Sports round-up: Shooters return after two-month layoff

This post was contributed by Daniel Irvine of Murray Bridge Rifle Club and Leanne Pittaway of Murray Bridge Swimming Club.

Eleven very eager members turned out on a pleasant but testing day for the first Murray Bridge Rifle Club shoot since November 14.

Several shoots were lost at the end of 2020 because of damaging winds, COVID closures and hot weather.

The first scheduled shoot of 2021 was also lost to hot weather, so those members who were able to gather on Saturday were very pleased to be able to shoot from a range of 500 metres.

There was a stiff wind from the right blowing off the Lower Lakes that provided ample challenge for the assembled members, yet a few shot as if they hadn’t missed a week.

The stand-out was Jasamine Irvine, who shot an impressive 98.10 in target rifle, including a possible in the second round, to claim both the A-grade win and the overall handicap win for the class.

A close two points behind her, on 96.12, was the ever-reliable Rob Paech, with B-grader Daniel Irvine only a further two points adrift with a pair of 94.04.

In F-class standard the stand-out was Frank Marshall with 108.06, including a 57; while in open, Mark Nesti continued to make a name for himself, scoring 113.05 with a 58 in his first round, which was enough to claim the F-class handicap trophy as well, by 0.8 points from Peter Byass.

In an unusual occurrence there was no “magpie” winner in target rifle this week; however, the F-class award was unwillingly claimed by Dave Hindmarsh, who was unlucky enough to end up with a single three-pointer for the day.

Weather permitting, the club is scheduled to shoot from 1000 yards next week.

Hopefully shooters will have made the most of this week’s shorter range to work out any cobwebs that might have gathered over the long break.

Twenty swimmers represented local club at Murray Bridge carnival

The Murray Bridge Swimming Club’s annual carnival was an event like no other the club had endured this swimming season.

With COVID restrictions being so unpredictable, the club proceeded to organise the event going ahead either way.

It had the newly refurbished swimming pool all ready to go, but the new blocks for the deep end had not arrived.

The club’s super organised committee was kept on a tight timeline, dealing with the Murray Bridge council, Health SA and Swimming SA, when it finally got the go-ahead on the Thursday three days prior.

The club went into steamroller mode and amazingly prepared for what was going to be a steamy, hot day.

Lots of swimmers at the event took advantage of the timeline in preparation for the SA Country Championships and state short and long course meets in January for qualifying times.

With or without blocks, the swimmers did amazingly well.

The 20 club swimmers focused on performing well did not disappoint.

New to the club and attending their first carnival were Ethan Fiegert and Ella Davy, who had a great day.

Fiegert, 11, surprised himself with some great starting times to work on in 50-metre backstroke (1:10.26), 50m freestyle (52.39) and 50m breaststroke (just over one minute).

Ella Davy, 10, set some great times for herself in the 50m backstroke (57.86), 50m breaststroke (1:19.70), 50m freestyle (54.09) and 50m fly (1:10.65).

Tyler White, 12, had six swims, walked away with six personal bests and was pleased with the results: down five seconds to 46.68 in the 50m backstroke, seven to 1:51.75 in the 100m breaststroke, down 14 seconds and under four minutes at 3:51.21 in the 200m medley, down two seconds to 41.89 in the 50m freestyle, three seconds to 53.02 in the 50m breaststroke and four seconds to 4:02.64 in the 200m breaststroke.

Although it was a tough meet, Keeley Smith, 12, has been focusing on training hard in preparation for the upcoming country and state championship meets.

Keeley was 13 seconds quicker in the 400m freestyle (6:23.91), five seconds faster in the 200m medley (3:30.52), and recorded a 37.58 in the 50m freestyle and 49.55 in the 50m fly.

Jackson Davis, 14, had a satisfying meet with three PBs from four swims, improvements of 11 seconds in the 100m breaststroke (1:44.83), six in the 100m freestyle (1:25.74), two in the 50m breaststroke (49.4) and one in the 50m freestyle (34.83).

Riley Davis, 12, swam well for the training he had been able to put in this season, improving by three seconds in the 100m breaststroke (1:50.31) and one in the 50m freestyle (38.75) and recording times of 1:28.17 in the 100m freestyle and 54.71 in the 50m breaststroke.

Amity Bailey, 11, enjoyed the day and swam well in the 50m backstroke (58.30), 50m freestyle (47.88) and 100m freestyle (2:18.19).

Bronte Folley, 14, with swims later in the day, had time to soak up the atmosphere before recording a 1:24.24 in the 100m freestyle, an improvement of two seconds; a 47.76 in the 50m breaststroke; and smashing 23 seconds off the 200m breaststroke (3:40.47).

Eleven-year-old Kaylee Schellen’s evenly spaced out swims ensured she had enough rest to perform well ahead of the upcoming country and state championship meets, with four PBs from five swims.

She took nine seconds off her 50m backstroke (49.48), three off her 100m breaststroke (1:51.78), one off her 50m breaststroke (52.81) and two off her 50m fly (50.76), and recorded a 42.13 in the 50m freestyle.

Asher Neumann, 12, set himself a goal and did well with four swims and four PBs, shaving a second off his 50m backstroke (48.31), 12 off his 200m medley (3:56.25), one off his 50m freestyle (38.34) and three off his 100m freestyle (1:25.97).

Isabella Roberts, 12, had worked hard on her training, hoping to improve her times for the upcoming meets.

She did the 50m freestyle in 44.99, down four seconds; 100m breaststroke in 1:50.07; 50m freestyle in 36.28; 100m freestyle in 1:24.74; 50m breaststroke in 48.76; and 200m breaststroke in 3.52.79.

Gabby Swan, 11, snuck in with her entries and did well in the 50m freestyle (46.86) and breaststroke (1:02.67).

The club’s younger swimmers also performed well.

Esther Neumann, 10, swam well in the 50m backstroke (1:04.44), 50m freestyle (47.99, down one second), 100m freestyle (1:49.41, down seven seconds) and 50m fly (1:08.02), and enjoyed the day.

Ella Ireland, 10, was after some good times and was under the pump with her butterfly swims.

She took nine seconds off her 100m time (2:18.19), recorded a 52.21 in the 50m, improved by two seconds in the 50m backstroke (51.69), and also swam in the 50m breaststroke (1:01) and freestyle (43.47).

Grace Hayes, 10, set herself some times to work on: 1:37.24 in the 50m backstroke and 1:06.73 in the 50m freestyle.

Charlie Ireland, eight, swam well in the 50m backstroke (down two seconds to 1:02.02), breaststroke (four seconds to 1:14.15) and freestyle (48.87).

Matilda Milan, nine, worked hard and swam well in the 50m backstroke (down three seconds to 1:14.79), breaststroke (1:43.42) and freestyle (1:08.86).

Chloe White, seven, the club’s youngest swimmer on the day, impressively took 23 seconds from her time, achieving a 1:20 26.

Our older swimmers took time out to swim to swim the 50m freestyle, David Milan in 40.88 and Rachel Neumann in 43.28.

The club would like to take this opportunity to thank all its sponsors, committee members, coaches and members for taking the time to assist with what turned out to be a great day with a great turn-out.

Murray Bridge News is happy to share news, results or photos from sporting clubs throughout Murray Bridge and the surrounding region, free of charge. Email peri@murraybridge.news or call 0419 827 124.