Ducks host successful carnival

The AIF is a well-known and respected association with Sir Roden Cutler the current patron.

The association is very proud and honoured to have such a great Australian holding the position and hope he will be the patron for many more years to come.

Mayor Allan Smith welcomed everyone to the carnival in a very friendly manner, accompanied by Parkes MP Tony Lawler, Dubbo MP Tony McGrane and Bert McLennan from the RSL.

The Ducks had great success when the team of Norm Bahr, Colin Eastburn, Reg Ferguson and Dick Smith - all members of the club’s executive - won the 50m handicap relay for the Ray Weekes Memorial Plaque.

The team will defend their title at the next AIF carnival in 2002, possibly in Gosford.

Mark Eastburn contested eight events at the carnival, earning of the nickname “ironman”.

Eastburn won the 18-20 years Service Trophy to go with the under-50 year trophy he won at Condobolin recently.

Helen Clatworthy, a regular masters swimmer, also raced well and was second in the women’s 40-45 years championship.

In the 100m handicap the Ducks’ Guy Pierce swam 1m3.47s - the fastest time of the day - and finished second in the 30-34 years 50m championship.

Matt Dover and Judy Walsh also swam well in individual events with Dover making the final of the 50m handicap and Walsh swimming 0.14s in the 100m handicap.

Overall the carnival was a great success and the Ducks would like to thank the sponsors for their contributions and courteous and friendly welcome when called.

They would also like to congratulate Les Ryan of Wentworthville, who won the 50m handicap, and the rest of the top workers who made it such a success.

The Ducks then held their regular Sunday swim at the Dubbo Aquatic and Leisure Centre, making for a busy weekend.

Two events were run with Trevor Youngman winning the 100m at 0.2s and Les Ryan third in the 50m.

Afterwards all met upstairs at the RSL Club for a barbecue lunch with Mike Twohill and Ron Soden the cooks.