Swimming Saturation.

The Arena Park Pool inland from us in Bayview, Chatsworth, is one we haven’t seen before. It is well-maintained and attractive. There were many dozens of competitors, but surprisingly few parents/spectators.

Swimming Season is with us again. How do I know? Well, for starters I have to take R (9) to her Club sessions twice a week again, and J (6) to her lessons, also twice a week.  That leaves me Friday free. Guess what: more likely than not I’ll be asked to take them to the beach or the local Olympic pool on that day, if there isn’t a competition on anyway. 

On Sunday R was in her first ever Level One provincial gala, and swam five events. She came 4^th in the 200m medley but was then disqualified for something she did wrong with her arms in the breaststroke leg. Then she came 2^nd in 50m freestyle, 3^rd in the backstroke, 4^th in butterfly, and 3^rd in the 100m breaststroke. We have yet to find out whether she made the same mistake and earned disqualification in that. All in all, not a bad debut, though.

And, they’re off!

 J’s class this year so far consists of a slightly older boy, and two other girls aged nine and ten. She held her own very well in that company, and was occasionally called upon to demonstrate some of the actions. 

Both grandchildren do sport swimming at school, there will be trials for the Super 8 and Squad as well as qualifiers for house teams, and then the first-term spate of galas. 

I think I’ll stop taking water in my whiskey. 

© January 2018 Colonialist.