Author: Fish Eagles Masters Swimming

On Wednesday, 7 March 2018, the Fish Eagles came together at Tanya & Ian Osborne’s house for a pasta evening.  The swimmers are competing in the National Champs in Pretoria from 13 to 18 March.  They have been training hard and greatly enjoyed an evening of carb loading.  There will be 7 swimmers travelling to Pretoria.

The evening was not just about carb loading, good pasta, wine, and tiramisu, but also to hand out the kit for the National Champs.  It was like Xmas in March, and the swimmers were like little kids opening backpacks to see what goodies were hiding inside.  All were delighted with their kit and cannot wait to go and show it off at Hillcrest Pool.  So beware, all other Master Clubs.  The Fish Eagles are on their way!

Pippy, Judy & Lanie in some of our new sponsored team clothes.

The Fish Eagles squad started the New Year on a fit note with an open water swim on Sunday, 7 January 2018 in Groenvlei.  The regular Sedgefield swimmers, Judy, Tracey, Lanie, and visitor Neil, were happy to have the rest of the group join them.  Mike, Jill, Marilyn, and Pippy made the trek from George, Allan from Knysna, and Tanya rushed back from her open-water swim at Jeffreys Bay.

The main point of discussion,  while having snacks & drinks, was the Nationals taking place in Pretoria in March 2018.  Transport, accommodation, and sponsorships were hot topics.  Swimmers realized that Nationals is actually just around the corner, and some hard work in the pool is now a priority.

The Fish Eagles Masters Swimmers participated in the Lagoon Mile Swim at the Rotary Knysna Splash on 28 December 2017.  They were Pippy Bishop, Lanie Farrelly, Mike McDonald (the oldest competitor at the event), Tanya Osborne, Monique Roos, and visiting PE Master Swimmer Neil McLellan.

The 1650m swim started at 12:00 at the Knysna Yacht Club Hobie slipway, went around the Yacht Club, turned right into the small harbour, went under the bridge, around Quays Island, and back to the finish at the Hobie slipway.

Windy conditions made the swim quite challenging, but two of our Fish Eagles still managed an excellent swim.  Pippy Bishop (00:24:09) and Tanya Osborne (00:23:06) came first in their age groups.

The rest of the swimmers had a good swim, but I did hear one Fish Eagle say:  “Never again.

The Fish Eagles Masters Swimmers will be back next year at the Knysna Splash, so if you want to join us, start swimming.   Contact Judy Dixon on 072-3906667 or go to our website www. fisheaglesmasters.com

The Eden LC Champs were held in Oudsthoorn on 24 and 25th November 2017.  Three of our master swimmers took part in the senior championships and – as we expected – brought home 11 medals.  Well done to:

Tanya Osborne with 2 x gold, 4 x silver, and 1 x bronze.

Mike McDonald with 3 x silver and

Andre Weideman with 1 x silver

We hope to have more of our swimmers competing next year.

On Sunday, 29 October 2017, members of Fish Eagles Master Swimming Club decided to celebrate the eventual arrival of medals won at the National Championship in East London in March.

They chose Groenvlei for an open-water practice swim, and there was a good turnout with 10 members swimming and a couple of spouses and family looking on.  The water was clear and calm, although some found it initially chilly.  After swimming a kilometer, the medals were presented by Chairperson, Judy Dixon, and all declared the afternoon a great success and a good way to develop team spirit, so essential for the forthcoming Championships in Pretoria in March 2018.