitively until 2000, making nationals at junior and senior levels in his pet
event, backstroke.
“Swimming has taken me a lot of places; to a lot of places around Australia,” he said.
Warrnambool Swimming Club also celebrated its high achievers on Saturday night.
Blake Turner received the most consistent award, Emily Bartlett was named the most improved swimmer, Caitlyn Mackay
collected the performance award and Harrison Holmes, Tully Watt and Billy McPhee all accepted coaches’ awards.
Club championship standings were:
9 years and under girls: 1st Johanna McKenzie, 2nd Tess Worrall; 9 years and under boys: 1st Massimo Da Ros, 2nd Charles
Gleeson; 10/11 girls: 1st Rachel Vickery, 2nd Chloe Windahl, 3rd Amy Johnston; 10/11 boys: 1st Harrison Holmes, 2nd
Alexander Johnston, 3rd Ethan Best; 12/13 girls: 1st Emily Bartlett, 2nd Jane Fenton, 3rd Tori Parsons; 12/13 boys: 1st
Robert Gleeson, 2nd Will Turner, 3rd Sebastian Good; 14-15 girls: 1st Holly Windahl, 2nd Hannah Justin, 3rd Georgina
Vallance; 14/15 boys: 1st Blake Turner, 2nd Jason Pritchard, 3rd Mitchell Gristede; 16 and over girls: 1st Meg Flaherty, 2nd
Ashleigh Pettigrew, 3rd Caitlyn Mackay; 16 and over boys: 1st William McPhee, 2nd Thomas Buckley, 3rd Jamin Baulch.
Record interest in Warrnambool short course
competition
By GREG BEST
June 6, 2015, 4 a.m.
A RECORD number of swimmers from across Victoria are chasing success at Warrnambool Swimming Club’s shortcourse
competition, which begins today.
Organisers were forced to close entries early for the two-day event after 289 individuals nominated to hit the water 2000
times, surpassing last year’s record of 246 swimmers and more than 1700 splashes. The event was scheduled to start
earlier today as organisers accommodate the growing interest in the event.
The competition is Warrnambool’s biggest event of the year, with 24 clubs represented, including many of the state’s
highest-ranking clubs.
“It provides good competition and clubs from Melbourne use it as a training camp or weekend away,” Warrnambool
Swimming Club head coach Jayson Lamb said.
He said 58 Warrnambool members would take part in what was their first shortcourse competition of the season.
Many will be chasing qualifying times for the country and state championships. Lamb said the club had swimmers ranging
in age from nine to 23 in action.
“I’m really happy, it’s a great spread of ages,” Lamb said.
Warrnambool swimmer Monique Wilkinson, 15, will contest nine individual events in a hectic schedule in the water this weekend.
“It shows these young kids you can still participate in the sport when you are older.”
Lamb said the event was an important launching pad for his swimmers, with many having had a short break at the end of
the longcourse season before resuming training in the shorter indoor pool.
“It’s a good hit-out and it will help to see where they are at,” Lamb said.
Mayor Michael Neoh is scheduled to open the event at Warrnambool’s AquaZone at 2pm today, before the first event is
held at 3pm. Competition resumes tomorrow at 9am, finishing about 2pm.
Warrnambool coach excited by rush of PB swims at
home short course carnival
By AIDAN FAWKES
June 9, 2015, 4 a.m.
Tully Watt, 14, of Warrnambool, makes a splash in 100m backstoke. 150607RG11 Picture: ROB GUNSTONE
COACH Jayson Lamb needed one sentence to sum up Warrnambool Swimming Club’s success at its annual short course
meet at AquaZone.
“There wouldn’t be a swimmer without at least two PBs,” Lamb declared.
A record 300 swimmers from as far away as Traralgon converged on Warrnambool for the weekend meeting, hitting the
pool more than 2000 times.
Warrnambool took overall honours with 3642 points, ahead of Melbourne pair Waterlions (3042) and Swimland (2996).
But that only told part of the story.
