2009 Annual Report.pdf - Wide Bay Regional Swimming Assoc.

New Zealand 2008 – Wide Bay Development Squad
After much fundraising, planning and organisation our Development squad travelled to Mt
Maunganui in New Zealand to compete in the New Zealand Spring Meet. The trip was a very
valuable experience with swimmers performing well. The team of 18 swimmers and 5 adults flew
into Auckland and then travelled 2 ½ hrs by bus to their accommodation at Papamoa beach. The
accommodation left nothing to want for. It was magnificent and very comfortable.
This year we had two days to adjust before competition commenced. This was important as the
swimmers needed to be ready to leave for the pool after having had breakfast by 6.30am. This is
3.30am AUS time. Competition commenced on the 4 th day and went for 4 days. All the team
managed very well to be organised with the correct uniform and their gear ready each session.
Travelling away is so much more challenging for each swimmer as they are competing with a team
they do not know well, in a different country with the responsibility on themselves to be organised
and ready as per the team schedule. This is a very big ask if their parents have always done
everything for them.
We were very lucky that the weather was great and we were quite close to the pool complex.
Papamoa beach even made the National News when a baby killer whale was washed up on the
local beach. People came from all over to see the whale and help keep it alive. It was successfully
returned to the ocean later in the afternoon. Just as exciting were the hero messages read out each
night at the team meetings.
Arriving for our first day of competition we were made to feel welcome as many people remembered
us from the previous year. Wide Bay was allocated seating in a great spot and although it was tight
we managed very well. All the managers took turns in timekeeping and Donna spent sometime in
the official recording room. Timekeeping was a challenge as there is not starting light over at that
pool. We automatically look towards the starter not straight down the pool like the kiwi timekeepers
do. In NZ programs are given to each team each session. Managers are called to a 5minute
meeting at the commencement of each session. Any rules or procedures are announced and the
managers look after what needs to be actioned. NZ selectors are at the meet and process the
selection of NZ teams and squads at the meet.
The morning session began with warm up at 7am followed by the morning heats. In New Zealand all
swimmers are seeded in the heats together rather than in age groups. This really sped up the
morning but with numbers of competitors the morning session ended at 12noon. New Zealand
timing of events was impressive with almost to the minute facilitation of events. The team would
head home for lunch and a rest before going back for the evening session at 4pm. Dinner was
around 8.30pm each night.
Every day all food is prepared on site by the managers and taken to the pool or left ready for lunch.
No one went hungry, ever!
After the competition finished we had one day to unwind before travelling home. We had the best
day in Rotorua riding the luge! A gondola took us up the side of the hill to the luge ride and for
Michele the coffee.