Records tumbled over the weekend as 100 swimmers from the Top of the South contested the Swimming Nelson Marlborough Winter Champs held at the ASB Aquatic Centre.
In an outstanding display of swimming, 10 year old Sarah-Kate Birkett from Nelson Swimming Club took out the award for overall best female swimmer, as well as the gold medal in the girls 10 years and under age group with an impressive 9 wins and 1 second place including two Nelson-Marlborough regional records for 50m fly and 100m fly. In the boys 10 years and under, Bendi Kepess from Nelson Club was a clear winner.
The girls 11-12 years age group was a closely fought battle with the leaders changing several times over the weekend, but at the conclusion of the meet, Gabby Lovell of Waimea Club took out the honours winning the gold medal. The winner of the boys 11-12 years age group was Oliver Stark from Waimea Swim Club. With seven wins and one second place, Oliver also deservedly won the title of overall best male swimmer.
The largest age group, with 20 swimmers, was the girls 13-14 years age group. The gold medallist was Pip Dwyer from Nelson South who swam solidly over the weekend with six first places including a meet record for the 100m freestyle event.
Sam McKenzie continued his winning ways taking out the first place in the boys 13-14 years age group, winning all seven events he entered, and setting new meet records and Nelson Marlborough records in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle and the 50m butterfly.
In the girls 15 years and over age group, Ellie Rukuwai from Nelson South was able to hold off Blenheim swimmers Sally McMath and Sara Gane to take the gold medal. Ellie broke two Nelson Marlborough records in the process, for 100m freestyle and 100m IM.
Eddie Neill was the winner of the boys 15 years and over age group and was another record breaking swimmer. Eddie broke the open record for the 400m IM, which dates to 1994, along with the boys 15 years record for 200m IM and 400m IM.
