Sinkers Soar At Masters State Championships

After a long-anticipated wait and numerous training sessions, the Masters Queensland State Championship was attended by 12 North Mackay Sinkers Masters Swimming Club Members.
This year’s State Championships event was delivered at the prestigious Brisbane Aquatic Centre in Chandler across four days of exhilarating swimming action, that took place from Thursday 18 April to Sunday 21 April 2024.
The Championships offered a wide range of events, spanning from 25m to 800m, with no event limits, ensuring there’s something for every swimmer. Currently no qualifying times are in place for these events allowing swimmers of various abilities to select and swim in favoured events. This was a timed final event with no heats with swimmers only common ground being a similar time, so heats are well seeded and include generally both men and women of various ages but similar capabilities and is all abilities. (Includes Multiclass)
Shorter distances were divided into male and female to provide direct competition for the first time at State Championships and proved to be very popular.
Regardless if members were seasoned swimmers or just looking to join in on the fun, all members participated in the racing, relays, and camaraderie. Chandler offers an unforgettable aquatic experience with precise AOE timing, a large electronic display that features reaction time, lap intervals and a final displayed result sorted to position that’s instantly visible in the pool for competitors.
On the medal front many Sinkers graced the podium in multiple events with a group total of 44 medals combined across individual and relay events. The club moved into 8th place on the final day of competition from over 50 clubs in what was a strong showing from Mackay. The large club award from last year was relinquished as some clubs were well represented and able to accumulate the points to take both overall and points per member categories.
The 2024 Championships were a well-run event that featured swimmers from around Australia and overseas and delivered 303 records broken at the event. These included 80 Australian, 199 Queensland, 2 Tasmanian, 6 Victorian and 16 New South Wales records tumbling as the event progressed.
The Championships had the Sinkers swimming well with many individual swimmers posting personal best times and placing well across the board. The event though was memorable for its team focus and support by members for all competitors. Swimmers’ comments include;
“My triumph was being here”
“Had a ball every swim and enjoyed the competition and friendship”
“They say swimming is an individual sport but not once did I feel like I was swimming alone over the four days. The cheering from the grandstands, pool deck support and sportsmanship makes me proud to be a part of this club.”
In addition to the swimming our team also hit some of the city highlights including the Storey Bridge Climb, Eat Street and Brisbane River tours to mention a few and thoroughly enjoyed the championships and all that Brisbane has to offer.
The Club has 4 swimmers heading to Darwin for the Masters Swimming Australia National Championships with both pool and open water swimming available 3 – 7 May 2024.
The club is now entering its “Winter” program with Mondays and Wednesdays at the Memorial Pool (5.30-6.30pm). Our regular Social Saturday swim is also at the Memorial from 8-9am. New members welcome.
For More information, email nthmkysinkers@gmail.com or phone 0413 805 156
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Contributed By Dan Stampa

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North Mackay Sinkers made a splash at the Queensland Masters State Championships
Sinkers State Group Photo
Nomi underwater
Team Sinkers. Images supplied

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