Barracuda hero drops by

Broome Barracudas swimming club hosted the club championships on November 20 with more than 40 swimmers in attendance for a fun meet with the emphasis on participation.

A number of new meet records were set, particularly in the 13 and 14-year-old boys races by Fraser Jeffery and Joe Handscombe.

The 14-year-old girl records were all rewritten by Talara-Jade Dixon.

Harrison Jeffery created new meet records in four of the 15-year-old boy events.

Nine-year-old boys Elijah Neesham and Jesse Ryan now hold three and one new records respectively, 10-year-old Conor Stone also created a new meet record.

The Broome Barracudas also recently hosted Rhys Mainstone, national open water champion and former club member, who was back in the Broome Recreation and Aquatic Centre pool to swim with his old club.

Mainstone, who competes for Australia around the world and was the 2010 Australian 10km Open Water Champion, jumped in the pool with the Broome swimmers, showing them some of his training drills and answering their questions.

It was inspirational for club members to swim right beside an international athlete who started his swimming career in Broome.

They particularly enjoyed being able to discuss the sport with him in the relaxed atmosphere of their own pool.

Mainstone was in town for the Broome Sports Awards, thanks to the Department of Sport and Recreation and the Broome Sports Association.