A place at the Pacific School Games at Adelaide is just rewards for three Dubbo swimmers who have shown outstanding commitment.
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Dubbo City Swimtech trio Jack Allen, Aspen Moore and Callum Smith will all represent their state at the Games after earning selection earlier in the year.
St John’s students Allen and Smith scored selection when starring at the NSW All Schools Secondary meet early in term two while Moore, who attends Dubbo South Primary, qualified through the NSW PSSA Championships at the end of term one.
All three worked tirelessly through winter in order to give themselves the best chance next week.
“It’s extremely exciting,” Dubbo City Swimtech president Rachael Sinclair said.
“It’s great for the club but more importantly it’s great for them after putting in so much effort.”
Allen, 16, competes in the multi-disability class and will swim in the mixed 16-19 200 medley relay, the boys’ 16-19 breakstroke and the mixed 16-19 freestyle 4x50 multi-class relay.
Wellington-based Smith, 15, will be busy as he will compete in six events.
In the 15-16 years category, Smith will compete in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle as well as the 4x50m freestyle relay.
Smith will also compete in the 17-19 4x50m freestyle and the 8x50 all-age freestyle relay.
Moore, 11, will race in the 50m freestyle, 200m medley relay and the 4x50m freestyle relay.
“For Jack, this has got to be his fifth or sixth national event but Callum has only really been swimming competitively for the past two years,” Sinclair said.
“Aspen is the same, she’s on the up and rising for the past two years so what those two could do in the future, we really don’t know.”
In terms of their prospects at the Games, Sinclair said it would be no surprise to see the trio return home with medals.
NSW has often been one of the star teams at the Games and the battles with Queensland are certain to entertain.
“NSW and Queensland have had a real rivalry so I think they’ve got a really good chance in all the relays,” Sinclair said.
Sinclair said a lot of the credit for the trio’s success went to Swimtech coaches, led by Dennis Valentine, and the swimmers’ hard-working and committed families.
Smith often makes the trip from Wellington to train from 5.30am alongside Moore. The pair will train for an hour and a half most mornings and afternoons every week before often taking part in Sunday competition.
Allen also gets through a mountain of work alongside his father most days of the week.
The Pacific School Games starts on December 2.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
