Rawson Swimming & Diving Report
A great night was had by all last night at the Rawson Swimming and Diving Championships. There was widespread agreement that the level of competition displayed at SOPAC was the highest it has been in many years.
The night kicked off with the 50 freestyle with Temana Short and Tom Goddard leading the charge for Drew’s. In a field including three people who had swam this event at the national championships the week before, Goddard took the win in a very impressive time of 23.40. As a testament to how serious the Rawson swimming is taken, both Goddard and Wesley’s Thomas Hay in second place went personal bests in that event, quicker than they went at the national championships just six days before.
Goddard made it a freestyle double with a win in the 100 freestyle, again doing a personal best. Temana Short also backed up with a very respectable fourth place, showing strong consistency throughout his tough six event program. Having been out of the water for a couple of months battling illness, he showed immense fortitude to perform as well as he did.
Nick Van Veen did his part in the 400 freestyle with a strong time of 5.13. Olly Whitely showed his physical prowess in his premier event the 50 breaststroke, earning a very valuable third place. Elliott Earnshaw and Tom Goddard went one-two in the 50 butterfly, both swimming personal bests. Tom Goddard then won his third event of the night, dominating the 50 backstroke with Tom Constable in third place.
The divers performed well with veteran Chester Burns coming in second and with his younger brother Charlie placing sixth in his first Rawson outing. In the final individual event of the night, Fresher Jadon Routley swam a strong 200 freestyle for fourth place. A special mention to Cam Coon and Finn McPherson. Although they didn’t get to swim, their contribution to the team in other areas was invaluable.
Tensions were high after the 200 freestyle. The point score was unknown but it was believed the Androvians were just trailing Wesley, meaning it would come down to the relay’s. The crowd was riled up and the atmosphere at the Olympic park pool was electric. The boys didn’t disappoint with the Short, Earnshaw, Goddard and Rawson swimming veteran Jack Chenoweth teaming up to take the win in both the medley and freestyle relays.
In the end, St Andrew’s emerged triumphant over Wesley College by only 9 points, with St Paul’s a very close third. An unreal effort all round and a great result for the overall Rawson campaign, getting four points over St Paul’s. It was the closest contest there has been for some time and it is great to see intercollegiate swimming going from strength to strength. Next year is shaping up to be even better.
– Elliott Earnshaw (fr 2020) 21 April 2021
Rosebowl Report
This year’s Rosebowl swimming campaign was an impressive display of grit and talent from amongst our community. With a late event last year, the girls kept their fitness high, showing strength and determination to win each race. The night started off strong with the 50 Freestyle with Lucy Mauviel (fR 2020) and fResher Alannah Webster coming in 2nd and 3rd respectively. The 400 Freestyle showed incredible fitness from Lucy Mauviel who backed up and took out 1st place and Francesca Roberts (Fr 2020) who came in 7th in a very tough race. A quick turnaround to the 50 Breaststroke showed our veteran Lucy Fenwicke (fR 2019) winning a comfortable 1st followed by India Fay (Fr 2020) coming a close 3rd. The swimming girls showed their strength once again in the highly competitive 100 freestyle with Alannah Webster blazing into 1st place and India Fay coming quick to clasp 3rd place.
Our diving girls Maddy Everingham (fR 2020) and Bella Scullard (fR 2020) had an incredible competition showing incredible skill and prowess and helping gain vital points towards the cup. Next on the event list was the 50 Butterfly with Lucy Fenwicke and Lucy Gillis (fR 2020) coming in 2nd and 3rd place in an extremely tight race to the finish. This was then quickly followed by the infamous 200 IM with Alannah Webster and Lucy Gillis dominating the field and claiming a convincing 1st and 2nd. This was emulated once more in the 50m Backstroke which saw an amazing performance form India Fay to claim a joint 1st with Wesley. This was closely followed by Lucy Mauviel who came 3rd place in an intense race to the finish. The 200 Freestyle was next and the crowd was treated to another incredible performance from Lucy Mauviel who claimed a smashing 1st place. She was followed by another consistent performance from Francesca Roberts to claim an impressive 3rd place amongst a tough field of competitors.
The relay campaign started with the 4×50 medley relay with India Fay, Lucy Gillis, Lucy Mauviel and Lucy Fenwicke claiming a very convincing 1st place in an impressive time of 2.13. After a quick B-lane break, the 4×50 freestyle race with Alannah Webster, Lucy Gillis, Lucy Fenwicke and Lucy Mauviel continued the domination and claimed the final race with a blazing lead.
Overall, the St Andrew’s Rosebowl swimming team were crowned victorious, winning the event, an incredible feat of swimming from our Drew’s girls and a great way to continue our Rosebowl campaign.
– Lucy Gillis (fr 2020) 21 April 2021
Photo credit Clementine Paradice (fr 2021)