WE START this week's report on a sorrowful note.
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Pat Mumford, our long-serving reporter and better known as 'The Colonel', was saddened when Glenys, his beloved wife passed away in Lourdes Hospital on Sunday, November 25, and was buried in Dubbo's Lawn Cemetery the following Wednesday.
All the club's members extend their utmost sympathy to Pat and his family on their sad loss.
Captain Brian Schloeffel thanked the members who were able to attend the service and stated that we all look forward to having The Colonel back swimming with us in the near future.
With thoughts of The Colonel well and truly on our minds, 37 swimmers and two spectators gathered at the pond on the first Sunday of summer eager to get their hands on the large hams and smaller champagne hams on offer to the lucky winners.
These will be presented at our Christmas party luncheon on December 23.
Incidentally with the interest in turkeys now apparently waning, the club heavies decided a new approach was needed in providing a replacement for the turkeys, thus champagne hams got the nod.
Now don't ask The Apprentice what they are because he hasn't got a clue.
However, trying to win one for Chrissy dinner can be difficult - too keen being the problem.
This happened in the opening 25m freestyle. In an amazing result the first four placegetters, all of the male variety, broke their times.
The culprits, in finishing order, Norm Bahr (- 0.82s), Bill Greenwood (- 0.58s), Garry Giddings (- 0.41s) and Paul Sinclair (- 0.01s), swam far too fast thus handing a large ham to the only lady in the final who did a Stephen Bradbury, finished last but was then elevated to the winner's podium.
Judy Walsh (0.37s) doesn't know how to break in individual events and was a worthy winner.
But spare a thought for Paul Sinclair, lost the race by a miserable one-hundredth of a second.
On to race two, a 25m backstroke/breaststroke brace relay and it resulted in a repeat of the previous event.
Here, the first three teams to touch the pads were also too eager to stock up for the festive season and likewise broke their times.
Again, in finishing order Craig Schloeffel and Brandon Bonser broke by -3.11s, John McLean and Harry Hart -1.90s and Judy Walsh and Bill Greenwood, -0.38s.
The fourth place team comprising Tom Gray and David Sparkes (0.60s) held out Lucy Taylor and Tony Wall (3.16s) in the run for the major prize.
In the final event, the table did no favours by programming yet another 100m freestyle, part of their Get Fit campaign they still maintain.
Firstly there was going to be a final in this race, then there wasn't, and confusion reigned supreme as people gathered around the table in an effort to ascertain what was happening.
In fact, most swimmers were enjoying warm showers before a decision was made. No final, announced the Walsh/Sparkes table team.
But the question remains: How did this debacle arise in the first place and who made the ultimate decision?
In the wash-up it was decided that the winner would be the swimmer who had the closest to time from the heats of the 100 metres.
A breaker could not win the race so the first of the non-breakers, John McLean (0.11s) came out the overall winner ahead of Tony Wall (0.37s) and Paul Sinclair (1.35s) - so ended a very controversial morning's entertainment.
Congratulations to sailor Tom Gray who swam spot on his time (0.00) to take out the Comfort Inn Dubbo City Motel December trophy by just one-hundredth of a second (0.01s) from soldier Bill Greenwood.
One for the Navy, Tom.
Lucky number winners were Ron Everett, Brian Schloeffel, David Sparkes and Reg Ferguson.
November points score: first David Sparkes (again) 39 points, second Paul Sinclair (38), third Ron Everett (37).
Birthday wishes to chalkie Mark Scullard, 43, on December 5.
Get well wishes to John Wherritt who turned up at the pool on Sunday with his wing in a sling.
Members are reminded that this Sunday will feature another of our incentive races.