Swimming
18 December, 2025
Swim season breaks on a high
The Warracknabeal Memorial Swimming Pool has been a hive of activity this month.
Merrily Keam said the Warracknabeal Swimming Club hosted two meets in the past three weeks, including 93
“It is a big effort for a small club that has lots of farming families,” she said.
“Many swimmers have been along to the come and try, which was encouraging.
“Our first meet of the season is a sprint meet and encouragement meet, so quite a few first-time swimmers with our club, both young and mature age.”
The swimmers who featured came from Ararat, Horsham, St Arnaud, Bendigo, Swan Hill, Kerang, and Maryborough.
“Our club has three enthusiastic coaches this year and 26 swimmers,” Keam said.
“We continue to encourage all of our swimmers to race against their own time to try and improve on their PB’s over the swim season.”
The November 29 sprint was fruitful for the local swim club with several swimmers finishing in the top three.
Charles Gregson finished first in the boys 8-9-year-old 50m breaststroke, second in the 50m butterfly, and third in the 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke.
Patrick Gregson claimed first in the boys 7 & under 50m freestyle and 50 breaststroke.
Eljah Keam finished second in the girls 14-15-year-old 100m freestyle and third in the 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke.
The December 13 meet boasted more local winners, highlighted by Charles Gregson's victory in the boys 9-10-year-old 50m breaststroke.
He also came second in the 12 & under 100m breaststroke.
Patrick Gregson won the boys 8 & under 50m breaststroke and backstroke, and came second in the 50m freestyle.
Eljah Keam placed second in the girls 15-16-year-old 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle, and 200 individual medley, plus earned a third in the 50m breaststroke.
Laura Anderson earned second in the girls 8 & under 50m freestyle.
Placing third was Emerson Schulz in the boys 8 & under 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke; Mackenzie Roche (girls 13-14) 100m breaststroke; Lauren Jenkinson (girls 15-16 year old) 100m freestyle; and Edison Benton-Huebner (boys 11-12 year old) 50m backstroke.
Perpetual trophies were awarded to:
- Warracknabeal RSL Perpetual Trophy men’s open 100m freestyle (event 39) – Jesse Amos (St Arnaud Swimming Club)
- W. Maroney Perpetual Trophy women’s open 100m freestyle (event 40) – Heidi Start (St Arnaud SC)
- Phillips Perpetual Trophy fastest girls' 10/11 years 50m butterfly (calculated from events 28 and 38) – Matilda Delahunty (Horsham SC)
- Geoff Ferguson Memorial Trophy female 17 years and over best performing swimmer over four strokes (must swim all four strokes) – Emily Perazic (Ararat SC)
- Neil Ross Shield for the District 12 team with the highest aggregate points from the meet – Ararat SC.
This was the last meet before Christmas, with meets to resume on Saturday, January 31, in 2026 with the Piranha’s meet at St Arnaud Swimming Pool.
Read More: Warracknabeal