Swimming: Glassford suited to record-breaking

Matthew Glassford competes in the 800m freestyle during the Neptune Queen's Birthday short course...
Matthew Glassford competes in the 800m freestyle during the Neptune Queen's Birthday short course meeting at Moana Pool in Dunedin on Saturday. Photo by Jane Dawber
The New Arena power skins swimsuit gave Matthew Glassford (Neptune) the confidence he needed to break two Otago open records at the weekend.

His efforts helped his club to win the teams event at the 25th annual Neptune Queen's Birthday short course meeting at Moana Pool.

Glassford (18), a year 13 pupil at Otago Boys High School, broke Otago records in the 100m (1min 05.39sec) and 200m (2min 17.09sec) breaststroke.

He has been wearing the power skins for the last six months and it has boosted his confidence in the water.

Glassford shifted to Dunedin from Alexandra nearly four years ago to improve his swimming.

His goal is to qualify for next year's Oceania championships and represent New Zealand in open competition for the first time.

He recently transferred from the Alexandra club to the Neptune club and he helped Neptune win its first Queens Birthday Carnival for six years.

Neptune (2892 points) won the closely fought inter-club competition by just 7.5 points from Waves (2884.5), Wharenui (2019), Jasi (2013.5), Oamaru (1607.5) and QE2 (1119).

It was a fitting win because the Neptune club is celebrating its 50th jubilee this weekend.

Nick Tyrell (Neptune) was wearing the same brand of power skins as Glassford and he won most points in the open men's grade with 199.5.

He was followed by Sam Wright (Jasi, Canterbury) on 176 and Rhys Applegarth (Waves) on 171.

The open women's grade was won by Phoebe Williams (Waves, 253) from new Neptune recruit Katie Kenneally (208) and Beckie Dooley (Jasi, 172).

Lil Clearwater (Neptune) broke a 15-year-old record when she won the girls aged 13 and 14 200m backstroke in 2min 21.81sec.

It was Stacey Clarke's 1993 record.

Adam Simpson (Waves) beat the 1993 record held by New Zealand representative Karl Purdie-Smith when he swam the boys aged 14 and 15 800m freestyle in 8min 30.60sec.

Sam Caradus dominated junior swimming 13 years ago and held numerous Otago records.

Philip Baxter (Waves) broke two of them in the boys aged 10 and 11 50m (41.11sec) and 200m (3min 10.45sec) breaststroke.

Emily Poon (Neptune) broke Hannah Shanks' 1995 girls aged 12 and 13 50m butterfly record with a time of 31.19sec and a 1999 50m freestyle record with a time of 28.23sec.

The Oamaru club joined in the record breaking, with Zac Aitken (15) breaking Eastern districts records in the 50m (29.33sec) butterfly and 50m (26.54sec) freestyle.

Willie Hurst (12) broke Eastern districts age group records in the 50m (34.36sec) backstroke and 50m (31.96sec) butterfly.

The top individual swimmer at the meeting was 12-year-old Harrison Minehan (Ashburton) with 289 points from Phoebe Williams (Waves) on 253 and Matthew Hutchins (Wharenui, Christchurch) on 217.

The other age grade winners were: Aleisha Ruske (Neptune) girls aged 10 and under; Ronald Poon (Neptune) boys 10 and under; Laura McFadden (Aqua-Gym, Christchurch) girls age 11 and 12; Carina Doyle (Waves) girls aged 13 and 14; Matthew Hutchins (Wharenui) boys aged 13 and 14.

 


 

 

 

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