2003 In Review

What a busy year for the Vikings! 

The year started with some impressive performances at the NSW State Age Championships in January.  The Vikings team brought home 3 silver, 3 bronze and 12 Finalist ribbons and a huge number of PBs.  Amongst the devastation of the Canberra Fires came the news that Adam Bingham had been selected in the NSW Team to attend the NZ Championships in March – at which he ultimately won three gold medals.  We also saw our first Open Water Swimmer, Jono Rousseau, battle the jelly fish and achieve a bronze medal and qualify for Nationals in his State Open Water Swim following the Age Championships. 

February saw some more great results come the Vikings’ way.  We resoundingly won the ACT Development Championships, had great results from the Relay Championships and our swimmers brought home more medals (including a gold to Haydn Marsh) and ribbons from the Country Championships.  Out of the pool, our team scooped the March Past events, winning the NSW Country March Past for the second consecutive year and the ACT Relays March Past for the 9th time.

In March,  the Vikings team placed second at ACT Age (this led to them tying for the ACT Presidents Trophy for the Championship series) and 2 Vikings’ swimmers (Adam Bingham and Nic Duncan) won the titles of ACT Age Champion.  11 swimmers were selected for the James Brophy Inter-District Sprint Meet to finish off the month.

1 April was the beginning of a new era at Vikings with the membership of the Brindabella Swim Club joining forces with the Tuggeranong Vikings Swim Club.  We had 8 swimmers travel to Brisbane for the National Age Championships.  They achieved one silver and five Finalist ribbons – our best ever results at this level.  At our Annual Presentation Night our club champions were announced as well as major awards such as Swimmer of the Year (Adam Bingham), Most Improved Swimmer (Niall Jacobsen) and Club Spirit Award (Tegan Mason).

In May several of our swimmers were involved in representative school swimming with the Primary team travelling to Adelaide and the Secondary team competing in Hobart.  Our own meet was held at the end of the month with several swimmers achieving new Country times from the competition.  The Vikings representation was 120 swimmers which must be some kind of record for attendance at a meet!

June brought news of swimmers’ selection in various squads.  Haydn Marsh and Adam Bingham were selected in the NSW Sharks Squad with Adam gaining selection in the NSW Fisher & Paykel Squad.  40 Vikings swimmers (approximately one third of the total representation) were selected in the various ACT Squads.  We also held our first Development trip away with our junior and developing swimmers attending a meet at the Sydney Aquatic Centre and a stay over the night before.  This was a great first opportunity for many of these swimmers to visit and swim at the 2000 Olympic venue.

In July we sent our largest ever team to the NSW SC Country Championships in Toronto.  59 Qualifiers!  More great results – 3 Gold Medals, 2 Country Records, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze Medals and 28 Finalist placings. 

August was another busy month.  It started with the triumph of winning the point score (by over 1500 points) and trophy at the ACT Winter Meet.  This was a great team effort for the Vikings and much cheering and sportsmanship was involved.  A week later, some of our senior swimmers travelled to Sydney for the NSW SC Open Championships.  Trent Pattenden and Adam Bingham both achieved great results with a combined PB of more than 30 seconds between them from three swims.  Adam picked up a Bronze Medal for his efforts. On the last day of the month the Vikings Development Meet was held.  Again, we had a huge number of swimmers in attendance – 98 in all.  These swimmers produced a PB rate of 70% to prove that the success of the Vikings’ program.

42 Vikings swimmers qualified for the NSW State Age Championships in September.  Again, the results were impressive with 2 Bronze medals and 7 Finalist ribbons brought home.  Unfortunately, the Development Camp scheduled for the end of the month was cancelled due to insufficient number.  At this time final National SC Rankings were released with 14 Vikings making the Top 10 list for 31 events.  The TVSC Swim-a-thon finished off the month, making a substantial fund raising profit.  Josh Woods took out the honours for longest distance swum – 8 km!

October brought holidays and another swim clinic organised by our coaching staff.  1 October also brought another milestone for the Vikings when Angela Lewis celebrated 10 years swimming as a Viking – the first Viking to do so.  Laura Hudson achieved her first National qualifying time in 200 Breast at the first long course meet of the season.  Our senior swimmers travelled to Tuross for another successful annual camp.  Although sweets were forbidden, there was no shortage when they were really needed.  Club Captains were also announced with a capable crew chosen to lead our swimmers through the next year.  Our half yearly Club Night awards were also presented – the Grimm family, Alannah and Lachlan, scooping the pool and taking out the Girls and Boys awards. 

In November six Vikings swimmers travelled to Sydney for the NSW State Age Distance Meet.  Four of these swimmers won medals in an awesome performance.  Adam Bingham won his first State Gold Medal, Trent Pattenden a Silver and Melanie Quiggin a Bronze in their 1500m Freestyle swims.  Alana Forster also picked up a Bronze Medal for her 400 IM swim.

At a different time this year, the Narooma Meet was held on 5-6 December.  65 Vikings swimmers, accompanied by families and coaching staff, travelled to the South Coast town of Narooma for another rollicking weekend.  A great time was had by all with lots of good swimming results as well and a few new State times achieved.  The year ended with TVSC taking into the New Year its largest ever State team of 47 swimmers.  Watch out for us in 2004!

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