PROVING that you don't need to be a big school to have representation at a high level, St Brigid's Primary School, Coonamble sent a team of nine children to the PSSA carnival last week.
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This meet shows how fit and determined the children are with all events consisting of heats in the morning and finals in the afternoon.
In the Wednesday morning session Lachy Colwell come out in the 10 years 50m freestyle and was ranked sixth into the afternoon final.
Holly Edwards and Lydia Murray also swam in separate heats in the 11 years girls 50m freestyle, with Holly ranking fifth and Lydia first.
Ned Hoath was 11th in the in the boys 11 years 50m freestyle and ranked 18th while Marnie Ryan came out in the 12 years girls 50 breaststroke and gave it her all, ranking 16th.
Lydia Murray also swam in the 11 years 50m breaststroke and ranked first.
The afternoon session came around very quickly with Lachy Colwell first cab off the rank in the 10 years boys 50m freestyle final, where he finished ninth overall.
Cousins Holly Edwards and Lydia Murray then swam in the 11 years 50m freestyle final.
The field in this age group was one of the fastest to come through for many years, with the top three finishing in less than 30 seconds. Holly gave it her all with a new PB to place fifth overall, just being tipped out for fourth place.
Lydia came away with first place in the and completed a trifecta which saw her entry time of 29.52s matched by her heat time and final time.
Lydia then raced from the podium to the blocks for her 11 years 50m breaststroke final, and came out and took first place again by a touch.
Lydia was presented with her gold medal on the podium only to race to the blocks once again for the Polding All age relay swimming the last leg where the girls finished second.
On Thursday morning the relay heats were first up with junior boys Lachy Colwell, Fred Kennedy, Jock Hoath and Toby Murray taking to the pool deck with excitement, placing 22nd overall.
Then the 'golden girls' Holly Edwards, Marine Ryan, Lydia Murray and Heather Hanigan took on the field in the senior girls relay heats, ranking first into the final.
Holly and Lydia then swam in the 11 years 50m backstroke with Holly ranking 11th and Lydia ranking second.
The afternoon session began with Lydia swimming in the 11 years 50m back final, where she placed fourth overall.
Then came Lachy Colwell in the 10 years 50m butterfly final with an exceptional swim, missing the dive only to fight all the way to the finish second and book his ticket to Nationals for the first time.
Tears all round with joy for Lachy by parents and team members.
Holly and Lydia then competed in the 11 years 50m butterfly final.
Holly swam the race like no other, breaking her heat time by another second to be just touched out for third place.
Lydia also swam the race of her life again after racing back to blocks, defending her favourite event by a touch for gold.
The excitement hit the pool once again with Holly, Lydia, Marnie and Heather in the senior relay, with all girls giving it their all only to be touched out for gold.
A huge congratulations to all swimmers on their outstanding results, also to the coaches 'Whiskey' and Kerrianne on your dedicated coaching for all the children .
Lydia and Lachy are back into some tough training this Monday with both making it on to School Nationals held in July in Melbourne.