For all those Leagues Club Members who have been waiting in for the arrival of their 2008 July to October League’s Club Journal to ascertain the winners of the various Water Dragon Championship Events for the 2007/2008 season, rest easy, your wait is over.

All can now be revealed.

For those Leagues Club Members who haven’t been waiting nervously for the results read on anyway – you may find something of mild interest or see a name of someone you may know.

After 12 months of intense but always friendly competition, our Season ended on 31 March at Carss Park Pool with ‘Mr.

Consistency’ Justin Fitzsimons again taking out the blue ribbon event, the Bill Burchmore Swimmer of the Year Title for the third consecutive year.

In another outstanding season Justin was also victorious in the Winter 50-metre Championship (tied with Terry McLeod), the Summer 50-metre Championship as well as winning the combined Winter/Summer total point score 50-metre Championship.

To cap off this memorable Swim Season, Justin also took out the Jack Dowell Trophy, which encompasses a one lap self nominated time dash over 25 metres.

Justin was only .04 seconds (4/100ths) off his nominated time.

Well done Justin.

Other Championship and Trophy winners for the Season were: Margie Black in the 25-metre championship, Terry McLeod (tied with Justin) in the Winter 50-metre championship, Kerrie Hammell in the 100-metre championship, John ‘the Judge’ Harlum in the 200-metre championship.

Trophy winners for the season were: Ray Halpin (Ken Jenkins Trophy), Mark Madison (Reg White Trophy) and Kerrie Hammell (Russ Blatch Trophy).

Congratulations to all the Championship and Trophy winners for the 2007/2008 Season.

The Water Dragon’s AGM was held on 7 May 2008 and it was with regret that our President and long serving club member Reg White did not seek reelection to the position.

Mark Slough assumed the position as President unopposed and Mark will carry on the excellent leadership role that Reg has given the Club during his tenure as President.

All other office bearers were re-elected unopposed with the exception of the three General Committee positions.

However, after a ballot the three existing members retained their Committee status.

During the season, in addition to the Club’s regular Wednesday Night competition, the Water Dragons performed well in a number of Carnivals, most notably the Combined Leagues Club Carnival at North Cronulla where the Club finished second in the Championship to a very strong Cronulla team.

However, the Water Dragons were successful at our own St.George Carnival at Carss Park where the Club won the two prestige events namely the Saints Shield (a-ten-a-side relay) beating our nemesis Cronulla by a massive 2.56 seconds.

In the other blue ribbon event, a self-nominated combined time for a 25-metre and 50-metre swim, Arthur Mattingly – our long-time, hard-working Secretary and Life Member of the Leagues Club, the Sports Council and Swimming Club – won the event with a time which was.01 outside his nominated combined times.

That’s right 1/100th of a second.

Well done Arthur.

During the Season the Club welcomed a number of new swimmers to the fold those being Rod Smith, Billie and Ray Halpin, John Weir and Kathy Johnson.

To all the readers of this article who were interested enough to read this far and who may be contemplating joining our Club, you might be interested to know that the Club’s oldest active swimmer is 75 and our youngest 31.

The handicap times of our swimmers in the 50-metre events have a time differential of 57 seconds between the fastest and slowest swimmer.

This equates to every swimmer having an equal chance of winning – no matter how fast or slow they may be.

Remember, not every one can be an Eammon Sullivan or a Libby Trickett.

The Water Dragons Swim Club formed in 1964 and provides friendly competition as well as renowned camaraderie.

It’s also an enjoyable competitive activity to keep fit.

Any Leagues Club Member contemplating joining the Water Dragons on Wednesdays or who simply wishes to make inquiries concerning the Club, the format of competition or the venues, please contact Pauline Webley at the Leagues Club during office hours on 95871022.

Ian Langley,
Publicity Officer

Just as the journal went to press, the Water Dragon’s 2007/2008 Swimming Season concluded, so all the Championship winners are still being decided.

However, at the time of writing, only a handful of points separate six swimmers in the Blue Ribbon Trophy Event, namely, the Water Dragon Swimmer of the Year.

All the other Championship events are similarly in the balance with a few points separating a host of swimmers.

One event, the Winter 50 metre Championship was decided on the last Wednesday in September 2007.

This event came down to a two-horse race on the last night of winter swimming with only one point separating Terry McLeod and Justin Fitzsimmons.

Both Terry and Justin tried desperately to out point each other in their respective heats but in the end, in something of an anti climax, neither could win a heat.

On the night Terry scored three points and Justin two, with both ending on 90 points resulting in a tie.

A number of notable performances were achieved by members of the Water Dragons during December at the Wentworthville and Combined Leagues Club Carnivals.

