IT’S a mammoth effort, especially when your relay team’s combined age eclipses 320 years, but Murrurundi man Col Stanford was sure to remain humble when he told the Advocate that his club had broken a national and state record at the Australian Masters Swimming Championships in Perth last month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The passionate swimmer was also quick to thank his wife, Robin, who has been his dedicated coach and inspiration in the lead up to the championships from April 18 to 21.
“My inspiration is my little lady,” Col said.
“She sits by the pool, tells me to go faster, counts for me, takes time recording and encouraging me during my long hours of training.
“She has become great at spotting and correcting faults in my swimming stroke as I continue up and down the pool, and this is a great help to me.”
After being granted $500 from Upper Hunter Shire Council which assisted with travel and acomodation costs, Stanford made the trip to Perth with a team of four swimmers from Maitland and Singleton as the sole representative from the Upper Hunter.
He says the results were pleasing – quite an understatement considering the thousands of metres swam and endless hours of training.
“Due to Murrurundi pool closing early for the season I’ve been making the 60 kilometre trip weekly to train at Muswellbrook,” he said.
The results speak for themselves – joining around 600 competitors from 115 clubs from Australia as well as the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Switzerland, the four swimmers from the Hunter came home with 11 medals.
That included three Gold medals in freestyle events; two Gold medals in their club relays; four Silvers in backstroke and two Bronze in backstroke and a relay.
And, if that weren’t impressive enough – “I competed in three relays with my club from Sutherland with great success,” Stanford added.
“In one relay we broke the national record by 7 seconds and in the other relay we broke the NSW record by .06 of a second.”
But Col says he still has a long way to go as he continues to hit the pool in preparation for the World Masters at Pengang, Malaysia in September.
“My time needs to be faster – so that means more hours pounding Muswellbrook pool,” he said.
It’s a challenge he’s willing to take with the support of his friends, communtiy and council.
Caitlin Reid
Caitlin Reid is a journalist at the Northern Daily Leader, focussing on a range of topics including Tamworth Regional Council, education, property and entertainment. To get in touch, email caitlin.reid@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Caitlin Reid is a journalist at the Northern Daily Leader, focussing on a range of topics including Tamworth Regional Council, education, property and entertainment. To get in touch, email caitlin.reid@austcommunitymedia.com.au
