Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves.....

The State Ocean Swim Series kicked off yesterday with perfect conditions for the 10th anniversary of the 2.9km Harbour Crossing. The sun shone, the wind stayed down and the water was warm and flat as a pancake. How much better can it get? Quite a lot! Roving Reporter was there to watch (from the middle of the pack, with binoculars) as ocean swimming divas Dawn and Avy took line honours in their age groups.

This was no mean feat; nearly 1600 swimmers signed up to swim across the harbour and only 100 of them chickened out, so there were around 1500 people splashing, kicking, guggling, swiping and biting. Well, the biting may be total fiction, and possibly the swiping and perhaps guggling is just a word I made up to describe being swum over but there sure was a lot of splashing going on.

Out of the 1500 Dawn was 125th overall (27th woman) and Avy was 248th overall (59th woman).

Sisters are doing it for themselves,

standing on their own 2 feet, ringing on their own bells

South City put up 15 swimmers this year,  a record number and representative of around 25% of club membership, proving how popular ocean swimming has become. It seems that 7 and 9 are lucky numbers for South City with 6 swimmers achieving either 7th or 9th placing in their age group. 10 Of the club's swimmers finished in the top 25% of overall which also confirms that South City are as strong in the ocean as in the pool. Another fun fact - we have a lot of Dave's.

To top it off a number of our swimmers achieved unprecedented improvements over last season's times: David (what is his secret?) Spencer slashed his time by a whopping 10 minutes (not a typo!); Anne Smith wiped 9 minutes off her time; Dave Walker had a big smile with 7 minutes off last year's time and Liz Hayes improved by 5 minutes. Wow!

Here are the results in order of finishing time:
Giles Walker 45.36
Dave Donaldson 46.22
Mike Harrison 46.39
Dawn Walker 46.50 - 1st in age group
Dave Graham 48.14
Grant Sykes 48.31
Avy Judelson 50.19 - 1st in age group
Deryn McGregor 51.36
Vince Kirrane 52.02
Liz Hayes 52.57
Dave Spencer 55.25
Dave Walker 55.58
Pat Castles 57.01
Anne Smith 1.11.06
Tania Allan 1.25.45

Apologies if I've left anyone out. Big ups to everyone involved!

Papa-Paparazzi

The paparazzi have been following Dawn, Giles and Dan around lately what with articles in MastersCrawl (twice!) and now in the Howick and Pakuranga Times. We were all dismayed to hear the Slam the Dam swim in Lake Mead was canceled but we know they had a great time in Rotovegas. Whenever our swimmers make the news it's time to warm up the scanner and get it up on the blog so if you missed seeing the front page article in the H&P Times here it is in living colour.

(Don't forget the backstroke clinic starts this Monday 4th November, also all the NISC photos are now up on Flickr).

That's a Wrap!!!

Before I forget - the backstroke clinic starts next Monday so if you want to be on it but haven't let me know yet please do so pronto.

North Island Champs Done & Dusted
They were very successful weren't they? Here is why:

• A very hard working committee who knew what to do, how to do it and quietly and efficiently got it done
• Counties Manukau officials who mysteriously (or not) turned up and did a truly fabulous job. They don't get paid by the way, they do it because they love it.
• All you wonderful club members, family members and friends who turned out in force as volunteers: marshaling, timekeeping, registering, cooking and taking care of refreshments, recording, running, announcing, lap counting, photographing (David is still tirelessly working on our behalf uploading photos to our Flickr account while we are resting), providing spot prizes and, of course, cheer leading.

YOU are what made it happen. So from every swimmer who attended - THANK YOU you are AMAZING!

The Good News
This meet was successful in terms of results also. Virtually everyone swum the swims of their lives with many, many PB's being achieved. For the club, as far as NZ records were concerned 2 individual ones were broken and one was equalled (which I'm confident will be recognized), and 3 relay records were broken. Suffice to say there were a lot of smiley faces for all swimmers achieving PB's and records.

Now The Other  News
If you've been enjoying Speedwork Monday's.........sorry folks but it's noses to the grindstone now. Ocean swims are around the corner and for the next month the focus will be on endurance.