Almost 20 clocked times which qualfied them for Victorian shortcourse age championships, while dozens of others
impressed their coaches.
“Of the swimmers, it was exceptionally pleasing from a coaching panel perspective,” Lamb said.
“All the coaches were very impressed with the way they were racing and the way they applied what we’d been working on
at training.”
The standouts included Blake Turner, who progressed to states in nine events in the 16-17 years boys’ age group.
Jason Pritchard (14-15 years boys), Jamin Baulch (18-plus years men) and Will McPhee (16-17 years boys) went under the
state mark in seven events.
Robbie Gleeson, Taylah Daffy, Alex Johnston and Amy Johnston were among others Lamb said performed well.
He said the success was on par with previous years.
“We had a break (after the longcourse season) which was really important for them. They came back super keen,” he said.
“Our focus of late has been efficiency.
“We’re trying to get through to them that just because you’re trying hard, that doesn’t mean you’re going fast. You need to
be efficient. That’s sinking in.”
Will said he was pleased with his results. He placed second in his age group champion section and won the 50 and 100metre butterfly, his pet events.
His efforts in the pool came after he booted nine goals for Russells Creek’s under 17½ side against Panmure on Saturday
morning. The 17-year-old is fitting in swimming and football commitments around year 12 studies.
“When I was training fully I was doing eight (swimming) sessions a week. Each session is two hours,” he said.
“Footy is just an hour-and-a-bit two times a week. I’m only doing about four sessions a week. I’ll start going back to eight
after exams in November.”
Lamb praised AquaZone employees, the WSC committee and parents for ensuring the meeting ran smoothly.
Mackay, Pettigrew to make a splash on world stage
By JUSTINE McCULLAGH-BEASY
July 6, 2015, 10:47 a.m.
Ashleigh Pettigrew
TWO Warrnambool swimmers are bound for the world stage.
Ashleigh Pettigrew and Caitlyn Mackay will represent Australia at the 2015 Global Games – a multi-sport event for athletes
with an intellectual disability – in Ecuador in September.Warrnambool Swimming Club coach Jayson Lamb said Pettigrew
and Mackay deserved the chance to don the green and gold.
“They are very excited, and so they should be,” he said.
“It is certainly a big thing and I am really happy for them.
“This is the first time they have been in it so I don’t know the level of competition internationally.
“They will be going there and approaching it like a normal national meet, preparing to swim PBs.”
Warrnambool to kick off its new swimming season
By JUSTINE McCULLAGH
July 10, 2015, 10:10 a.m.
SISTER ACT: Sarah and Meg Flaherty will swim at Warrnambool event.
MORE than 100 swimmers will converge on Aquazone for a Warrnambool Swimming Club shortcourse meet
on Saturday.
The twilight competition – racing starts at 4pm – is a new addition to the club’s yearly calendar.
The bulk of competitors are Warrnambool-based, with Hamilton Olympic, Blue Lake, Terang and Doncaster
swimming clubs also represented.
Warrnambool club coach Josh Sobey said the meeting was the ideal way to kick off a new season.
“In previous years our seasons ran May to May and now they are running the financial year,” he said.
“The new ones needs an opportunity to race and we felt it (the twilight meet) would provide them with that.
“And we certainly have a lot close to state and country times.
“Hopefully they achieve that this weekend and it saves them some travelling.”
The meeting is expected to wrap up at 9pm.
Juniors make a splash at short course event
By AIDAN FAWKES
July 15, 2015, 12:04 p.m.
MAKING WAVES: Warrnambool Swimming Club member Rhys Kent was among those to perform well at the short course carnival at
AquaZone on Saturday. Picture: Rob Gunstone
WARRNAMBOOL Swimming Club juniors used a short course carnival in their own pool to qualify for two major
championships in coming months.
More than 100 swimmers, including 60 from the host club, converged on AquaZone for the one-day event on Saturday.
The event offered an opportunity to post qualifying times for country age titles and state age titles in coming months.
