In the swim: Fiona Kersten, Colin Thelwell, Robyn Clancy and Jillene Delahunty make a splash for Geelong Catfish.
By John Van Klaveren
GEELONG has the Cats, Supercats, Wildcats and Baycats.
Now the Catfish have added their nickname to the city’s sporting lexicon.
Geelong Catfish is a group of masters swimmers proving age is no barrier to enjoying healthy competition.
Membership officer Lynette Newman said the club’s oldest member was 79.
“We’ve had quite a few people who were competitive swimmers as kids or young adults who have come back into it,” Lynette explained.
“Some of our members train for pool competition, some for triathlons and some for ocean swims and some just to relax. One of our members does 12 ocean swims a year.”
Part of the masters games structure, the club has been operating under the auspices of Australian Union of Senior Swimmers International since 1986.
Members regularly participate in club meets as well as occasional state and national swimming events.
“Our members love the challenge but there’s a strong social aspect to getting together,” Lynette said.
“People do it for fitness because it’s low-impact, especially if you’re recovering from injuries.
“Swimming is one of the most effective forms of exercise for improving aerobic fitness, resisting coronary disease, lowering blood pressure and improving muscle tone and posture.”
Lynnett said the squad had its own experienced coach and covered a variety of strokes, with shorter and longer sets and distances.
The club aimed to have squads at various swim centres around the region to enable more people to participate.
“We do different drills to practise our stroke techniques to improve our times,” Lynette said.
“Records are registered, so there’s a competitive edge to it, especially when we compete against other clubs and states.”
Lynette said club members had won state and national medals, with Margot Milne achieving FINA Masters World ranking of fourth in 2007 and 2008. She also won three silver medals at Perth FINA World titles in 2008 and two gold at Sydney’s 2009 World Masters Games, while 1984 Lorne Pier to Pub winner John Lidstone holds a 25-metre state record for backstroke.
The club was open to anyone aged from 18, although members tended to be “slightly older than that”, she smiled.
Lynette said the squad met Tuesday and Thursday nights at Norlane Waterworld.
She said anyone wanting more information could phone her on 0425 796 479 or visit www.catfish.com.au.
