Winter Solstice, 21 June.......Hey, That's Tomorrow!!!!!!

Winter solstice is the moment at which the sun is at it's greatest height as observed from the North Pole. On this day we will have our longest night and our shortest day. Most people, however, will just call this 'mid-winter'. Greatest height, shortest day, mid-winter - this all pales into insignificance. The really important news is.......

SOUTH CITY ARE HAVING THEIR ANNUAL MID-WINTER DINNER

The mid-winter dinner will be at the Thai Flame on 26th July (and so will you!). Kick off is at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. There is a set menu and club members are subsidised. See the poster below for details.

Winter solstice may be but a moment in time but the memories from the South City festival of fun (aka dinner) will last a lifetime.

Nikki will be collecting money and sign up details at the pool. Don't dilly dally!

Another Challenge Meet Done and Dusted

It was quite early for a Sunday morning and there were a few bleary eyed swimmers walking rather slowly through the car park towards the pool but once the whistle blew everyone perked up and it was all on. The racing in this contest is fast and furious as there is only one hour to complete the competition so swimmers have to stay on their toes and be on alert for their next race. For some, there really was no rest as they were in every, or almost every event.

Racing was tight, much tighter than the scoreboard would suggest. By racing's end South City had achieved what they were unable to in 2013 and that was to defeat Manukau in the Challenge. The final score was 217 South City to 150 Manukau. As retainers of the Challenge trophy it is now up to South City to challenge another masters swimming club.

The format of the challenge seems to be working superbly; with a little bit of everything and it's able to be completed in an hour. Any club should be able to complete the competition within their normal training period and so not have to book any additional pool time. So far, it seems that clubs are happy with it and keen to be included.

After the racing was done and dusted the only thing left was to sit down together over the usual Sunday coffee and muffin. The cafe staff were a little stretched but seemed to cope ok (thanks Young for drumming up some extra chairs for us).

South City and Manukau may be rivals in the pool but that is where the rivalry ends; these two clubs are great friends and there is always enjoyable camaraderie between the swimmers. It's no coincidence that during the Kohi Summer Series season we all hang around the same area together.

A big thanks goes to all the club members who officiated at the meet; these things never run without you. You can't all be named individually but you know who you are: starters, marshals, recorders, IOT's, counters, managers. Also, thanks to everyone who came to cheer the team on. Finally, thanks to the swimmers - from both clubs; thanks for an enjoyable hour of entertaining and very high quality swimming.

Swimmers from both clubs - apparently I was supposed to push the mute button on my jersey but I can't be bothered (deal with it!!!)

Club Night Results Are Up

4th June was the first Wednesday of the new month and as per usual that meant race night. There were 17 swimmers and 6 officials enjoying the splashing and dashing. Another 12 new records were set, 7 for the men, 4 for the women and for the first time in a while, a new relay record went down. Well done to all new record holders.

Swimmer of the month was awarded to our very own Fiona Grigg. Fiona did a magnificent job of rallying the troops for the Roskill meet in a fine display of organisational skills; putting the relay teams together and making sure everyone was in the right place at the right time, booking the dinner venue and driving the mini-van to and from the pool. Fiona had to think about her own racing while having all these distractions. Take my word for it, it is no easy task as organising us lot is a bit like herding cats so well done Fiona (I pick you to do it again next time!).

The wooden spoon was handed out this month and there were probably not too many surprises there since Lapo's start in the 50 back has become quite legendary. To be honest, I think Lapo showed geat fitness and lung power and deserves a pat on the back for that too.

**SPECIAL NOTICE**

Thomas Ansorg Swim Clinic at Lloyd Elsmore Pool

Current NZ Commonwealth swimming coach Thomas Ansorg has agreed to come to Lloyd Elsmore to lead a private swim clinic on both breaststroke and fly (both in 1 session).

Proposed dates/times are:

• Sunday August 10th, 7am to 9.30am
• Sunday September 28th, 7am to 9.30am

Based on overall attendance the price will be somewhere between $40-$60 to be paid by members beforehand. Cost will be confirmed once we have firm numbers.

This may sound expensive but Thomas does provide first class training. Several members have attended sessions recently at G.I. and the Millennium, and found it extremely valuable (Giles, Dawn, Avy, Dan, Nicole, Sarah L, Mark Cowling). Please approach them for details if needed.