WSC coach Josh Sobey said the competitors were predominantly younger than those who hit the pool for a similar carnival
in June, which attracted more than 300 entries.
“The meet was really for the junior kids who had just signed up with the club, so they get a chance to compete and meet
with fellow teammates,” he said.
He said there was a stronger south-west flavour to the fields.
“There were a lot more swimmers from around the area and Warrnambool,” he said.
“The stand-outs were the new participants and new members who got out of the water with a smile on their face, that was
brilliant.
“Throughout the whole night swimmers in every squad were still PB-ing (posting personal-best times), which is crazy
considering the amount of competitions we’ve had.
“And we’ve still got Ballarat and Hamilton this weekend. They’ve been competing a lot but still improving, which is a
bonus.”
Sobey highlighted teenager Seamus Kelson as among the top performers from the WSC contingent
“He made a state time for his 200-metre breaststroke, he’s a 13-year-old boy, that was huge,” he said.
“Going into the meet he was a second off the qualifying time and did a five-second PB. That was a massive swim for him.
“He’ll experience state short course for the first time in September.”
Rhys Kent and Dembi Lamb also impressed their coaches, as did Darcy Worrall, who sliced five seconds off his 50-metre
freestyle mark, the pick of a host of eye-catching results.
“Usually you can do that when you’re eight or nine, but when you’re 14 it’s harder,” Sobey said.
WSC’s older juniors head to Ballarat on Saturday for round three of their Top Five series, a long course meeting at a facility
which has undergone a $13.85 million redevelopment.
The younger swimmers are off to Hamilton for round two of their club series.
Country age short course titles are back at Ballarat on August 22 and 23.
The countdown then begins for state age short course titles – the biggest event on the winter calendar – in Melbourne on
September 4 to 6.
Warrnambool swimmer Jamin Baulch eyes Australian
Open Championships times
By JUSTINE McCULLAGH
Aug. 10, 2015, 2:26 p.m.
MAKING A SPLASH: Warrnambool teenager Jamin Baulch was named 2015 Barwon South West Swimming Association swimmer of the
year after a strong season in the pool. Picture: Leanne Pickett
WARRNAMBOOL teenager Jamin Baulch is setting himself for a maiden berth at the Australian Open Swimming
Championships after winning a prestigious award.
Baulch, 18, was named Barwon South-West Swimming Association swimmer of the year in Colac on Sunday after a strong
season in the pool. Points were collated from championship meets over the past 12 months.
The backstroke specialist said he was humbled to win the award.
“I was really surprised to win it, I was taken aback,” he said.
“It is a reasonably big award and I was really happy to win it.
“I didn’t think I had that much of a standout year but looking back at it I had a good shortcourse season and won medals at
Victoria Country champs and made finals at state shortcourse champs.”
The Warrnambool College student is combining year 12 studies with training but is already eyeing the national titles in
April 2016.
Baulch wants to qualify in the 100m backstroke.
“I will work as hard as I can, keep training in the pool and the gym and hopefully I’ll get a qualifying time,” he said.
“I am 2.5 seconds off at the moment but I know if I knuckle down and get my skills right that I’ll give myself a good chance
to do it.”
Warrnambool swimmers ready for country challenge
By JUSTINE McCULLAGH
Aug. 21, 2015, 3:28 p.m.
BUSY: Warrnambool's Jason Pritchard will compete in six events at the Victorian Country Short Course Championships. Picture: Aaron
Sawall
WARRNAMBOOL Swimming Club will have a strong contingent at the Victorian Country Short Course Championships in
Ballarat this weekend.
Forty of its competitors qualified for the two-day meeting.
The Aquz Zone-based club will have representatives in 176 events.
Blake Turner, Sophie Thomas and Rhys Kent are entered in eight races each, while Jas Lang, Caitlyn Mackay, Ashleigh
Pettigrew, Jason Pritchard and Emma Ragg will feature in six races apiece.
Warrnambool coach Jayson Lamb said Turner, Rachael Vickery and Jordan Logan were among the club’s medal chances.
