Swim championships return to Scottsdale
• Reia and Lotte Walsh, Millie Jones, Lily Davis, Freya Barrett, Harry Moore, Ollie Gerke, Bronte Styles and Charlie Barrett.
By Daisy Baker
January 18, 2023
Swimmers from regional clubs are eagerly preparing for the return of the Tasmanian Country Championship after a 14-year hiatus, when the event comes to Scottsdale next month.
It will be the first time in more than 25 years that the Championship has been held in Scottsdale.
Around 100 swimmers aged 8-19 will take to the water at the Scottsdale Aquatic Centre on Saturday February 11, vying for medals.
Competitors will come from country swim clubs including Scottsdale, Cradle Coast, Burnie, Latrobe and Huon Valley.
Swimming Tasmania CEO Jamie McIntyre said the return of the Championship will help foster the next generation of swimmers in regional areas.
“I think [the swimmers] are really excited because what it does, the Country Championship enables them to swim against their own levels,” he said.
“It’s about building the capacity for the country clubs so they can get up and going and be on the big stage.
“Getting it up and going again will be really exciting,” he said.
“Another highlight will be building up some participation from Scottsdale who are members but don’t usually compete in swim meets.
“It will be a good chance to get the talent up and going in Scottsdale and into the system - they’ll have stiff comp from Cradle Coast but it will be really exciting.”
Mr McIntyre said the Championship offers an extra tier in the state’s competitions, enabling young athletes in country clubs to win medals.
Swimmers will be awarded first, second and third places in the 29 events on the day, as well as one club taking out Country Champion Club.
The last event was held in Queenstown 14 years ago and Mr McIntyre said they are excited to be holding the comeback Championship in Scottsdale’s new state of the art facility.
“The new facility is really fantastic. We’ve been up and had a look and been to a few swim meets and it’s pretty spectacular,” he said.
He thanked Dorset Council and the Scottsdale Swimming Club for their support to bring the event back to life.
The Country Championship will be an ongoing annual event, moving around country pools, with next year’s event already scheduled for Oatlands.
Entries are now open via Swim Central.
Warm up will start at 10.30am on February 11, with the first event at 11am.