Category: Swimming

Sport Results, Swimming

As we approach the final few weeks of this term, the swimming coaches would like to thank their swimmers for their efforts throughout yet another very demanding season. The heavy combination of academic stress and countless galas at this time of year always takes its toll on our athletes and we appreciate your dedication during these exhausting times.

The Karoo gala was hosted by Volkskool on Wednesday and many of our senior and junior swimmers were invited to compete. The competition in the senior division in particular was very tight and made for some tremendously exciting finishes.  The senior girls managed to clinch 1^st place in their division – with a mere 20 points separating them from the second placed Volkskool;  while our senior boys came 3^rd with only 30 points separating the top three schools. We managed these scores by ensuring we entered as many participants in each race as possible.

Although Volkskool were comfortable victors in the junior division, the 2^nd place honours were shared by Union and Gill.

Congratulations to the following junior swimmers who did very well to achieve top 3 places in their races:
1^st places:     Matthew Paxton, Misha Newton, Daniel Marais
2^nd places:    Chloe Erasmus, Matthew Paxton
3^rd places:     Tyra Binney, Matthew Davenport, Mecoli Vorster, Misha Newton, Bradley Davenport, Rebecca Copeman and Matthew Paxton

Our senior swimmers placed as follows:
Brigetté Oelofsen: 1^st place 100m Freestyle;  2^nd place 50m IM and  50m Breaststroke;  3^rd place 50m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly
Lana Bouwer:  2^nd place 50m Backstroke
Amber Binney:  2^nd place 50m IM and 50m Butterfly;  3^rd place 50m Freestyle and  50m Breaststroke
Hannah Bodenstein: 2^nd place 50m Backstroke;  3^rd place 50m IM
Megan Doyle:  1^st place 100m Freestyle;  2^nd place 50m IM and 50m Butterfly;  3^rd place 50m Freestyle
Jade Shires:  3^rd place 50m IM
Elia Railton:  2^nd place 50m Breaststroke and 50m Backstroke
Jude Langmead:  1^st place 50m Butterfly
James Potgieter:  3^rd place 50m IM and 50m Butterfly
Mack Rubidge:  2^nd place 100m Freestyle;  3^rd place 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke and 50m Butterfly
Luke McNaughton:  3^rd Place 50m IM
Damon Fouché:  3^rd place 50m Breaststroke

Sport Results, Swimming

Sport Results, Swimming

A group of 16 Union swimmers, from U/13 to Open, participated in the 4th and last B Age Group gala of the season, in Port Elizabeth on Saturday 16th February. Our swimmers did very well, improving on their times and some again achieving awards times. The swimmers are awaiting their invitations to the prestigious Top 8 Gala, which takes place on the 9th of March.

Results:
Mack Rubidge (44 points) 1st place 50m Backstroke
1st place 100m Freestyle
2nd place 50m Butterfly
2nd place 50m Freestyle

Elia Railton (28 points) 1st place 50m Breastroke
2nd place 50m Backstroke

Megan Doyle (18 points) 2nd place 100m Freestyle
3rd place 50m Freestyle

Amber Binney (17 points) 3rd place 50m Breaststroke

Sport Results, Swimming

After a successful outing at the B-age group gala on Saturday, nine of our more determined swimmers stayed over in PE to take part in the 95^th Spar Sunday’s River Mile on Sunday, 17 February as well.

While the swim last year was exceptionally tough, the excellent conditions this year saw the swimmers slashing their times with an average of around 15 – 20 minutes all round.

As the incoming tide started pushing through, a field of 214 ladies took to the water in a flurry of splashing limbs. Following up on her success from last year, Hannah Bodenstein was our first female swimmer home in a spectacular time of 20 minutes and 20 seconds.  Hot on her heels was Amber Binney who crossed the finish line a mere 2 seconds later, despite sustaining a gash to her foot in the process.  Drew Dobinson followed shortly after with a time of 23 minutes, with Kelly-Page Scott, Brigette Oelofsen and Elia Railton all exiting the water in under 25 minutes.

The perfect conditions held as the group of 237 men began their race. The pushing tide helped the swimmers set a blistering pace and our 3 boys completed the race in good time; all crossing the finish line in under 25 mins.  Mack Rubidge powered through the course in an incredible 18 minutes, while Damon Fouche and Schea Johnson finished in 23 and 24 minutes respectively.

It is always wonderful to see our learners representing our school so well in events of this nature and they must be commended for their fine efforts this weekend despite the hefty academic workload that is synonymous with this time of term. Thank you all for your dedication.

IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE UNION BEING SO WELL REPRESENTED AT AN EVENT OF THIS STATURE, AND IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THE EAGERNESS WITH WHICH ALL THE FIRST-TIMERS COMPETED. WELL DONE TO THEM ALL.

Sport Results, Swimming

On Saturday, 22 Union swimmers travelled to PE to participate in a B-age group gala and produced some excellent results. It was the first time that four of our junior swimmers had taken part in an event of this nature and it was encouraging to see how quickly they settled and delivered some very competent performances.

The seniors recorded some incredible times too and although the complete list of results has not yet been posted, we do have confirmation of some.

The following learners achieved a podium finish in one or more of their races:  Mack Rubidge, Elia Railton, Amber Binney, Megan Doyle, Damon Fouche and Drew Dobinson.

Union is very excited to see the return of Mack Rubidge to the team and with good reason. Mack stunned spectators with a clean sweep of comfortable wins for every one of his races and recorded some award winning times in the process.

The rest of the team though, is close on his heels and they are all working hard to put together the requisite times for school awards at the end of this season.

 

Sport Results, Swimming

A large number of Union swimmers travelled to Port Elizabeth this weekend (17 November) to participate in their final B-Age Group gala for this year. The event proved to be a great outlet from the stresses of exam time and many of our swimmers managed to post new personal best times in numerous events; in particular the 100m freestyle.

Well done to all these swimmers, who have continued to train hard throughout the exam period and have been rewarded for their efforts. Union High placed 9th overall out of more than 40 schools, and in the senior section our boys placed 3rd and our girls finished in 4th place.

Sport Results, Swimming

Union went to the C Age Group Gala in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. Our six swimmers bravely took on the cold water. There were 190 swimmers in total.

Zara Deysel-Douman came 8th in Backstroke and 9th in Freestyle. Anna-May Hayes came 6th in Backstroke, 8th in Breaststroke and 10th in Freestyle. Angus McLaggen came 3rd in Backstroke, 4th in Breaststroke and 3rd in Freestyle.

Well done to all the swimmers.

Sport Results, Swimming