“I am really looking forward to seeing Mitchell Gristede swim and see how he goes,” he said.
“Robbie Gleeson in the 13-year-old 100-metre breaststroke should go well. He’s going in ranked second.
“First-time (country championships entrants) Seamus and Fergus Kelson should go fairly well too.”
Warrnambool swimmers make a splash at Swimming
Victoria country short course championships at
Ballarat
By AIDAN FAWKES
Aug. 24, 2015, 10:49 a.m.
Warrnambool's Monique Wilkinson clocked a personal-best time in the girls' 16-17 years 100-metre breakstroke at the Swimming Victoria
country shortcourse championships at Ballarat. Pictures: The Courier
WARRNAMBOOL Swimming Club is celebrating one of its most successful weekends at Swimming Victoria country short
course championships.
The AquaZone-based club finished the weekend at Ballarat ranked second on the overall points standings, behind
Traralgon, and emerged with a bumper 22 medals.
CONCENTRATION: Warrnambool's Tori Parsons took almost four seconds off her personal-best time in the girls' 12-13 years 100-metre
backstroke.
Sophie Thomas – who has shifted from Ballarat to Warrnambool for university – was the pick of the performers, winning
six gold and one bronze in the girls’ 18-years-plus section. Other medal winners included Jamin Baulch, Thomas Buckley,
Robbie Gleeson, Mitch Gristede, Jordan Logan, Blake Turner, Caitlyn Mackay and Ashleigh Pettigrew.
RELEASE: Warrnambool's Rachel Vickery smashed her personal-best time in the girls' 12-13 years 100-metre backstroke at country
shortcourse championships.
WSC coach Jayson Lamb said the club smashed its expectations. “We ended up second on the points score, we haven’t
done that in three or four years,” he said.
“We’ve got some great juniors coming through and they all swum exceptionally well. We’re just super pleased with the
way everyone swam. Every single person performed exceptionally.”
Global Games call-up for Ashleigh Pettigrew and
Caitlyn Mackay
By JUSTINE McCULLAGH
Sept. 16, 2015, 3 p.m.
THE world stage holds no fears for Warrnambool swimmers Ashleigh Pettigrew and Caitlyn Mackay.
The pair will make their Australian debuts at the 2015 Global Games – a competition for athletes with an intellectual
disability held every four years – in Ecuador on Tuesday.
GREEN AND GOLD: Warrnambool swimmers Caitlyn Mackay and Ashleigh Pettigrew are excited to represent Australia on the world stage.
Picture: Rob Gunstone
AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE: Warrnambool swimmers Ashleigh Pettigrew and Caitlyn Mackay will compete at the Global Games in Ecuador.
They will fly out with their teammates on Thursday morning.
They are excited to be part of the 74-strong national team.
Pettigrew, 25, and Mackay, 19, form part of the 19-person swimming contingent.
Pettigrew will compete in the 400-metre freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200m breaststroke and 200m butterfly, with Mackay
setting her sights on the 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke.
Mackay expects the Global Games to be challenging but is happy with her preparation, which has included numerous hours
in the pool.
“I am actually feeling really excited,” she said.
“I can’t wait to get over there and compete for Australia.
“It is going to be different, it’s going to be hard but it’s going to be good.”
Pettigrew and Mackay qualified for the Global Games via Australian nationals.
Warrnambool coach Jayson Lamb told The Standard in July, when their selection was announced, that they deserved their
spots.
“It is certainly a big thing and I am really happy for them,” he said.
“They will be going there and approaching it like a normal national meet, preparing to swim PBs.”
Olympic hopeful Travis Mahoney tells south-west
swimmers to show persistence
By JUSTINE McCULLAGH-BEASY
Oct. 12, 2015, 9 a.m.
ADVICE: Australian representatives Kenrick Monk and Travis Mahoney were in Warrrnambool to talk to south-west swimmers. Picture:
Rob Gunstone
A COMMONWEALTH Games swimmer who missed out on countless junior squads before working his way into the
Australian team has encouraged south-west competitors to work hard to reach their goals.
