Whakatāne Swimming Club attended the national masters’ meet recently where swimmers plenty of placings and notched up personal bests.

The team comprised local swimmers Steve Williamson and Cathryn Rowland along with former Whakatane swimmers John de Vries and Helen White, who now live in Sydney but remain affiliated with the Whakatane club.

They competed against Olympians and New Zealand champions during the competition.

Swimming in the 45-49 age group, Williamson finished first in the 200-metre breaststroke, 100m breaststroke and the 200m individual medley. He placed second in the 50m and 100m butterfly, and third in the 50m freestyle to rank third overall in his age group.

“I was quite happy; I was the old man in my age group,” Williamson said.

“I got five personal bests – I surprised myself.”

Returning swimmer Rowland competed when she was younger, and with her children now avid swimmers, she was persuaded to enter the master's competition as a reintroduction to competitive swimming.

“I wasn’t sure what would happen; I thought I’d go along and give it a try,” she said.

In the 45-40 age group, she finished fourth overall having achieved second placings in the 100m and 200m backstroke, third in the 50m backstroke, and fourth places in the 100m and 50m freestyle, and the 50m butterfly.

Both swimmers are grateful to Whakatāne Swimming Club coach Mason Pickering for his support and training.

In the 65-69 age group, de Vries won all his races – the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, 50m butterfly, and 50m and 100m freestyle – to win his age group.

White came second in the 75 to 79 age group following wins in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, the 50m butterfly, and the 200m individual medley. She also came third in the 50m freestyle.

The four members teamed up to represent Whakatāne in a relay, placing third in one race.

“It was Whakatāne’s first relay team in 10 to 12 years,” Rowland said.

Rowland and Williamson teamed up with swimmers from the Bay of Plenty for the regional relay, with the Bay finishing third.

“There was no beating Auckland, they’re all 20-year-olds,” Williamson said.

Next up, the team is looking towards the surf lifesaving pool rescue championships and also considering the North Island swimming championships.