Max attendance is 20 people. First come, first served. All South City club members are welcome.

Please note the session will be approx 2hrs in the pool with a 30 minute poolside debrief after the session. The session is a mixture of theory and practice so there will be a bit of standing about between explanations and swimming.

There is an expectation that swimmers attending have already grasped the basics of these strokes, and will use this session to improve their technique, learn drills etc. Thomas is happy to discuss individuals goals prior to the session to assist in focussing the clinic content.

We need to know numbers to secure one of the proposed dates with Thomas, and also to book the pool.

Please email Giles to indicate interest on:

gileswalker@rocketmail.com

Closing date for expressions of interest is Saturday 14th June. If interested please indicate your preferred date(s) and your full name.

Twisting By The Pool

John and Avy were very lucky to have a holiday in Mexico recently while the rest of us plebs were were rugging up in the looming winter. Here are a couple of pics of what we missed just to make us a little jealous.

Now I will just drink this one and order a few more. Oh, look below, there are a few more!

I love the nightlife, I've got to boogie.....and try drinks of every colour

Erratum

The challenge meet with Manukau Masters will be at 7.30 am on Sunday 8th June at Lloyd Elsmore pool, not 7 am.

This error was deliberate so you would appreciate the extra half hour sleep in when you realised you were getting one.

Enjoy!

Grrrrrr - time to get your challenging!

This years South City v Manukau Masters Challenge cup will take place at Lloyd Elsmore pool, 7am on Sunday 8th June.

Team - It's time to win the challenge and show what all our hard training can achieve!

Our team selectors will be contacting certain club members in the next few days to assess availability for this meet before final selection, and who is swimming which events (subject to negotiation!!)

Please keep an eye on your email for further information.

Go South City!!

We Missed You

Camp Mum (aka Fiona) rocked up to LEP Saturday lunchtime in a van which might described as a large fridge on wheels into which 8 of us piled and headed off to the Cameron pools for the annual Auckland Short Course meet. Another 8 of us plus supporters were already there so things were shaping up to be both successful and fun.

Roskill Masters had a fantastic turnout for this fun and friendly meet and everything ran like clockwork. Roskill really should be commended, particularly these days when it is difficult for any club to run a sanctioned meet. Well done Roskill Masters!

All our swimmers were on form, swimming well and a whole bunch of PB's were achieved. Anne discovered that carbo loading for 2 weeks on the trot and going on a cruise is the new way to taper for a swim meet while Angela O was busy figuring out how to knock a whole 10 seconds off her 100 IM time (what's your secret Angela?). Giles was a very happy chappy when he cracked the 60 second barrier for his 100 Free while Mike H also had a scorcher in the 100 Free with a 1.04 - these lads just keep getting faster and one might wonder where it will end, but hey, there's Rio in 2016. Fiona, Tania and Mark all tackled the 100 Fly - why is anyone's guess but they were all looking very stylee.

Lapo stretched his new butterfly muscles in the 50 Fly and was looking very strong (it's ok Lapo, you can pay me for the clinic later). Now here is where I get a little confused; at one point of the 50 fly I realised Michael Phelps was in New Zealand but on a second look it turned out to be Dan making butterfly look like a doddle in the park. Dave B, Vince, Dawn, Avy and Andy were all looking very smooth in their 50 Free's and produced some very slick times that youngsters would be proud of.  Not least, Ross might just take the cake for achieving 4 PB's from 4 swims and cracking milestones in both the 50 and 100 Br. Phew! Have I left anyone out?

There was some light comical relief during the course of the evening, some of which was provided by Mike in the van who was quite convinced that doing several tasks one at a time qualified as multitasking. Also, if you look at the photo below you might get a glimpse of the view that Lapo may well have seen during his backstroke start.

If you want an explanation you may need to ask Lapo. No Lapo, you cannot have a refund on the backstroke clinic but yes, I may need to add a couple more drills to it next time I run it.

After all the fun of the swimming it was time to pile back into the van and head to Thai Flame to refuel. 

But wait, there's more, and this is the most important part because South City scored two more national records!

Andy Simpson is back after a long hiatus and is straight back into record breaking mode, smashing the record for 50m Free for men aged 65-69. Congrats Andy!