Olympic Games hopeful Travis Mahoney spoke at a Swimming Victoria regional development day in Warrnambool on
Sunday.
The 400-metre individual medley specialist said he was humbled to don the green and gold after a slow start to his junior
career.
“It is important (to know) that you can make teams at a later time in life and you don’t have to make all the junior teams,”
Mahoney said.
“Everything I didn’t get I thought ‘well I need to train harder to get that’.
“I used a lot of my disappointments as motivation to work harder.”
Mahoney, 25, made his first Australian team in 2012, picked for the world shortcourse swimming championships.
The Victorian swimmer’s biggest achievement to date was a sixth place finish in his pet event, the 400m individual medley,
at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last year.
“In 2012 when I made my first team, that was a big thing in terms of self belief, knowing you can make it,” Mahoney said.
“At the end of 2011 I got glandular fever.
“Training was going really well and I got sick and had to spend two or three months out of the water.
“That was really tough for me because I was looking good for 2012 Olympic trials but a road block got in the way.
“But I used that as motivation again to train really hard and at the end of the year I made my first team.”
Mahoney said the thrill of being in the Australian inner sanctum never waned.
“Once you make that first team you’ll do anything to experience that again,” he said.
“It is an awesome bubble to be in; the Australian swim team bubble.
“Once you’re in it, you want to stay in it.”
Mahoney is busy preparing for the 2016 Olympic team trials in April.
He is hopeful of representing Australia in Rio de Janerio in the 400m individual medley.
A berth in the 200m individual medley would be a bonus for the former Victorian Institute of Sport athlete.
“The pride you feel when you get your uniform or you walk out and you’re representing your country, it’s indescribable,”
he said.
Mahoney was one of four Australian swimmers to speak to 120 south-west swimmers in Warrnambool.
Two-time Olympian Kenrick Monk, former world 100-metre breaststroke champion Linley Frame and emerging backstroke
competitor Hayley Baker joined Mahoney in the south-west for the day-long development session.
Swimming Victoria provided swimmers with information ranging from nutrition and injury prevention to technique.
It catered for members from clubs as far as Colac and Hamilton.
Swimmers win at Global Games
By Anthony Brady
Oct. 26, 2015, 10:09 a.m.
WINNERS: Warrnambool swimmers Caitlyn Mackay and Ashleigh Pettigrew with the gold medals they won at the Global Games. They
were part of the Australian swimming team that topped the medal tally. Picture: Anthony Brady
A TRIP to the Global Games in Ecuador provided plenty of excitement in and out of the pool for Warrnambool swimmers
Ashleigh Pettigrew and Caitlyn Mackay.
The pair brought home three gold medals after outstanding performances across the 10-day meet.
The Global Games is a competition for athletes with an intellectual disability.
Mackay won gold in the 4x50m and 4x100m individual medley relays while Pettigrew was a gold medalist in the 4x200m
freestyle relay.
The girls had plenty of drama outside the pool, starting with a natural disaster.
The games were scheduled to be held in the city of Quito but had to be moved when a nearby volcano erupted.
The new venue was Guayaquil, a city with a population of 3.5 million.
As Mackay explained, the change of venue was one of many adjustments the girls needed to make.
“The food wasn’t that great, every day it was rice, bananas and scrambled eggs,” Mackay said.
“It was really hot but it was good fun.”
The size of the event meant security was at the high level with guards thick on the ground.
Language was also a barrier the girls had to overcome in the Spanish-speaking country but Pettigrew said they found plenty
of people to chat to.
“One of the best bits was that we got to stay in the athletes village which was great,” Pettigrew said.
“Everyone was really nice and we got on really well with the Americans.”
Athletes from 76 countries competed at the games with the Australian team winning the most medals in the pool.
The winning haul included 13 gold, eight silver and six bronze.
Once the rigors of competition came to an end, the girls thought it would be plain sailing back to Australia but there was
more fun to come.
