AUSTRALIAN AGE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012
May 5th, 2012 | 
Author: Aquajets had their best representation ever at this years Australian Age Championships which were held in Brisbane from the 9th to the 14th of April. Seven swimmers qualified to attend this meet and for two, Olivia Bowling (15) and Calvin Warries (15), it was their first Nationals experience. The team competed in 15 events between them with between 1 and 3 swimmers competing each day of the championship.
It was great to see some personal best times achieved but special congratulations must however be extended to Justin Van Nieuwburg. Justin qualified to swim in three events at this years Australian Age Championships and accomplished personal best times in all three. On Day 2 he swam the 200m Butterfly heats taking two seconds off his entry time winning himself a place in the final that evening. He went on to take a further second off in the final coming 8th overall. A fantastic achievement Justin, well done!
The team have enjoyed a short break with two weeks off to recharge the batteries. Swimming resumed for the entire club on Tuesday 1 May. Good luck to all swimmers who have begun training in earnest for the Short Course Season that lies ahead!
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SWA JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2012 Junior State Long Course Championships were held at Challenge Stadium on Saturday 31 March and Sunday 1 April, 2012. Three swimmers from Aquajets qualified to participate at this meet; Jack Natalotto, Logan Smith and Reilly Kennedy. Congratulations must be extended to all three boys as they all swam personal best times. Special mention to Jack who managed to achieve 7 pb’s!
2012 Swimming WA State Open & Age LC Swimming Championships
The year has got off to a sizzling start with two more Aquajets swimmers achieving national qualifying times at the recent 2012 SWA State Open and Age Long Course Championships held at Challenge Stadium from the 16th – 21st January 2012. Aquajets was represented by 8 swimmers who between them won 12 medals and achieved many fantastic personal best times. Congratulations to Luke Bowling who stole the show for Aquajets, achieving 3 national qualifying times in the 200 IM, 200m and 100m breaststroke and at the same time wiping seconds off his previous personal best times! Well done also to Olivia Bowling who has also achieved two national qualifying times in the 200m and 100m breaststroke.
Special mention to Calvin Warries and Justin Van Nieuwburg who were also on fire and set some great personal best and national qualifying times. Calvin attained his second national qualifying time and Justin his third. Congratulations boys!
Aquajets medal winners are as follows:
Luke Bowling: Gold 400 IM, Gold 200 IM
Olivia Bowling: Bronze 100 Breaststroke
Sarah Feast: Gold 200 Breaststroke, Silver 100 Breaststroke and Silver 200 IM
Justin Van Nieuwburg: Silver 200 IM, Bronze 200 Butterfly and Bronze 100 Butterfly
Calvin Warries: Silver 200 Backstroke, Bronze 400 Freestyle
Melanie Kennedy: Gold 200 Butterfly
The road to Brisbane is looking good with 7 swimmers now eligible to go. Congratulations to all participants and keep up the hard work!
2011 HFMF DISTANCE MEET
The 2011 HFMF Distance Meet was held at Challenge Stadium on 5th and 6th November. Ten swimmers attended this meet and it saw Ross Hendry achieve a National Qualifying in the 1500m Freestyle – Congratulations Ross! Four swimmers from the club have now qualified for the Age Nationals in Brisbane in 2012, with three more knocking closely at the door!
The club won a total of 13 medals: 9 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze:
Ross Hendry: Gold 400m Freestyle, Gold 1500m Freestyle
Nicole Hendry: Gold 800m Freestyle
Justin Van Nieuwburg: Gold 400m IM
Sarah Feast: Gold 200m Breaststroke
Luke Bowling: Gold 200m Breaststroke, Gold 400m IM
Olivia Bowling: Gold 200m Breaststroke
Calvin Warries: Bronze 400m Freestyle, Silver 200m Backstroke
Melanie Kennedy: Gold 200m Backstroke, Silver 200m Butterfly
Reilly Kennedy: Silver 200m Backstroke
Some great personal best times were set. Special mention to Calvin and Olivia!
Congratulations everyone on a great meet and keep up the hard work!
AQUAJETS MAKE GOOD START TO THE LC SEASON
Aquajets Swimmers have had a great start to the Long Course Season with 3 swimmers obtaining National Age Qualifying times at the first SWA qualifying meet of the season. This meet held on 8th and 9th October at Challenge Stadium saw Justin Van Nieuwburg, Sarah Feast and Melanie Kennedy obtained National times in the following events:
Justin: 200m Butterfly
Sarah: 200m Breaststroke
Melanie: 200m Butterfly, 200m Backstroke and 100m Backstroke
Congratulations all of you!
Many swimmers attained State qualifying times and for four members of the club, this was their very first competitive meet. Well done to Emily Fernandez, Juliet Thompson, Logan Smith and Jayden Huynh who have now set some terrific personal best times – keep up the good work!
HFMF STATE SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2011 HFMF Short Course Championships were held at Challenge Stadium from Friday July 15 to Sunday July 17. Ten swimmers from Aquajets took part swimming in 44 individual events and attaining 26 personal best times.
In all 8 medals were won: 1 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze.
