SOUTH Gippsland Bass were honoured at the Swimming Victoria awards on Friday night being recognised as one of the top 10 performing clubs in Victoria, coming in at ninth spot, an impressive effort given there are over 150 registered clubs in Victoria. They were one of four regional clubs recognised in the top 10.
Head Coach Dylan and President Janelle Croatto were at the event to collect the award on behalf of the club, presented to them by Swimming Victoria President Michelle Harris, a Gippsland local who started her involvement in swimming with SGB when her children started swimming.
Dylan was thrilled with the award.
“It reflects the hard work the club has put in – everyone from the volunteers helping run the BBQ at our meet this week to the parents training to be officials so we can run our own meets and all the swimmers giving it their best. And of course, all the parents driving their kids to training and swim meets. It is a real team effort, and I am proud of the club.”
“When you look at the facilities the other top 10 clubs have in comparison to us with 50-metre pools and diving blocks, to have achieved this result highlights the effort and potential of so many of our swimmers.”
“We hope it helps encourage our swimmers as we head towards a few big weeks of racing with the Short Course Country, Age and Open Championships, where we hope to again have some great results.”
President Janelle was pleased to see the club rewarded for their efforts.
“It is tough for our parents and swimmers, with the amount of driving they have to do for training and competing and to see the club recognised like this really makes it all worthwhile.”
The club, which trains at Splash Leongatha and Wonthaggi YMCA, has 250 swimmers ranging in skill level from Development groups to National level swimmers, with a level to suit everyone, including a Fitness and Masters group.
The top 10 clubs were 1. Nunawading 2. MLC 3. Surrey Park 4. Geelong 5. Melbourne Swim Centre 6. Traralgon 7. Ballarat Gold 8. Caulfield Aquatic 9. South Gippsland Bass 10. Melbourne Vic Centre.