Next to score was the Mixed 4 x 50 Freestyle relay age 200 to 239. They lowered the record by 1.8s which is a huge amount on these relay records. A big woop woop to Andy Simpson, Avy Judelson, Dawn Walker and Giles Walker who made this record happen.

Once all the swimming was done and dusted and points added up pretty much everyone did well in their age group. As for overall points, South City were agonisingly close to taking it this year, gaining 287 points to Roskill's 300, a measly 13 points shy. That means we need more swimmers next year. This really is a fun meet with no pressure so if you think you might want to dip your toes into pool racing, this is the one to do it in.

The 'rockin' it team with the Joan Monaghan trophy won for the 4 x 50 Free 200+ mixed relay (NZ Record)

From our 'did you know' files - 13 months ago South City had been completely erased from from the record books, holding zero New Zealand Masters swimming records. At the Roskill meet 12 months ago we got back into record books with 2 individual records. Now, 12 months later our club holds a total of 9 individual national records and 4 national relay records (although yesterday's 2 and the 3 I set last weekend at the national LC champs are still to be ratified). 

Also, we now have no less than 10 club members holding NZ records. Here are our current NZ record holders, in alphabetical order:

Kath Barclay - 3 relays

Margaret Bell - 1 relay

Mark Cowling - 1 relay

Diane Grogan - 1 relay

Mike Harrison - 1 relay

Avy Judelson - 2 individual and 3 relays

Deryn McGregor - 6 individual and 2 relays

Andrew Simpson - 1 individual and 1 relay

Dawn Walker - 2 relays

Giles Walker - 1 relay

I'm guessing that's the most record holders we have EVER had! 

Just one more thing before I sign off. Thanks Fiona for doing such a fab job of meet manager, food booker, van driver and relay rallier - awesome. Also to the supporters who came and cheered and refereed and helped with timekeeping. And.........................I'm done.

Out At Last - Club Night Results

Thank you for your patience while waiting for last week's club night results. I've been out of town for a few days so am now playing catch up.

Race night last Wednesday saw numbers back up to usual with 20 swimmers strutting their stuff and our ever diligent band of officials doing their thing, keeping time, marshalling and starting. Timekeepers seemed pretty pleased with the new stopwatches. Times were quick, especially the men with the men setting 8 new records and the ladies backing them up with 3 new records. There was only time for one heat of relays; no records this month in the relays.

This month there were no surprises when Swimmer of the Month was handed out. Dawn has been smashing it out in the ocean all season. If it wasn't enough to be overall winner in her age group in the State Ocean Swim Series then what better way to spend a long Easter weekend than by swimming 10km and reaching shore ahead of all the other women. Top that!

The wooden spoon award is returning to its original roots and only going to be awarded when someone does something worthy. Anyone can nominate anyone for something they think is worth the wooden spoon (fun but not embarrassing please). Never fear, I'm always doing daft stuff so no doubt I will provide plenty of fodder if you keep your eyes open.

Marathon Swim, End of Season Triathlon

Better Late Than Never

Firstly, my apologies for not having already reported on this event. I was to write something up last week but a rather nasty bug knocked the stuffing out of me and then, oh well, enough excuses. The writing has now taken far longer than the swim itself.

Easter weekend saw Joe Average chilling out, eating hot cross buns and scoffing chocolate eggs like there’s no tomorrow. But club members Dave D, Liz, Dawn and Giles are no Joe Average, they are Joe Mighty. On Saturday 19^th April the Auckland Central Masters introduced their inaugural 10 km marathon swim. Yes, there was a zero after that one and it was indeed 10 km but only if the swimmers swum in a nice straight line (good luck with that).

Numbers were limited and each swimmer was required to have their own kayak support to help with safety, navigation and feeding. The swim started at Glendowie boating club, took the swimmers around to St Heliers, past Kohimarama, turned them around in a U-turn at Tamaki Yacht Club and finished back at St Heliers beach.

While the weather wasn’t bad it wasn’t perfect either with some rough stuff particularly around St Heliers and Kohimarama. However, the most fun part (hmmm) was that the first 6.5 km was swum against an incoming spring tide. Couple that with the waves along the waterfront and you are left with very tired swimmers at the turnaround point at Tamaki Yacht Club.

