All 15, representing the Moree Amateur Swimming Club (MASC), placed well within their age divisions and managed to achieve impressive personal best times in a number of events.

Tammy Elbourne, one of the MASC parents said the competition ran in conjunction with Swimming NSW.

“The event which is known to be very competitive focused on regional swimming areas from all over the state and towns such as Moree, Narrabri, Gunnedah, Tamworth, Mudgee, Lightning Ridge, Dubbo, Coonamble and Twin Waters travelled to be a part of the massive weekend,” Mrs Elbourne said.

The races were run in age groups starting from nine years and under all the way up to the opens, which made the competition tough.

Coach, Angela Walker, said every single representative exceeded her expectations.

“The competition was just a stepping stone on their long way to reach their season goals which are school state selections and nationals. It was a great chance to see where we’re positioned at the moment and race against other competitive swimmers,” she said.

Even the youngest competitors in the team achieved great results on the weekend.

“Ben Di Donna is seven years old so he raced in the nine and unders. He placed eighth in his 50m freestyle and did a personal best.

 “He placed seventh in his 50m backstroke and also set a personal best… There were 15 in his races and only a couple were seven the rest were older,” his mother Jaymie McDonald said.

Chloe Elbourne who is also seven swam against the nine years and under and set a new personal best time of nearly six seconds in her breast stroke. 

The Josh’s were on fire during the competition, with Josh Walker and Josh Elbourne winning gold.

Josh Walker placed first in the 15 and over 50m freestyle and Josh Elbourne raced home first in the 12 years 50m backstroke.

Both Josh and Gabbie Elbourne received silver in their 100m backstroke smashing six seconds off their times and Harriet O’Neil, in the 13 years age group, won bronze for 50m breaststroke and 100 freestyle .

Camilla O' Neill also achieved some fantastic new personal bests in her races shaving over five seconds off her breast stroke.

Josh Elbourne won bronze in his 100m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 200m individual medley (IM).

Emily DiDonna reached her personal best of nine seconds for the 100m freestyle,  and also made a big personal best in every race she competed in. 

Elka, Rhys and Luke Devney all had a fantastic weekend with nearly all of their swims achieving some great personal best times.

 Xanthe and Zara Cogan, enjoyed the carnival both of them also knocked substantial time off their own personal bests and Olivia Cannington also swam well and reached new personal bests.

Abby George said the event was one of her most successful.

“In the 50m freestyle I made a personal best of eight seconds and seven seconds for the 50m butterfly. I definitely achieved a lot at Lightning Ridge,” she said.

Joshua Walker said although it wasn’t his personal best time, he was proud of his gold medal in the 50m freestyle.

“My time was 25.9 but my personal best was 24.9 at CCC in Sydney last year,” he said.

A few of the swimmers time will qualify for the next round of the country championships in Sydney later in the year.