Back in the swim of things …

Blenheim’s competitive swimmers have wasted no time before testing the water in 2025.

Thirty-six members of the Blenheim Swimming Club, aged from 7-22, recently took part in the club’s sixth Camp Warrior.

The annual new year lead-in was staged from January 6-11 with the group undertaking two daily swim sessions, dryland classes and a variety of team-building activities, facilitating a quick return to intensive training after just a two-week Christmas break.

The club hired the outside pool and a lifeguard for the camp’s exclusive use in the morning, allowing for the two sessions per day.

Beach day at the swim camp.

With the senior swimmers covering 8-10km per day, plus undertaking a fitness class, lunchtime nutrition was high on the agenda with parent Camille Verran providing a healthy, filling lunch each day, highlights being the burritos and homemade cinnamon rolls.

Another highlight was the daily team relays with the group’s enthusiastic and vocal support hard to miss for anyone in the vicinity of Stadium 2000.

The camp catered for a huge variety of swimming abilities, with Para NZ record holder Jack Bugler, NZ triathlete Gus Marfell and national short course champion Jack Love leading the way for the senior squads.

The club’s newest member, seven-year-old Freddy, completed the camp for the first time, partaking in all sessions during a challenging week.

Swimmers complete laps in the outdoor pool.

Many of the attendees wrapped up the camp with a sea swim in bracing conditions at White's Bay on Saturday.

The first competitive meet of the season is in Nelson on January 18, where many of the swimmers will be keen to see how their week of intensive training has paid off.

The camp was sponsored by NZ Home Loans Insurance Blenheim, with generous support from Stadium 2000, Dr Dave Edgar and Star of the Sea Parish and Rarangi Surf Lifesaving Club. For any enquiries, please contact Blenheim Swimming Club on blenheimswimclub@gmail.com

Nicola's medal haul in capital

Nicola Lovell turned in a standout performance to spearhead a strong showing from the Blenheim Swimming Club contingent at the recent Swimming Wellington Long Course Champs.

The 14-year-old picked up five gold medals, plus three silver, earning her the overall title for 14 year old girls. After starting the meet with an exciting win in the 200 individual medley [IM] by the smallest of margins, she went on to claim victories in the 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke events and finished the meet with a dominant 11 second win in the 400 IM.

Nicola also broke a long-standing Swim Nelson Marlborough record for the 14-year girls 200IM with her time of 2:30.66, a record set by Emma Thomson in 2003 with a time of 2:31.51.

Nicola is now training for the National Age Group Championships in April and the New Zealand Short Course Championships in August next year, where she will focus on the IM and breaststroke.

The Blenheim Swim Club contingent in Wellington.

A newcomer to competitive swimming, 13-year-old Will Atkinson, at his first regional competition, exceeded expectations with a silver medal in the 50 fly and a bronze in the 50 back. Coach Shane Skehan says Will has huge potential and will be one to watch as he continues to gain experience.

Talented Paralympic swimmer Jack Bugler won five gold medals and one silver with outstanding personal best swims in the 50m back, 800m free, 100m free, 100m back and 50m free. Jack has been selected to compete for New Zealand at the World Para series in Melbourne in February and after that will be training for the New Zealand Open Championships in April and the New Zealand Short Course Championships in August.

Other notable performances were Max Skehan’s three silver medals in the 50m back, 100m and 200m free, Jack Love’s silver medal in the 400m free with an eight-second PB, Finn McNabb’s silvers in the 1500m free and 200m back and Jessica Lovell’s silver in the 100m fly.

Blenheim Swimming Club’s next meet is at the Swimming Nelson Marlborough Championships in Nelson.

Mainland’s best do battle at Blenheim pool

Over 200 of the best swimmers in the South Island are in action at Stadium 2000 this weekend when the South Island Short Course Championships are hosted by the Blenheim Swimming Club and Swimming Nelson Marlborough.

Large teams have arrived from both Southland and Canterbury, featuring a former Olympian, several NZ representatives and registered para athletes, who will also battle it out for top honours.

This will be the largest swim meet held in Blenheim in recent times, with swimmers competing in a full set of events, ranging from 50m to 1500m freestyle and all strokes and distances in between.

Coaches have also registered to manage a draft relay team, where they will take turns at selecting swimmers for their 10-person teams to race off for cash prizes.

Action at the aquatic centre began yesterday and runs until until Sunday, with competition sessions staged both morning and afternoon.

As a lead-in to the weekend’s event, The Marlborough App asked Blenheim Swimming Club competitors Finn and Carys McNabb, plus Jessica and Nicola Lovell, about the highs and lows of such a demanding sport.

What is the toughest part about competitive swimming?

Jessica: The toughest part is definitely keeping yourself disciplined. It can be really tiring going to all the training sessions every week and waking up so early.  Although that is the toughest part mentally, the physical challenge of getting into our race togs is definitely a close second! The 20 minutes spent in the changing room desperately squeezing our tight suit over our butt is not for the weak.

Finn: The toughest part about competitive swimming is wanting to quit and stop because you had a bad race or training, but then you remember how happy it makes you when you do well and it pushes you to carry on.

Nicola: Having to get up really early for swimming trainings, always having goggle marks and wet hair. Having to work really hard all the time.

Carys: The toughest part is when a race doesn't go your way, trying to pick yourself up afterwards as you often have to get ready for the next race soon after.

What do you think about when you are doing all your lengths in the pool?

Nicola: I think about food mostly and sometimes my schoolwork if I’m stressed about it.

Carys: What's for dinner, why did I start swimming, what lap is this and how many more to go!

What is the personal highlight of your swimming achievements so far?

Jessica: My personal highlight would be making a national age group final and qualifying for competitions like NAGS and NZSC.

Finn: My personal highlight so far in my swimming has been making a NAGS final and being top 10 in the country for 200 backstroke.

We know that swimmers have very healthy appetites! What is your go-to snack for keeping your energy levels up during training?

Jessica: During swimming competitions I always have banana milk in between sessions! It is my go-to flavoured milk!

Nicola: I always have pasta the night before a race - ravioli (the best) I also love a good Up and Go.

Finn: Pasta, sushi, rice – anything with carbs! I also often have at least three meals before lunch if I train in the morning.

Carys: Spag bol the night before a race is the best! I also make a lot of shakes with milk, banana and yogurt after training.