Fun Night - Wednesday 6th December

Hi All. Wednesday 6th December is our last club night of the year so we are having a Fun Relay Night followed by supper. Between 7pm and 8pm we will put you into relay teams and hold some fun relays. They won't be the usual relays but races that should put a smile on your face.

After 8pm there will be a light supper and general conviviality.

There is no need to RSVP as we will make up the teams on the night but we do suggest you are there in time for a 7pm start.

If you are not having fun you are probably somewhere else!

Masters Xmas Brunch

Hi all

Christmas is approaching rapidly, so it's time for our annual brunch. Once again we're at the Homestead Cafe in Lloyd Elsmore park and your committee has agree to subsidise it $10 per adult (including partners).

At training, there will be a sign-up sheet and a menu (attached). This year we're asking you to indicate what you are likely to order so the hosts can make sure they have enough food for us.

When: 9:30 am, 26th November, 2017.

Where: Homestead Cafe, 2R Bells Road, Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga.

We hope to see you there.

Two important training changes

Hi all

 

Here are a couple of changes to our training in the next couple of weeks.

1. Monday 23rd October - Earlier time: 6:30 - 7:30 pm

With Labour Weekend coming up, we've been asked to train 1/2 hr earlier on the Monday. We'd to accommodate this in the interests of our very good relationship with LEP management.

2. Sunday 29th October - Venue change to Pakuranga College pool.

On Sunday 29th October we are swapping venues with HPK Swim Club so they can use Lloyd Elsmore pool for a swim meet. We did this successfully last year. There's a map below for those who've not been there before.

New Swimmer of the Month, Please follow our blog

Club night results from Wednesday are out. We also have a new Swimmer of the Month. Congratulations to Rodrigo. Rodrigo has not been with us for very long but he has made HUGE gains and after a very short time has already stepped up to competing in his first Masters meet which was the North Island Champs and is all set to make some waves at the short course champs at Whakatane next weekend. Well done Rodrigo.

A few people have commented that they don't always get all the posts. That may be because generally when something is posted on the blog we also have to send it out as an email as very (VERY) few of you are directly following or subscribing to the blog. Sometimes we bypass the email bit and just post on the blog; if you are not following then you won't get the post. You may only be getting this message because I have also emailed it out.

If you subscribe to the blog we only need to post to it and don't also need to email the same information out so PLEASE use the method below to subscribe (automatically follow) our blog:

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On the right hand side of the blog scroll down till you see the box where you can run a search. It's not far down, I promise. Directly underneath this you will see an invitation to follow the blog by email. Simply pop your email address in here and hit the submit button. That is all there is to it, now you will get all posts by email as soon as they go up. Once you are subscribed you can undo it by clicking the spanners and then 'remove'. Thank you.

Club night this Wednesday 4th October

Hi Team. There is club night this Wednesday so if you feel like seeing how fast you can go over 25m, 50m, 100m or 200m come on down and have a crack. You can choose whatever strokes you like.

Results of 2017 North Island Champs

Last weekend Waitakere Masters ran the North Island Masters swimming champs and South City had a small group of swimmers putting on a great show

Mark Cowling has had a great year in the pool and broke the 100 M IM record for 55-59 men.  Avy broke the 50 free record for 65-69 women.

Mark, Rodrigo and Avy each placed 2^nd in their respective age groups.  Rodrigo was at his first meet as a swimmer for South City. We have been watching him go from strength to strength so are in no way surprised that he did so well. Watch this space!

The 1500 & 800's, supposed to be swum on Friday eve had to be put off to the Saturday because of a 'biosecurity hazard' in the pool on Friday night.  So the whole meet was run on Saturday.  Well done to Waitakere for managing this challenging feat.

After being out of the pool for 2 weeks with illness, Fiona was happiest with her 1500 free time and pleased with most of the rest.  Needless to say, she and Avy were both pretty tired by the time the 400 free rolled around as the last event of the meet as due to the bio hazard they had swum all the long events in one day!

Here is our small but very accomplished team. Looks like a mixed relay team to me

Awards Dinner

Saturday 15th marked our 4th Annual Awards Dinner. We returned to the Thai Flame for this occasion as it has served us well in the past, we always enjoy their food, we get a room to ourselves and we don't get lost getting there.

It was time to mark some very special accomplishments that were achieved over the previous financial year.

Drum roll please........

Swimmer of the Year: Avy Judelson
Master of the Year: Tony Shacklock
Most Improved: Stuart Bell

And now for a round of applause! A hearty congratulations to our winners. Our winners are very inspiring and it is easy to see why South City Masters is a big and successful club when we have members like these in our midst. Keep up the good work!

We are a good looking bunch too. Thanks to Rochelle M we have the photos to prove it.