Yum Yum's and Up Coming Backstroke Clinic

Food for the North Island Short Course Champs
For the prize giving, to avoid having too much of some things and not enough of others, Fiona's put together this suggested food list. If you can provide any of these, put your name on the list or talk to Fiona.
If you want to make something different, by all means, just add it to the list or let Fiona know.
We’ll add sausages and / or pizzas as numbers and timing dictate.”

Backstroke Clinic
We had breaststroke, we had the freestyle and now it's time for the BACKSTROKE clinic. This will include 4 one hour sessions to be held on Monday's during normal swimming time (7pm to 8pm) and will be taken by yours truly. So if you don't know how to do backstroke other than lie on your back on the water and throw your arms around then this is the clinic for you.

We will be covering: correct body and head position, kick, body rotation, effective catch and arm pull and finish with individual stroke correction.

The dates for the clinic are 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th November - all Mondays.

If you want to attend please email me, for no other reason than to give me an idea of numbers.

Idle Ramblings

I don't remember how it came up but Wednesday night at training Stu mentioned that he remembered milk being 4 cents a bottle. This is when milk came in 1 pint glass bottles, 1 pint being 600 ml, and the bottles had foil on the top. There used to be a great big layer of cream on the top since we didn't get the homogenised variety. I never got any of the cream however, since I would go to the fridge and every single one of the 4 or 5 bottles of milk in there had been opened and a 'mouse' had sucked the cream off already. That mouse being my brother of course.

Anyhow, Denise also remembered milk being 4 cents a pint and her father earning around $6000 a year. This all got me to thinking (always dangerous), do we complain about milk being so expensive now because it really is or is it just inflation in action? The price of milk varies depending where you go but Countdown sells 2L for 3.39. So I did some mental calculations and was left gasping - even taking inflation into account, milk is around 3 times more expensive now than it was in 1975.

But maybe Denise's dad was a CEO earning mega. Time for Dr Google. Please bear in mind that this isn't an academic article - it isn't the time or place, just a thought-provoking 'thingy' on the price of milk so my only reference was www.stats.govt.nz/infoshare (since you asked!). Numbers are averages not medians and no account has been made for that almost certainly there are more women in the workforce today than there were in 1975 which will skew income data. But all that (and more) aside.....

In 1975 the average weekly wage was $95. By the way, Stats NZ says that $95 in 1975 equates to around $850 in 2012. Let's call $95, $2.88 per hour, just for the sake of argument.

In 2012 that average weekly wage was $860 (roughly). Let's call $860, $21.50 per hour. It doesn't matter if it's before or after tax since we are treating both 1975 and 2012 the same.  Accountants may disagree with me on that, I'm not an accountant as you know.

How much milk could we get for our money? In 1975, $2.88 would have bought us 43L of milk. In other words you could buy 43L of milk for every 1 hour worked. Sounds pretty good. In 2012 $21.50 buys around 13L of milk, so 13L for every hour worked. Turns out my mental arithmetic wasn't far off the mark. Milk is roughly 3 to 3.5 times more expensive than it was 40 years ago.

Race Night Results Out

Wednesday was the last race night before the North Island champs. There were 19 swimmers and from these swimmers 17 new records were set, nearly 1 record for every swimmer in attendance. Records were from 9 men's races, 5 women's races and 3 in the relays. There were some very good times posted so it seems that the preparation for the North Island Championships is on track.

The wooden spoon wasn't presented so somebody hurry up and do something stupid! Swimmer of the Month was John Grigg. This came as no surprise. John has been a member of our club for only a short time but he has made jaw dropping progress and is always smiling. Keep it up John

Finally, please get your entry in for the North Island Champs. Barry has to process the entries and it would be helpful to him if they didn't all rush in at the last minute.

And now for a message from........

.....the committee.

CRUNCH TIMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. TIME FOR ACTIONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

The NISC 2013 is set to go on Saturday and Sunday 26^th and 27th October 2013 – LABOUR WEEKEND.  

South City competitors. 

We need a great turnout of South City members for this meet.  In 2010 we had 23 from South City – need at least 30 this time around.  It’s your chance to get a nationally recognised time, compete against others in your age group, have some bragging rights and (the best of all), have a great time. 

