The Queenstown Early Bird Meet was held last weekend, with Henderson and his fellow Wanaka Swimming Club members making a strong start to their summer racing season, following a promising end of season result last April, when it finished sixth in the top 10 ranked Otago clubs.
Henderson, a Mt Aspiring College pupil, set a new short-course record of 40.15sec in the Otago boys 10-11 years 50m breaststroke, shaving nearly a second off the old time (41.11sec) set by Dunedin's Phillip Baxter of the Waves Club in May. Henderson also secured third place in the boys 10-11 years butterfly.
Millie Gordon (12) and Tane Duncan (13) provided two more highlights for the Wanaka team, with Gordon first in the girls 11-12 years 50m backstroke, second in the girls 11-12 years 50m freestyle and third in the girls 11-12 years 50m butterfly. Duncan battled an injury to finish third in the boys 13-14 years 50m backstroke.
Wanaka provided one of the smaller squads, with 11 swimmers entering five or six races each and notching up 23 personal bests. The biggest contingent of swimmers came from the Queenstown club, which sent 47 swimmers who achieved 125 personal bests.
Hokonui sent 27 club competitors who achieved 58 personal bests, while the Alexandra club contributed 22 swimmers, who achieved 55 personal bests.
• Other notable performances by Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes swimmers included:
Girls 10 and under. - 25m butterfly: Sydney Cook, Alexandra, 1 (19:72). 25m backstroke: Emma Dick, Alexandra, 1 (18:55). 25m breaststroke: Emma Dick, Alexandra, 1 (19:39). 25m freestyle: Sophie Gibson, Queenstown, 1 (17:44) 100m IM: Emma Dick, Alexandra, 1 (1:25:57).
Boys 10 and under. - 25m backstroke: Campbell Pearson, Alexandra, 1 (19.0).
Girls 11-12 years 50m breaststroke: Kate Holden, Cromwell, 1 (40:49).
Girls 13-14 years 50m freestyle: Maggie Fea, Queenstown, 1 (30:49).
Boys 15 and over.- 50m freestyle: McGregor Fea, Queenstown, 1 (25:71). 50m breaststroke: Marc Lemaire-Sicre, Queenstown, 1 (36:96) 100m breaststroke: McGregor Fea, Queenstown, 1 (1:15:15) 100m backstroke: McGregor Fea, Queenstown, 1 (1:03:26).
200m IM: McGregor Fea, Queenstown, 1 (2:20:43).
200m breast: Gary Dennison, Queenstown, 1 (2:46:38).
Girls 15 and over. -
50m butterfly: Annabelle Simpson, Queenstown, 1 (30:55).
50m freestyle: Annabelle Simpson, Queenstown, 1 (28:66).
100m breaststroke: Annabelle Simpson, Queenstown, 1 (1:17:87).
200m freestyle: Annabelle Simpson, Queenstown, 1 (2:16:57).