Congratulations are extended to the following swimmers:
- Melanie Kennedy: Gold 100m Backstroke, Silver 200m Backstroke and Bronze 200m Butterfly
- Ross Hendry: Silver 400m Freestyle, Silver 1500m Freestyle
- Justin Van Nieuwburg: Silver 200m Butterfly, Bronze 100m Butterfly
- Sarah Feast: Bronze 200m Breaststroke
Special mention to Jack Natalotto who participated in his first State Championships. Jack placed 5th in the 50m Backstroke and attained a new personal best time. Well done Jack!
Aquajets placed 22nd in the point scoring out of the 41 clubs entered in the competition.
NATIONALS TEAM BOUND FOR ADELAIDE
Aquajets National Team. Front from left Sarah Feast (15), Melanie Kennedy (13) Back from left Ross Hendry (16), Luke Bowling (16), Justin Van Nieuwburg (14)
We wish our five member team from Aquajets good luck and best wishes as they head to Adelaide for the 2011 Swimming Australia National Age Championships. The swimmers will be in Adelaide from April 15 to 24. Racing commences on Monday 18 April and concludes on Saturday 23 April.
The swimmers will be competing in the following events:
- Day 1: Ross Hendry Event 2 - 200m Fly Justin Van Nieuwburg Event 17 - 100 m Fly
- Day 2: Melanie Kennedy Event 40 - 100m Fly
- Day 3: Sarah Feast Event 49 - 100m Breast Melanie Kennedy Event 62 - 200m Back
- Day 4: Melanie Kennedy Event 83 - 200m Fly Luke Bowling Event 90 - 200m Breast
- Day 5: Sarah Feast Event 114 - 200m Breast
- Day 6: Melanie Kennedy Event 130 - 100m Back
If you wish to follow the progress of our swimmers you may do so by clicking on the Event number on any of the respective days above and this will take you to the Swimming Australia Website.
CLUB PREMIERSHIP D DIVISION 2011
Club Premiership Team 2011
Sunday 13 February saw a sea of red, white and blue descend upon Challenge Stadium for the ‘D’ Division Annual Club Premiership!
"Don't we look great?"
With balloons and pom poms in hand and donning wigs, leis and top hats, the Aquajets team marched around the pool to the the beat of “We Will Rock You” and to the welcoming applause of their merry band of supporters!
“Rock” us they did, achieving a total of 31 personal best times out of 40 individual races swum – an amazing accomplishment!
"Hurry up Donna, we're being nuked by the sun!"
Seven clubs took part in D Division with Aquajets coming runnerup with a point score of 294. A fantastic result to end a fun filled morning!
A big thank you to Suzanne Ford for her part in organising the Aquajets individual events and relay teams – a huge undertaking.
AQUAJETS RETURN FROM BERLIN
The Aquajets Team outside the Federal Base Swimming Centre, Berlin
On Monday 17th January, 8 Aquajets swimmers, their coach and a couple of tired parents jetted into Perth after 19 fun filled chilly days in Berlin.
Upon arrival in Berlin almost three weeks ago, the team experienced subzero temperatures (-16 C to be precise!) and plenty of snow. For many it was a first hand experience of snow and extreme cold, however from all accounts, nobody had time to feel cold when there was snowmen to be built and snowball fights to be had!
Off to swimming training!
"Look at our snowman!, one would think we'd had years of experience!"
New Years Eve Berlin style meant purchasing fireworks and then standing back watching as the coach lit them! Many reached the heavens but some fizzed, popped and started a small fire – thank goodness for the snow to put them out!
Brrrrr its cold! Armed with Fireworks for New Years Eve
Our coach lighting up the explosives on New Years Eve!
The Hotel Kolumbus
Federal Base 50m Swimming Pool
Training in the Flume Pool
Underwater Camera Evaluation
Working out in the Gym
Medicine Ball Training
Gym Training
Strength Work
Aquajets and the German Swimming Team and their Coaches
It was not all hard work and no play with the team making full use of their free time to take in some site seeing tours of Brandenburg Gate, Hitlers Bunker, the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Hohenschönhausen Memorial Centre (Stasi prison museum), Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games venue and of course shopping in downtown Berlin.
The Brandenburg Gate
Berlin Cathedral
The Berlin Wall
The 1936 Olympic Games Stadium
Anyone for Bratwurst?
Shopping at the Christmas Markets
Best Mates!
The trip forged a wonderful bonding between team members and will be remembered and talked about for many months and years to come.
A big thank you to Gerry Stachewicz for organising this trip, Phil Van Nieuwburg for carrying out all the flight/accommodation bookings and for accompanying the team on many a site seeing tour. Thank you also to Petra Bowling for taking the girls shopping – surely one of the great highlights of the trip for the female members of the team!
JX ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR AQUAJETS SWIMMING CLUB
Junior Excellence Achievement Award 2010
For the second year in a row, Aquajets Swimming Club has received a Junior Excellence Achievement Award from Swimming Australia. This prestigious award is given to coaches of clubs that are ranked among the top 30% nationally in achieving Junior Excellence times and DIPS standards. We are very proud of our coaches Gerry and Ilse Stachewicz, for all the hard work they put in to training our swimmers to achieve this high standard. For a small club, this is a wonderful accomplishment.