Gallery | Echuca Swimming Club splashes into new season

By Alexander Dabb

Oct 10, 2023

Eyes on the prize: Maklan Dalziel, 13, from Echuca Swimming Club competing in the butterfly.

Echuca Swimming Club has successfully opened its long course swimming season, kicking off a busy period in the pool by hosting its first meet on Sunday.

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ESC president Krystin Nagle was thrilled with the turnout for the event, with clubs coming from far and wide to battle it out at the Echuca War Memorial Aquatic Centre.

Taking a breath: Echuca Swimming Club’s Maya Height, 12, during her butterfly event.

“It all went really well, we had 160 competitors from places like Yarrawonga, Bendigo, Melbourne, Deniliquin and Kyabram,” she said.

“We seemed to get a good cross section of the community around, so that was good.”

Away they go: Competitors in the 12-year-old butterfly heat dive off the starting blocks. Photo by Aidan Briggs

The Echuca members that dived off the starting blocks did themselves proud, with many earning themselves new personal best times in the process.

“The Echuca contingent went well, there was a lot of PB’s done within our group,” Nagle said.

Nearly there: Lillyrose Collier, 14, from Echuca Swimming Club makes her way towards the wall in her butterfly heat.

“It was the first long course of the season, so it was really working out where we sort of fit in amongst everyone.

Great form: Alick Jarvis competing in the butterfly.

“One of our boys relay teams came third, but they all did really well, they all got PB’s so it’s hard to point anyone out.”

There were 29 personal bests from Echuca Swimmers in total, with 12 podiums recorded, six of which saw locals standing on the top step.

Ayla McAsey had a standout meet, qualifying for the national championships in both the backstroke and freestyle.

Lachlan Nagle also performed strongly, and will be heading to the state championships in the 50m freestyle after meeting the qualifying time.

Nagle, newly appointed as ESC president, also praised the committee for their work in making the first event of the season such an enjoyable experience for all involved.

Closing in: Echuca Swimming Club’s Jack Hawkins, 12, battling it out during the butterfly heat.

“Everything ran smoothly, the new committee and everyone was amazing, so a big thank you from the club to the committee and the volunteers for helping out,” she said.