Two of our three winners, Tony and Avy

Thanks also to everyone involved in organising this event.

Skins (Manukau Masters) - Entries Closing Soon

This is a swim meet right on our door step and is loads of fun. Swim a length, get around 30s rest, swim another length. It is knockout and if you are one of two swimmers left at the last round then the last length is a race off.

Points are dished out to individuals AND to the club the swimmer belongs to. There will be individual winners based on points and a trophy for the TOP CLUB.

Let's be TOP CLUB!!! To be top club we need a lot of swimmers there. That means you.

Past experience tells me there will be a truck load of spot prizes and a yummy spread afterwards.

And if you aren't sure you will be let out of the house because family members can't cope with your absence, just bring them along. Your family can swim too. You didn't know that did you? Neither did I until yesterday. You don't need to be an affiliated 'Masters Swimmer' for this meet, anyone can swim. So if your magical other half or a friend wants to have a go, put an entry in for them too.

Entries are closing excruciatingly soon though. Get your entry form by following the link below:
Entry to Skins, hosted by Manukau Masters

Just Skins 22nd July

Manukau Masters will be holding their annual Just Skins meet on 22nd July at Manurewa pool in Sykes Rd. This is a fast and furious knock out event which is lots of fun. Also, the Jane Logan trophy for top club is up for grabs and the more of us that swim, the more points we get and.......yep, the better chance we have of getting our grubby mitts on the trophy.

Get your entry in. You can get an entry here:

Just Skins entry form

There are also entry forms poolside.

A couple of notices

The first notice is just to let you know that the pace clock is not working and it may be down for a while. Most of the training we do at masters revolves around intervals with set sendoff times and rest periods. If you have a stopwatch function on a waterproof watch it will be very useful to have on your person over the next while. You may need to lend it to the lane leader or everyone simply assist their lane mates to know what is happening throughout a set. Please be patient while the clock is being mended.

The second notice is regarding our next social function, and don't we all love a get together that doesn't involve wearing goggle eyes and swimming endless laps. Please read the notice below.

Masters Swimming CANCELLED tonight

We've just heard from the management at Lloyd Elsmore pool to say that the pool temperature is at 33.5 C and rising!

Swimming tonight (Monday 5th) is CANCELLED. Apologies to all.

Please assume that Wednesday's race night will be on as usual, unless you hear otherwise.

Regards
Tony Shacklock
South City Masters Swimmers

May News

Hi all. Firstly, May club night results have been posted. There was a pretty dismal turnout this month but this is probably a reflection that the World Masters Games have drawn to a close and our swimmers are a little 'tired' and taking a breather. All is back to normal now so we are looking forward to the usual turnout in June. Just one club record was broken this month.

An informal survey has just been sent out to gather up all the results of club members who took part in the World Masters Games and to get a feel for the level of enjoyment etc. Please, if you took part in any capacity, take a few minutes to fill in the sheet, save it and send it back as an attachment by 19th May. If you have any good photos from WMG send those in too. We will then put together a short article about our club members at WMG.

April News

April club night results are posted. It was 400's night so only the usual hardy souls taking on the long swim but there were still 3 records set: Avy Judelson, Mark Cowling and Lapo Nustrini set new records in their events and age groups.

There was no wooden spoon but the club was delighted to award the Swimmer of the Month award as a duet. Father and son David and Thomas Tremlett have competed all summer in the Kohi summer series. They represent a wonderful example of family bonding, awesome work guys.

It was the annual 10 km marathon swim this previous weekend and we had 2 swimmers taking part - Tim Aitchison and Dave Donaldson. 10 km is an unimaginable distance for most of us to contemplate so their swim is inspirational. Tim and Dave, you are legends.

Last but not least, the World Masters Games kick off this Friday 21st. We've got about 12 swimmers competing in the swimming, 2 or 3 who chose another sport to compete in and a few are competing in other sports as well as swimming, including triathlon, rowing and cycling. Best of luck to all who are going to this once in a lifetime event.

Club Night Results

Yes, they are up. This was the second to last club night before the World Masters Games so there is now just one left if you wish a bit of practice before the big event.

5 records were broken, 2 of them to young Mr Barry Davies. Dave Jamieson picked up a record as did Mark Cowling. Then the ladies 200 fly (age 50-54) went down for the 3rd time in 3 months so this looks like being a yoyo event - who wants it next?

Next club night will be on 5th April and will be 400's night.

Handicapped Sea Swim - Perfect Conditions

Numbers might have been a little down this year due to all kinds of other events being on this weekend but there was a terrific turnout from those who were hanging around Auckland and didn't want to miss out on a bit more sea swimming.