At Wentworthville, Mark Slough and Brian Sach won the 50-metre Brace Relay whilst Club Captain Warren Bradley finished third, picking up the Bronze.

At the Combined Leagues Club Carnival at North Cronulla, the Water Dragons provided winners in a wide range of age related events to numerous to mention here.

The Water Dragons were also successful in the Men’s 60+ and 50+ age relays, whilst the Lady Water Dragons were successful in the 40+ age relay and also the Medley relay.

In the main event, the single swimmer nominated time 50 metre race, the ‘flying fireman’ Rob Willmette was third only 0.07 outside his nominated time.

Well done Rob.

With all the above excellent performances at this Carnival, the Water Dragons anticipated a possible win in the overall Championship but, unfortunately, the Club was pipped on the line by a powerful Cronulla line up.

A successful end of Calendar Year Christmas Swim Night for the Club’s Christmas Turkey was held at Carss Park on December 20, with Robyn Willmette snatching the bird from a fast-finishing Ian Bourke and Corinne Madden.

As a result of Robyn’s above win, it is worth noting that the first ladies joined the Water Dragons in 1987 and Robyn achieved a milestone 4 days prior to her above win having joined the Club on 16 December 1987 – bringing up 20 years as a Water Dragon.

Robyn remains the longest serving active woman member of the Water Dragons with 20 years of competitive swimming behind her.

Well done Robyn.

It is also worth noting that another milestone was reached on 30 January 2008 when Water Dragon Carol Cheadle attended her 700th consecutive swim night.

As outlined in previous Journals, the Water Dragons Swim Club is always open to welcome new swimmers to our ranks.

The oldest active swimmer in our Club is 75 and our youngest is 31, which indicates the wide range of age groups within the Club.

The Club swims on Wednesday Nights at Carss Park in Summer (October to March) and Peakhurst West Public School in Winter (April to September).

Both pools are heated.

Competition commences at 7.30pm and is normally concluded by 8.45pm.

For further information contact Pauline Webley at the League’s Club during business hours on 9587 1022.

Ian Langley,
Publicity Officer

The Water Dragons Winter Swim Season commenced on 4 April at the Peakhurst West Public School Indoor Heated 25 metre Pool. This marks the commencement of the twelve month Championship and Trophy Season for the Club which includes both the six month Winter Swim Season at Peakhurst and a six month Summer Season at Carss Park Pool.

At the time of publication, the Water Dragons will be at Carss Park after a keenly contested Winter Season at Peakhurst.

All the Season Trophy events have been keenly contested to date and only a handful of points separate swimmers in the various events. At this stage no swimmer has broken away on the points table and the season trophy winners may well not be decided until the last summer season swim at Carss Park in March 2008.

The Water Dragons AGM was held on 2nd of May 2007 and the following persons were elected to the committee.
President: Reg White; Vice President: Ian Langley; Secretary: Arthur Mattingly; Treasurer: Pauline Webley; Club Captain: Warren Bradley; Handicapper: Terry McLeod; Starter: Dave Walker; Publicity Officer: Ian Langley; Judge: John Harlum; Committee: Margaret Black, Don Stanton, Ian Bourke; Registrar: Brian Sach; Social Secretary: Robyn Willmette.

At the Club’s Presentation Night well known Leagues Club Member Pauline Webley was deservedly named lubman/Person of the year for 2007/2008.

Two members of the Water Dragons competed recently in swimming events at the World Police and Fire Games in Adelaide. Long term Water Dragon and Past President Gordon Williams won a swag of medals which included three gold, two silver and a bronze in the open water and pool swim events, whilst Paul Rugg won a silver and bronze medal in the pool. Well done Gordon and Paul.

The 2007 Jack Dowell Trophy has been won this year by ‘Mr Consistency’ Justin Fitzsimmons, who completed the 25-metre one lap dash at Peakhurst touching 4/100ths (0.04) of a second off his nominated time. Phew! Runners up were Arthur Mattingly at 7/100ths (0.07) and Arthur’s daughter and last year’s winner Karen Saad at 14/100ths (0.14) off their respective nominated times.

For members of the St George Leagues Club, 2007 marks the 43rd year of the Water Dragons. The swim Club was established in January 1964 and as a result it became the first Swim Club to be formed within a Leagues Club.

The Water Dragons swim on Wednesday nights at the Peakhurst West Public School in winter and the Carss Park Pool in summer.

Past and present swimmers who want to get back into friendly competition can join the action on any Wednesday night or if uncertain about the format or individual capabilities simply come along and see if this is for you.

You will certainly be made welcome.

For more information about the Water Dragons contact Pauline Webley during Leagues Club Business Hours on 9587 1022.