62 Hardy swimmers entered the water at Glendowie and, remarkably, all 62 completed the swim. Amazing; not a single swimmer pulled out. Of our own clubbies, all four exited the water within a few minutes of each other. Dawn also won the cup for being first woman home – awesome effort.

Each of our swimmers took part in this event not as a race but as a personal challenge.  Were they up to it? There is no longer any doubt. Would they do it again? You will have to ask them that.

Last Triathlon Of The Season

Last Sunday saw quite a number of our club members take part in the last major triathlon event of the season. I couldn't be there but as you know, I have spies and roving reporters all over the place. It's wonderful that so many club members are willing and able to contribute material to the blog so we can all keep up to date with the going's on. A big thanks here to Denise for putting the results together and Mike H for writing up an entertaining report. Well done to all our athletes who have done so well in their triathlons throughout the season. Read on for Mike’s report of the last race and results.

Well it was a day that belied the fact that it is the end of April as we could not have asked for better conditions for the Panasonic Peoples Triathlon at Mission bay on Sunday 27 April. The start was early at 7:00 am for the standard triathlon and the sun rose across a sea that had less wrinkles than I had at 20 years old. The water made you catch your breath like an unsuspecting maiden but once going it was smooth sailing. Chrissie commented that it was impossible to see the turn buoy as she was looking directly into the rising sun so you needed only to follow the rest of the lemmings. Chrissie and Denise were doing the swim leg of the standard as part of a team and brave Nicole Youman (one piece) was doing the whole race solo.

The sprint tri started 35 minutes later and the sun had risen a little to allow for an unobscured view of the buoy, temporarily that is. The pack launched themselves into the ocean with high expectations only to realise that at a distance of 500 meters every kid and zimmer-framed jockey went out at a sprint which resulted in the start emulating a fish boil up in a mixer. Well, you will no doubt be aware of my aversion to being pummelled like a pilchard in a pot, so it resulted in my normal panic attack and moving to the side and waiting until the mass had gone past before I continued. I was to discover later that Adam Munday suffers the same affliction so we will jointly have to find a solution. Well the swim seemed to end before it started and it was a hurried run up the beach to the transition. I must say that I would like to meet the idiot, with the wicked sense of humour, who decided that we would have to run up and down the steps to get over the wall while trying to extricate oneself from a wetsuit. It was something akin to two teenagers trying to get their shirts off on the back seat of a Nissan micra.

The bike leg held oodles of promise as it was a flat course, no wind and drafting was allowed. Everybody was taking off like greyhounds after a rabbit trying to get into a group. What I soon realised was that my swimming ability was far superior to my cycling ability so I was out of the water before the serious cyclists. I was very intent on hooking on to one of these groups but very quickly learned that I had only started cycling again in January this year and got blown off the back of each group that came past averaging 40 kms per hour. The second issue with the cycle was that the earlier try-a-tri groups and relays were on the road weaving around at perilously slow speeds like drunken scholars on Queen St on a Saturday night. The cycle leg was like an Easter egg scramble in South Auckland with the adults bowling over the youngsters. Jeannie completed an excellent ride for her relay team completing a 40 km ride in 1:10. Well done that lady.

The run leg was out and back along Tamaki drive which was flat and hot. The pace was crazy, anybody would have thought the local school had received inside information that the legal highs were being made illegal and they were running to get the last stock. The positive was that we, as team mates, were all able to see and greet each other along the route. The end result was a successful day out for all as everybody finished. A special mention for Nicole Youman for a podium finish in her standard tri. That concludes the season and we will see how the winter training progresses.

Here are the results in all their glory:

Sprint Tri Results:

50 - 59 - Mike Harrison 1.10.28   11th Place

50 - 59 - Adam Munday 1.25.19   25th Place

40 - 49 - Murray Taylor  1.08.49   20th Place

Standard Tri Results:

20 - 29 - Nicole Youman  2.41.29  3rd Place

20 - 29 - Alex Viljoen 1.20.06   20th Place

Women's Team 2nd Place

Swim - Chrissy Penney 35.21

Bike   - Jeanie Smith     1.09.28

Run    - Rochelle Williams White 56.50

Mixed Team  7th Place

Swim  - Denise Munday 34.49

Bike    - John Alder   1.16.43

Run     - Neil Williams White 53.24