Conditions couldn't have been more perfect if they had been ordered by the weather gods themselves. The day started out just overcast and dull enough to keep the crowds away which meant we had the beach and all the car parks to ourselves. No walking for miles this year to get to the picnic ground! Yet it was very warm, not a ripple on the ocean and the water temperature was a balmy 21 degrees at least.

The contest was swum over a choice of 2000m or 1000m with also a choice of wearing wettie or skins. Keeping track of everyone's times over the last couple of seasons has certainly paid off and the handicapping was magnificent with almost everyone coming in within a very small window. Awesome work handicappers - you've got the job!

After the swimming everyone is naturally thirsty and hungry and what a feast. Everyone excelled themselves with a wondrous display of both savoury and sweet delights. I hope no one noticed that I went straight to dessert (sshhh).

Thanks to all our helpers on the day - our handicappers, the starter, our safety team on the water and our chefs on the bbq and anyone else I have left out but shouldn't have. Thanks also to the sun which then came out right on cue about 5 minutes after the last swimmer came in.

Here are the results:
2000m
1st woman: Avy Judelson
1st man: Pat Castles
1000m
1st woman: Yoko Otani
1st man: Mike Wansink

Congratulations to our winners for some great swimming and for holding off the mass of swimmers that was coming at them from behind.

But wait, there's more........... we still have Swimmer of the Month and the Wooden Spoon to give out.

Swimmer of the Month
Mandy Attard has been hard at, heading on down to Kohi Beach every Thursday and putting in a mighty effort. Those of us who have done the Kohi series know how (strangely) Kohi gets windy to almost cyclone proportions at almost exactly 5pm every Thursday and it becomes like swimming in a washing machine. Mandy is coming 4th in what is a horrendously hard age group. Nice one Mandy.

Wooden Spoon
Well I chuckled to myself when I heard this one as it was exactly the kind of thing I could easily do myself. Pat, Pat, Pat, Pat, Pat - I'm so glad it was you and not me and thanks for dobbing yourself in too or none of us would have even known. What happened was this - Pat was enjoying a lovely swim down at Eastern Beach (as you do). Nek minnit he swims smack into the yellow pole. That's gonna hurt in more ways than one.

BBQ & Sea Swim at Eastern Beach

Hi all

Those going to the barbecue and sea swim will need to know it's at Eastern Beach. We'll be at the northern end (turn left at the 'T' intersection when you arrive at the beach).

Sea swim:
12:00 briefing for 12:30 start.

If the beach is busy, there is extra parking at Rogers Park at the end of Jern Place. Turn left at the last road before you get to the beachfront (after the roundabout).

It might pay to bring a raincoat and umbrella - that way it won't rain.

Hope to see you there.

February club night results are out!!!

Hi all. Results from last week's club night are up ready for viewing so if you were there you can now check out how you did. If you weren't there, check them out anyway.

There are only 2 more club nights before the WMG so if you are competing you should be getting yourself along to club nights and having a bit of practice at all things racing.

Congratulations to Dave Walker! He managed to double dip and win both the Swimmer of the Month award AND the wooden spoon all at the same time. This is not an easy feat to accomplish so well done on that. Dave is having a sterling season at the Kohi Summer Series and earned the SOM award for his efforts there. As for the wooden spoon, well rumour has it he swam straight past the pier and into the boat lane at Eastern Beach and Dave Donaldson had to go rescue him from his navigation skills so he didn't get run over by a boat (thanks DD).

South City Masters printed gear

Hi all

The committee are considering getting some more attire or gear printed with the South City Masters logo, and would like some idea of what the members would like. We've previously done it with tee-shirts, polo shirts, baseball caps and bags. We could do more of one of these, or something else.

If you have any ideas please talk to one of your committee.

Annual Sea Swim & Barbecue

Hi all

It's time for our annual sea swim and barbecue (now that summer has finally shown up!).

When: Sunday, 5th March 2017. Swim Briefing: 12:00 noon.

Swim start: 12:30pm. Lunch to follow the swims.

Where: Little Bucklands Beach or Eastern Beach (weather dependent)

Sea Swim: Handicapped by wetsuit or non-wetsuit, 1 km and 2 km options

Who: Members and their guests are all welcome. Bring the family!

What: The Club will provide sausages. We ask that others please bring salad
and dessert plates for sharing. Please bring your own chairs, drinks, blankets,
children, etc, etc.

How: Members please sign up for the swim on the entry form available at training.
So that we can complete the handicapping, please return form to Sally at the pool, or to any Committee member by

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

Sorry, no entries on the day.

Cost: Free to members and their guests.

Help: We need a barbecue and, preferably, a gazebo. Anyone who can offer these for the day, please contact a committee member.