WHAKATĀNE Swimming Club’s Open Water Squad members have accumulated a few international medals over the past few months.

Coach Mason Pickering said the group meets three to six mornings a week and has up to 10 swimmers attend each session.

“We have our masters’ com-petitors, competitive surf lifesavers, triathletes, recreational open water swimmers and swimmers who come purely for fitness,” he said.

“They are all doing different things so I keep a fairly general training cycle, which can be adjusted individually for the competition or training level required for each swimmer.”

Seventeen-year-old Oliver and Xavier Christie placed first and third at the World Multi-Sport Triathlon Championships in Townsville Australia in April.

Xavier said the Open Water Squad was a big help in training towards their competition.

“Swimming by yourself sucks. It’s just good to swim with other people, and Mason’s a good coach,” he said.

More recently, masters’ swimmer and Ōpōtiki Surf Life Saving Club member Steve Williamson and Whakatāne Surf Life Saving Club’s Cat Manning competed at the Surf Lifesaving World Championships on the Gold Coast.

Manning placed sixth in her Ocean Women’s event and ninth in the surf race, competing against lifeguards across the globe.

Williamson came eighth in the 100-metre Manikin Carry with Fins, ninth in the 200m Obstacle Swim, and 11th in the 50m Manikin Swim.

Pickering said anyone looking to improve their fitness or train for an upcoming event was welcome to join the club, with a range of membership options available. For more information, contact him at [email protected] or on 027 748 1898.