On the way home from the games during a stop over in the US city of Atlanta, the mini-bus the girls were traveling in was
involved in an accident when a car crashed into it.
Luckily all involved escaped injury but the sorting out of the accident meant the girls’ plane connections were out of whack,
causing a delayed journey home.
Despite all the drama, the girls were all smiles as they showed off their gold medals. They are now looking forward to the
next Global Games which will be held closer to home, in Brisbane in 2019.
In the meantime they will continue to keep pace with what is a hectic training schedule. The girls do seven training sessions
a week, many of these including a 5.30am start.
Warrnambool Swimming Club finishes second at
Victorian country championships
By Susie Giese
Jan. 19, 2016, 10:30 a.m.
The Warrnambool Swimming Club team at the Victorian Country Championships.
WARRNAMBOOL Swimming Club returned from the Victorian country championships in Bendigo with a swag of more than
40 medals.
The club had nearly 20 winners across individual and relay events at the championships, which ran from Friday to Sunday.
Warrnambool Swimming Club coach Jayson Lamb labelled the championships a “huge success” for the team.
“We had a real theme about getting around each other and supporting each other as a team,” he said.
“They just gelled the whole weekend. We finished second in the points scored.”
Lamb said the club was well represented, with nearly 100 finals appearances across the weekend, bringing home a raft of
gold, silver and bronze medals.
“It was fantastic – we had medals from the whole range of ages,” he said.
“Jas Lang won a gold medal – it was fantastic, it was his first medal – through Jordan Logan and Michael Painter, who are
22-23.”
As well as individual successes, Warrnambool’s 16 and under, 17 and over and 18 and over men’s teams also had a strong
weekend in the pool.
Lamb also highlighted the efforts of Jas, Holly Windahl, Michael Painter and Billy McPhee, who won their first long course
swim meet medals on the weekend.
“It was such a great weekend for the club,” he said.
POWERFUL: A contingent of the Warrnambool Swimming Club team's medal winners. The club brought home more than 40 individual and
relay medals from the Victorian country championships. Picture: Susie Giese
Warrnambool Swimming Club medal winners:
Seamus Kelson: three bronze medals (men 13 and under 200m individual medley and 13-year-old 100m breaststroke and
100m freestyle).
Jordan Logan: three silver medals (men 18 and over 50m freestyle, 17 and over 200m freestyle relay and 400m freestyle
relay) and two bronze (18 and over 50m butterfly and 17 and over 200m medley relay).
Sophie Thomas: one bronze medal (women’s 400m freestyle).
Caitlyn Mackay: two silver (women 50m freestyle multiclass and 200m individual medley multiclass) and one bronze (50m
butterfly multiclass).
Jane Fenton: two bronze medals (women 13-year-old 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly).
Jack Paulka: two bronze medals (men 200m butterfly and 17 and over 200m medley relay).
Holly Windahl: one bronze medal (women 14-15 100m backstroke).
Billy McPhee: two silver medals (men 17 and over 200m freestyle relay and 400m freestyle relay) and two bronze medals
(17 and over 200m medley relay and 18 and over 200m individual medley).
Michael Painter: two silver medals (men 18 and over 50m freestyle and 17 and over 200m freestyle relay) and one bronze
medal (17 and over 200m medley relay).
Rhys Kent: one gold medal (men 16 and under 200m freestyle relay) and one silver medal (men 16 and under 200m medley
relay).
Jason Pritchard: one gold medal (men 16 and under 200m freestyle relay) and one silver medal (men 16 and under 200m
medley relay).
Mitchell Gristede: one gold medal (men 16 and under 200m freestyle relay), one silver medal (200m medley relay) and one
bronze medal (14-15 100m freestyle).
Blake Turner: one gold medal (men 16 and under 200m freestyle relay) and two silver (200m medley relay and men’s 400m
freestyle relay).
Thomas Buckley: two bronze medals (men 16-17 100m backstroke and men 200m backstroke).
Robert Gleeson: one silver medal (men 13-year-old 100m breaststroke).
