Luca Cheal from Lightning Ridge Public School during the butterfly leg of the 10 years girls IM. Photo: pixonline.com
IT was the younger students turn to chase State Swimming Carnival berths at the Monckton Swimming Centre in Armidale yesterday.
Secondary students had contested their North West CHS Swimming Carnival in Armidale on Monday, yesterday it was the primary students from across the region who had the chance to win a North West title as well as claim a berth in the NW team to contest the State Carnival at the Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre at Homebush on April 2/3.
Students ranging in age from eight years to 13 swam yesterday, said North West Schools Sports Association regional sports organiser, Richard Rowlings.
“We had a cast of thousands here today,” Rowlings said of the enthusiastic and eager young primary school students.
“It’s always much bigger than the secondary carnival, we always get a big roll up from all the schools in the region.”
They came from as far west as Lightning Ridge to the impressive Monckton Swimming Centre with its eight lane Olympic pool and six lane warm up pool.
As with the secondary swimmers, the first three place getters in each event gained a berth in the NW side to go to Sydney next month.
The STate CHS Swimming Carnival is held April 4-6 after two days of primary competition at their State Carnival in SOPAC on April 2/3.
Rowlings should have all the qualifiers for the two State Carnivals by late this afternoon.