Sport
26 November, 2021
53rd Annual Rotary Swim Carnival
The carnival was a great success with 170 swimmers competing.
The Allora Swim Team of 72 members dominated the Championship points on the day with the following swimmers gaining Age Champion for points accumulated with each swim: Maeve Moore, Chloe Harm, Jonte May, Ellyn Moore, Bailey Harm, Ellyse Kruger, Nicholas Denny, Claire Eckersley, Nicholas Mcgahan, Harrison Dangerfi eld and Alyssa White. In a day of great racing, there were seven records broken at the meet.
Congratulations to Allora Swimmers Alyssa White who broke the 15 and over 50m Butterfly record and to Bailey Harm who broke all four records in the 13 years boys 50M Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke and Butterfly.
Visiting swimmers Sophie McKenzie from Glennie and Mia Pratt from Fairholme also took out the 11 years and 15 and over years 50m Breaststroke records respectively.
The Allora Swimming club seized the opportunity to introduce the inaugural Seamus Ryan Memorial Swim, to be held at the Rotary Carnival annually.
In memory of our dearly loved and deeply respected former club member, the club held a handicapped event for 50m breaststroke, the stroke that Seamus dominated in swims across the Darling Downs.
The winners of the 50m Breast from 10 to 15 years boys and girls were selected to swim a final, handicapped by Marg Rackley based on their times, with the winner receiving a cash prize and their name on the Seamus Ryan Memorial Shield to be displayed at the Allora Pool.
Congratulations to the first winners Sophie McKenzie and Henry Telford, both from Glennie Swim Club. Our sincere gratitude to Brendan, Sharon, Nella and Niamh Ryan who were all present to award the winners of this special race.
In a very fitting tribute to our “Swim for Seamus”, the lane 4 male swimmer, Paul Costello, was asked by Sharon Ryan to wear Seamus’ goggles during the race.
A fitting way to ensure that Seamus’ passion and enthusiasm for his swimming will long be remembered. The day concluded with a series of 12 and under and Open mixed relays.
This allowed many younger swimmers to enjoy the camaraderie of their club mates as they swam against clubs from across the Darling Downs.