Ashleigh Pettigrew: two bronze medals (women 50m freestyle multiclass and 200m individual medley multiclass).
Jamin Baulch: two silver medals (men 17 and over 200m freestyle relay and men’s 400m freestyle relay).
Jas Lang: one gold medal (men 11 and under 50m breaststroke).
Paulka twins earn Warrnambool Swimming Club life
membership
By SUSIE GIESE
Jan. 27, 2016, 5 p.m.
PROUD: Warrnambool Swimming Club coach Jayson Lamb (middle) with newly-inducted life members Jack and Michael Paulka.
SIBLINGS who first represented Warrnambool Swimming Club 16 years ago have earned life membership at the club.
Jack and Michael Paulka joined the club in 2000, aged 11, and made their competition debut just a year later at an alljuniors meet in Mortlake.
They’ve since competed at state country, state and national levels.
Michael said the pair were thrilled to be recognised for their achievements at the club.
“It's a bit of an honour, really - there's not too many people on that board in the club rooms that are life members,” he
said.
The Paulka brothers represented Warrnambool at nationals in 2002 and ’03 and at country and state competitions from
2002 to ’04.
They won their first medals at country championships in Geelong 2002 and won medals at state level the following year.
Their swimming prowess led them to Carey Grammar and they spent four years representing Carey Aquatic before
returning to the south-west.
Michael won a 200-metre backstroke bronze medal at the 2005 nationals during his stint at Carey Grammar.
They also swam at School Sport Victoria level for four years, starting in 2002, and Jack represented Australia at World
School Championships in Greece in 2006.
The Paulkas have also represented Warrnambool at open nationals and have mentored around the club.
Michael, who is nearing the end of physiotherapy studies in Sydney, said there were plenty of fond memories for the
brothers during their time at the club.
“I think the biggest highlight was just making my first national team, and making it with Jack as well,” he said.
“The other big highlight was in 2004 when the club won the championship.
“Since we’ve been back, (the best bit) is watching the young guys that you’ve seen from the age of 12, watching them train
hard and do well.”
Michael extended thanks to his and Jack’s first coach, Jayson Lamb, who has had a big influence on their career.
“We were part of his first swimming squad and he was our very first swimming coach,” Michael said.
“He shaped us as swimmers and as people, too.”
Sophie Thomas takes win at Port Campbell in
Shipwreck Coast Swim Series
Susie Giese
Jan. 31, 2016, 12:30 p.m.
MAKING A SPLASH: Port Campbell's Twelve Apostles Plunge winners Hamish Rowland, 15, and Sophie Thomas, 19. Picture: Vicky Hughson
SHE was out of contention for the series win, but Warrnambool Swimming Club member Sophie Thomas finished the
Shipwreck Coast Swim Series in style.
The 19-year-old could only compete in two of the three series swims, but at Port Campbell’s Twelve Apostles Plunge, she
finished the way she started the series: with a win.
She was third out of the water overall and the first female to finish, following on from her win at Port Fairy.
“I was pretty happy with it,” Thomas said of her efforts across both swims.
“I didn’t have the best start (at Port Campbell), but then I got on to Mitch Gristede’s beat. I just tried to stick with the boys
as well as I could.”
Timboon’s Ahliya Harris was the series female winner, completing the three swims in a combined time of one hour, three
minutes and 55 seconds.
Melbourne’s Hamish Rowland took out the series win with a first placing on Saturday, edging out Gristede by three
seconds in the final race.
“There was a group of about five of us that lead out to the back (at Port Campbell) and as we came back in, Thomas was
next to me all the way back,” he said.
The 15-year-old said he was pleased to finish third at Port Fairy, and was thrilled when he followed that up with wins at
Warrnambool and Port Campbell for a combined time of 49 minutes and 13 seconds.
Predominantly a pool swimmer, Rowland said he has spent some time training with Jayson Lamb in the lead-up to the
series.
