CEE at  the 2010 Tasmanian State SC Championships

A small team but a mighty effort from just seven swimmers who represented CEE

at the 2010 Tasmanian State Short Course Championships held at the Hobart Aquatic Centre, 4-5 September 2010.

Cranbrook Eastern Edge followed the tradition established by Cook + Phillip Swim Club of an interstate club trip, this year was the fourth visit to the Tasmanian State Championships. While, in the past, some senior swimmers have attended, the focus has always been on exposing the younger up-and-coming swimmers to the rigours of an extended swimming carnival.

This year's team - Jasper Goodall, Elliot Grossberg, Lara Molle, Tui Ryder-Nuku, Lily Wilson, Jack Wilson and Laura Wilson - excelled themselves: they exceeded all expectations and firmly planted the stamp of CEE as a visting force to be reckoned with.  The team of just 7 swimmers ended up 8th overall on the club point score. Not bad considering that 16 much larger clubs competed at the championships this year.

The result: 21 medals... 15 gold (including 8 relay gold); 2 silver and 4 bronze

* Jasper Goodall: 5 individual (11/u 100 IM, 50 BRS, 50 FLY, 50 BK, 100 FS) and 2 relay golds (4 x 50 Medley & 4 x 50 FS) - setting 3 new individual all-comers records and contributing to the two relay records on the way, despite not feeling well at the time!...

* Lara Molle: 2 individual gold (11/u 50 BK, 100 FS); 2 silver (11/u 100 IM, 50 BK); 1 bronze (11/u 50 FLY... and from the girl who proclaims she can't swim butterfly!)...

* Jack Wilson: 2 relay golds (11/u 4 x 50 Medley & 4 x 50 FS); 2 bronze (11/u 100 IM, 100 FS)...

* Elliot Grossberg: 2 relay golds (11/u 4 x 50 Medley & 4 x 50 FS); 1 bronze (11/u 50 BRS)...

* Tui Ryder-Nuku: 2 relay golds (11/u 4 x 50 Medley & 4 x 50 FS)...

In all, the swimmers swam 29 PBs (excluding times in the relay legs) : 5/5 for Jack; 5/5 for Elliot; 2/2 for Laura; 6/7 for Lara; 4/5 for Tui; 4/6 for Lily, and 3/5 for Jasper.

Some of these PBs were massive: Lara from 1:30.71 to 1:19.88 in the 100 IM; Lily from 3:13.79 to 2:50.00 in the 12/13 200 IM, and 1:25.91 to 1:21.02 in the 100 BK; Jasper from 1:20.06 to 1:13.99 in the 100 IM; Tui from 1:46.39 to 1:33.40 in the 100 IM; Jack from 1:35.10 to 1:20.75 in the 100 IM, from 50.01 to 44.43 in the 50 BRS. But Laura Wilson's PBs of 54.58 and 46.86 in the 11/u BRS and BK were a great effort - at 7yrs, she was the youngest swimmer in these events, finishing 40th out of 50 much older swimmers in the 50 BRS.

Outside, Hobart was all drizzle and grey skies, and it was a steamy hothouse poolside. The question after the boys flying start in Event 3, the 4x 50 medley relay - how to maintain the rage over two full days of swimming?

The answer came easily: just leave it up to the swimmers - their determination, enthusiasm, camaraderie and team work. At these championships they let their hard work and training shine through. And nothing glisters more than bling - gold, silver and bronze!

Except, perhaps, the smiles across seven exhausted faces.