A hot Saturday afternoon in Tamworth.
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This writer has pulled up at the corner of Belmont and Kent streets, home of the South and West Tamworth Memorial Pool.
It is the venue for this year’s edition of the New England and North West Swimming Championships.
There’s nowhere else you would rather be on a day where the mercury is nudging 40 degrees than in the water.
But for this writer, not to mention the parents and officials poolside, that will have to wait for another day. This is the time for the young ones to shine.
They’ve come from near and far.
Moree, Inverell, Glen Innes, Narrabri, Denman, Muswellbrook, Werris Creek, Gunnedah, Bingara, Armidale and Wee Waa to name just a few of the 22 clubs represented.
For 360 Scully Park, it is not just about what happens in the water as the host club for the two-day carnival.
“You can’t run events like this without the hard work of volunteers,” club president Peter Ryan said.
“We had people setting up at 6am on Saturday morning and the competition finished at 7pm on Saturday night before we’re back here from 7am on Sunday.”
The venue resembles tent city as pop-up marquees adorn both sides of the pool.
Results and times are taped up to the side of the shed.
A matter of metres away keeping cool are the members of the Moree Swimming Club.
“This weekend is the biggest on the calendar for us,” club secretary Tammy Elbourne said.
“We’ve got 12 at the sprints and 14 at the championships which is great for the club, we’re growing in size each year.
“We’re all very supportive of one another and it’s a great club to be a part of.”
The Championships are regarded as the final chance for youngsters to qualify for the Country Titles being held later this month.
But it is not all about the big picture.
Kids as young as six sport smiles as wide as Luna Park after achieving personal-best times.
It is also a time for young mentors, such as Inverell’s head coach Jack Butler, 19.
“I’ve always been involved in swimming from a young age and for the past 10 months have held this position,” Butler said.
As we talk he passes on tips to Emma, 9 and Noah, who looks younger than that.
“This is a great opportunity for our swimmers,” he said.
“It is a big experience for the younger ones and our older guys have been preparing to maximise their performance here.”
The cacophany of noise, water splashing, the beep to signify the start of each race, the Zooper Dooper’s being consumed.
This event is a wonderful example of Australia’s rich swimming culture. One youngster leaves a mark with his enthusiasm and pure love of the sport.
He is Will Walsh, 7.
I was interviewing his coach, Kootingal-Moonbi’s Graham Johnstone, when young Will came up after a swim.
Graham calls him ‘Phelpsy’ following a request from Will, who was inspired by the deeds of the great American swimmer Michael Phelps.
He stood there and took in Graham’s advice on the swim before replying - “It’s good fun.”
I could not have said it better myself.