Warrnambool swimmers perform strongly at 2016
national age championships
JUSTINE McCULLAGH
April 6, 2016, 9:47 a.m.
PERSONAL BEST: Blake Turner swam well at national level in Adelaide.
SIX Warrnambool swimmers will turn their attention to the shortcourse season after finishing their longcourse campaigns
on a high note at the Swimming Australia age championships.
Blake Turner (16 years 50-metre freestyle), Holly Windahl (15 years 100m backstroke) and Emily Bartlett (14 years 100m
butterfly) competed in Adelaide.
th
Turner also teamed with Mitchell Gristede, Rhys Kent and Jason Pritchard to place 20 in the 4x100m 16 boys’ freestyle
relay.
Warrnambool coach Jayson Lamb said his charges performed strongly against quality opposition.
“Just to qualify, you have to be top 40 in Australia,” he said.
“The two girls swam to their times and Blake did a PB which was pleasing for him.”
Lamb said the relay team was impressive.
“They did really well – as a team they took two seconds off their entry time,” he said.
Warrnambool's Isaac Jones to swim at Australian
Olympic trials
JUSTINE McCULLAGH-BEASY
April 6, 2016, 1:30 p.m.
ON A MISSION: Warrnambool export Isaac Jones is back in Australia, ready to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympic trials in Adelaide.
WARRNAMBOOL export Isaac Jones is hoping to use his US College experience when he swims for a Rio Olympic Games
berth. Jones will contest the 400m freestyle, 200m freestyle, and 200m butterfly at the Australian team trials in Adelaide,
which start on Thursday. Warrnambool multi-class swimmers Ashleigh Pettigrew and Caitlyn Mackay will also compete.
Warrnambool juniors set for country championships
in Melbourne
Susie Giese
April 8, 2016, 3:30 p.m.
Young swimmers from the district will be competing in Melbourne this weekend.
TWENTY Warrnambool Swim Club members are set to compete in Melbourne this weekend at the Victorian Country All
Junior competition.
The group will join four young swimmers from Terang and Timboon swimming clubs competing at Melbourne Sport and
Aquatic Centre, with heats on Saturday and finals on Sunday.
Warrnambool coach Peter Finnigan said the swimmers – who range in age from eight to 14 – were looking forward to a
good weekend of competition.
“They’ve been training really hard, it’s been a big commitment for the kids,” he said.
“All the district’s clubs competed at Geelong three weeks ago to qualify for this meet.”
The competition will be the swimmers’ last long course event until after winter.
Swim club claims medals
Susie Giese
April 11, 2016, 4:10 p.m.
PODIUM FINISH: Alex Johnston won a silver medal in backstroke.
THREE Warrnambool swimming club members returned with medals in what was a successful outing for the club at the
Victorian Country All Junior competition over the weekend.
Jas Lang won gold medals in the 11-year-old boys’ butterfly and freestyle, Emily Bartlett claimed a gold in the 14-year-old
girls’ butterfly and a bronze in freestyle, and Alex Johnston took out silver in the 11-year-old boys’ backstroke.
Coach Peter Finnigan said there were plenty of strong results for the Warrnambool club’s representatives, with 12
members making finals.
“It was really good – well above expectations,” he said.
“They swam very well, got some great results.
“There were a lot of personal bests and fast times.”
Amy Johnston, Rachel Vickery, Tory Parsons, Tully Watt and Shelby Gristede were also among those to represent the club
in finals.
Terang Swimming Club member Ingrid Cavarsan also made three finals.
Warranmbool Swim Club Trio Represent at Open
Nationals
Susie Giese
April 15, 2016, 3:56 p.m.
Caitlyn Mackay
THREE Warrnambool Swimming Club members took their competition to the next level this week, competing at the
Australian open nationals, which doubled as an Olympics qualifier. Club coach Jayson Lamb said Issac Jones swam to his
times, making the 200m butterfly final and finishing eighth overall against the best in Australia. Ashleigh Pettigrew also
swam to her times throughout the week, while Caitlyn Mackay set personal best times during her swims.