Entry form and schedule of events now available:

(a)   obtain copy from Sally at swimming training  (OR)

(b)   go to www.nzmastersswimming.org.nz/competition

We need the entries in by 17^th October so that the paper work can be done.  The sooner you can action YOUR ENTRY the better.

Volunteers

Thank you for those who have already volunteered.  Still need time keepers etc.  Sally has a schedule for volunteers – please complete as soon a possible.

Tony Shacklock will also need help in food preparation for the prize giving on Sunday afternoon. He will organise a list of what's needed so that you can choose what to bring.  More on this closer to the big event.

Social function - Saturday Night 26^th October.

There is a social function / dinner being held at Wellington’s Restaurant & Bar, Waipuna Lodge,

Waipuna Road, Mt Wellington over looking the Panmure Basin.  Cost of function is $40.  7-00 pm for 7-30 pm start.   Cash bar.   This function is for anyone, competitors, club members, friends and family.  Great way to mix and mingle.

Competitors can include social function on their entry form.  Non swimmers can use the entry form (complete relevant parts only) or complete schedule held at the Pool and give money to Anne Legg. 

We will need to know numbers attending by 21 October 2013

Spot Prizes

We require suitable items as spot prizes to be awarded to competitors during the meet. If you have any suitable objects see Tony Shacklock, Barry Davies or John Trubnick. 

Perhaps your employer has something that could be used.  New towels, swim gear, wine, useful gadgets, un-wanted presents, something you wanted to give away for ages – now is your chance.

Ribbons Galore At Taupo Spring Fling

It's club night on the 2nd October - there will be 50's, 100's and relays to help with preparation for the North Island Champs which we are hosting.

9 Of our club members made the trek to Taupo for the 'Brown Trout Spring Fling' (no trout were flung, I promise). Taupo is a very fast pool and if you want to swim good times or break a record then it's the place to go. Everyone, and I do mean everyone swam exceptionally well with so many PB's being swum that I don't know how many there were - let's just say truckloads and leave it at that.

Five swimmers won their age group (on points) - Dawn Walker, Giles Walker, Barry Davies, Mike Harrison and Avy Judelson - well done guys (and gals). They have the ribbons to prove it, check out the photo below.

Congratulations also to John Grigg who was swimming in his first meet. Not only did he beat wife and seasoned competitor Fiona in one race but he won his heat in the 25m Free with a show of blistering speed.

Postal Swim - Be In!

If you want to take part in the 800/1500 postal swim just let John T know and he will make the arrangements for you. You can choose between 800 or 1500 and I think you may be able to have a split taken at the 800m mark on your way to the 1500m which means you can enter both (John to confirm).

These are fun events and are a chance to pit yourself against others from all around the country without even having to leave the city.

Be in to win!

Accolades and Queue Jumpers

Results from Wednesday's race night have now been posted. 18 Swimmers were in attendance as were 9 officials. A big thanks to the officials as these race nights can't go ahead without them. In all there were 9 new records set - 5 to the ladies, 3 to the men and 1 new relay record.

Personally, I would like to make mention of the time that Giles swam for his 100m Free - 1.00.47 - that is really knocking loudly on the door of a sub-60 swim, so we shall be looking for that milestone some time very soon (no pressure Giles!).

Swimmer of the Month went to Anne Legg. This was very deserved. Anne works tirelessly in the background arranging social events for all of us to enjoy. Thanks Anne and now you can enjoy looking at the trophy on your mantlepiece for a few weeks.

The wooden spoon was also given out. This one is a bit of a case of 'you had to be there'. But it went to our very own Barry Davies (aka B-Dizzle). Not to be out-shone by Audrey and Rachel, Barry heard 'take your marks, GO; so he did'. Unfortunately, it wasn't his race. Or perhaps he thought Audrey and Rachel were drowning and being ever gallant he was simply diving in to save them - sounds good anyway doesn't it Barry.

Don't forget to vote on what you prefer in the way of a t-shirt for the North Island Champs. There are only 2 days left before the survey closes so please cast your votes now. Thank you.