Many clubs within the Western Districts area attended and enjoyed the carnival. Clubs in attendance included Dubbo City Swim Tech, Dubbo Orana, Gilgandra, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Wee Waa, Walgett and Warren .

There were a lot of very strong swimmers among the visiting clubs, in particular the Coonamble Swimming Club which performed extremely well. The Lightning Ridge Piranhas remained strong and continued on their winning streak taking home heaps of medals and prize money.

Many of our younger swimmers achieved personal best times which make coaching and being part of our club incredible. Hosting a carnival in our home town means a lot to our kids and we are very proud of their achievements at the carnival and throughout the swimming season.

Carnival placing are as follows: Lauren Hughes 1st in 200 IM, 50m fly, 100m fly, 50m fly open, 50m BK/S, 100m BK/S, 50m FR and 100m FR, 2nd in 50m BR/S and 100m BR/S, 3rd in 100m FR open, 1st in 11-12 years Dash for Cash and 2nd in Open dash for cash. Liam Hughes 1st in 50m fly, 50 BR/S, 100m BR/S, 50m BK/S, 50m FR, 2nd in 100m FR and Open Dash for Cash. Emma-Lea McKay 1st 50m BK/S, 2nd in 50m fly, 50m BR/S, 3rd in Open IM, 50m FR and 100m fly. Emma Norton 3rd 50m BR/S, 50m BK/S and 50m FR. Farren Lamb 2nd in 50m fly, 50m BR/S, 50m BK/S and 50m FR. Oscar Cheal 1st 100m BK/S, 2nd 50m BR/S, 3rd 50m fly, 50m BK/S, 100m BR/S and 50m FR. Luke White 1st 50m BR/S. Jack Stone 2nd 50m BK/S. Xhana Tishler 1st 50m fly, 50m BK/S, 50m FR, 3rd 100m fly, 50m BR/S. Luca Cheal 2nd 50m BR/S, 50m BK/S, 50m FR and Dash for cash, 3rd 50m fly. Sean White 1st 50m BK/S, 2nd 50m BR/S, 50m FR and 3rd dash for cash. Madyson Tooth 3rd 50m BK/S. Chris Jones 1st 50m Fly, 50m FR. Lachlan Johnston 2nd 33m FR, 33m BK/S, 33m fly, 3rd 33m BR/S. Eli Lohse 2nd 50m FR. Kyhnan Samuelsson 2nd 50m BR/S. Tallulah Chesworth 1st 33m fly, 33m BR/S, 33m BK/S, 33m FR and 3rd dash for cash. Lightning Ridge under 8’s Chris, Kyh, Luca and Tallulah took silver in the 4 x 50m Medley relay. Lauren, Emma-Lea, Liam and Emma took gold in the 4 x 50m Open Medley relay.

We would also like to congratulate Jasmine Tooth, Jett Tishler, Tom Barrett, Harriett Morris, Jock McKenzie, Brook Brown and Savannah Chesworth on their outstanding efforts throughout the day, we are very proud of your achievements. .

We would like to say a huge thankyou to everyone who volunteered their time on the day and during the days leading up to the carnival.

Special thanks to Louise Chesworth who is undoubtedly one of the Piranhas’ biggest supporters. Louise has helped the club out tremendously through the sourcing of sponsorship, helping with barbecues, coaching the kids and doing the running during the carnival. You are truly a valued member of our club.

We would also like to say a big thank you to Kierin Walford and Amber Adams for all their dedication and time in coaching the kids and helping with all the preparations of the carnival. The club would also like to thank Kelly Tishler, Naomi Stone, Kylie Norton, Richard Hughes, Natasha Bamford, Frances Carpenter, Samantha Howard, Mel Tooth, Kerrianne Turk, Rebecca McKenzie, Ian and Maude Harrison, Paul Gibson, Andy Sisa, Lily and Roman Sisa, Trudy, Bernie and all the volunteers from other towns, in particular Coonamble, for their help during the day. Jasna, Sharon, Kelly, Jess, Fiona and Liz did a terrific job on the barbecue keeping all our guests happy all day.

Many compliments were made by our swimming guests and families. Well done ladies. Thank you and please forgive us if we have left your name from the list, we appreciate everyone’s support and kindness.

Most of all we would like to thank our sponsors, without you all the carnival would not have been possible.

Special thanks to major sponsors, Michael Flanigan (Silver Raven), Richard and Trudy Mallouk and Noel Burke. Also a big thank you to Lightning Ridge Hotel Motel, Barriekneal Housing and Community Ltd, PW Concrete, Zita’s Videos, Lightning Ridge Mining and Steel, Geoff’s Glass, Morilla’s Café, Hilda and Barry Green, Patrick Brown’s caught short removals, Chasin opal cabin park, TF lapidary, The opal cave, Supa save Dave, Lightning Ridge miners association, Wallangulla motel, Kelly and Paul Tishler, LRE, Carol McClory and Chris Seargent, Julie O’Donoghue, Haywood Little, Bonanza, Bruno’s Pizza’s, Gourmet gecko café, Naomi Jaynes hair studio, Weeks newsagency, Ridges café, Lightning Ridge royal flying doctors service, Snak shack, Ormy Molyneux, Raja, Harlequin café, Kate and Leon, Duncans fashions, Countrywide tyres, Liz Gawthorpe, White’s Pharmacy, Trevor Darling, Frances Carpenter, Mr Cheap, Chris Tome, Jennifer Short and Penny Fahey.

The parents and children of the Lightning Ridge Piranhas swim club thank you all for your continual support. Thanks to you our carnival gets bigger and better each year. More children are attending and enjoying the beautiful and amazing swimming facilities our town has to offer.