NELSON Bay Diggers swimmers covered themselves in glory at the 90th annual Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) National Swimming Championships last weekend at Tomaree Aquatic Centre.
Hosting the prestigious event for the first time since 2014, the Nelson Bay club did the Port Stephens region proud with wholehearted performances in the pool.
Four hundred swimmers from across the nation took part in the milestone carnival, which featured all strokes and relay events off a scratch/handicap system.
The opening ceremony took place at 11am on 14 March and featured various infantry services and a bugler playing The Last Post.
Nelson Bay Diggers Swim Club president Richard Barwick laid a wreath in the water on behalf of the host club.
Squad members narrowly missed out on the medals but showed their depth across all disciplines with a string of top four finishes.
Husband and wife Mick and Debbie Nash performed with distinction for the Nelson Bay club and led the charge with inspirational swims.
Mick, 47, produced powerful swims to finish fourth in both the 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle championship race while wife Debbie, also 47, followed suit with a fifth placing in the Women’s 50m freestyle championship final.
The experienced Barwick, who competed in the 25m and 50m freestyle sprints, told News Of The Area that the team had “given their all” on the day.
Vice president Keith Elliott, 60, lined up in the 25m, 50m and 100m freestyle sprints along with 62-year-old team member Angie Sinclair.
In a huge blow, the club’s oldest swimmer Ted Nabeuer was ruled out of the carnival due to illness.
Nelson Bay club stalwarts also figured in two relay events.
The team of Elliott, Sinclair, Debbie Nash and Barwick finished fifth in the 4 x 50m handicap relay in their quest for the Ray Weekes Memorial Trophy.
They also placed fourth in the 4 x 50m nominated time relay event with president Barwick, Mick Nash, Sinclair and Elliott competing for the Tobruk Shield.
The AIF Swimming Association is the longest established adult swimming association in Australia.
By Chris KARAS
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