Busselton Swimming Club members head to Gold Coast to compete in Australian Age Group National Championships

Early mornings and tireless dedication have paid off for eight Busselton Swimming Club members, who are off to compete for national glory. Three boys and five girls from the club are heading to the Gold Coast to race in the Australian Age Group National Championships, which start at the end of this week. Swimmers were presented with their national jackets and shirts poolside this week by head coach Andrew Sexton, who said he was proud of the club’s contingent. “It is an outstanding result to have so many swimmers competing at a national level from any club, let alone a regional club like Busselton,” he said. “We have had a number of State champions and medallists at age group and junior level in the past six months and it is now time for our group of awesome young swimmers to show their mettle on the national stage.” The eight swimmers will compete in 23 individual events. The Busselton Swimming Club will also be represented by a team in the girls 200m individual medley relay. Twins Brooklyn Rayne and Madison Rayne, 14, will be busy during the championships, with Brooklyn qualifying for six races and Madison for four. Some of the club’s other significant competitors include Pamoana Pirikahu and Marcus Van Rooyen, both 14, who will also swim four events. The eight swimmers have been working hard to qualify for the event, training more than six times and clocking up 35 to 40km in the pool each week. Alongside training, the club’s contingent has been holding sausage sizzles and volunteering at community events to raise funds to cover their travel costs. Their qualification comes after three club members qualified to compete at the Australian National Open Water Championships in Busselton in January.