National Open & Age Open Water Championships Busselton, WA 

DAILY REPORTS & FINAL WRAP: 

On the final day we were greeted to another perfect day for OW swimming at Busselton and the first races didn’t disappoint with the NSW Mighty Blues swimmers excelling. 

The first event of the day saw the M Open & 18-19yrs start together with the 16-17yrs age group some 5 mins later. In a great swim and only 16 secs behind the winner, Euan Liney (Knox Pymble – Coach Nick Dobson) placed 4th…this backed up his earlier swim in the 10km. Well done to Euan and Coach Nick. 

In an exciting race the 16-17yrs boys 5km came down to four swimmers…three of those came from NSW! In a sprint to the finish board Luke Higgs (Warringah – Coach Angelo Basalo & Lach Vane-Tempest) took the gold medal in the 16yrs age group – the second of the meet after his success in the 7.5km. Winning the silver medal in the 16yrs was Nicolas Macher (Revesby Workers – Coach Alex Clarke)…this was also Nicholas’s second silver medal of the competition. In the 17yrs age group Daniel Carter (The Hills – Coach Josh Stapley) went down to the narrowest of margins in winning the silver medal…less than a second in it. Great job boys ang a big congratulations to your coaches! 

After the completion of the men’s 5km attention returned to the water for the start of the W 5km, 18-19yrs and the 16-17yrs age groups. In a stunning double Tayla Martin (Carlile – Coach Chris Nesbit) also won the gold medal in the 5km. Always in the top two Tayla did an amazing job to secure her second medal and cap off an OW meet she will never forget. Congratulations to both Tayla and her coach Chris! 

In the Girls 16-17yrs 5km race once again Chloe Brodrick (Ginninderra – Coach Steve Meredith) was in the thick of things! Obviously other swimmers had taken notice of her performance in the 7.5km and weren’t going to make it easy for her! In a tuff race Chloe managed to take the bronze medal in the 17yrs age group with very little separating the first four girls. Congratulations Chloe and her coach Steve! In the Girls 16yrs event Charlotte Bowmer (Trinity Grammar – Coach Calum Timms) won the bronze medal…congratulations to Charlotte and Coach Calum! 

A big congratulations to all the swimmers and coaches who made the trip west…there was some terrific racing with the Mighty Blues standing tall! 

A special congratulations to Tayla Martin who captured the gold medal in both the 10km & 5km events…her first Open titles! Also, to our two new Australian representatives Luke Higgs and Chloe Brodrick who qualified for the Australian Junior Open Water Team to compete in Italy at Junior Open Water Worlds…well done!! 

THE MEDAL TOTAL AFTER DAY 4: 

INDIVIDUAL: 

5 Gold, 5 Silver & 4 Bronze 

RELAYS: 

1 Silver 

Days 1, 2 & 3 Reports are below so read on for more on the fantastic performances…a great four days for both our swimmers & coaches!  

See you on pool deck soon! 

Go The Mighty Blues 

DAY 3 REPORT 

With all the excitement over the first two days of competition it was a quieter here at the Australian OW Championships. The day commenced with the Oceanswim Festival swims varying from 500m through to 10km with a few parents and coaches swimming in the event. 

Following the Festival swims, the teams lined up for the #10 – Mixed 14-15yrs relay – 4 x 1.25km legs. I’m happy to report that Team Aquablitz A won the silver medal in a time of 1:06:35.5. Congratulation to Coach Alyce Wierzbicki and her team! 

Tomorrow is the last day of competition with the Open Men’s & Women’s 5km; Men’s & Women’s MC 5km; Boys & Girls 18-19yrs and 16-17yrs 5km races on offer. Looking forward to another great day for all the NSW swimmers and their coaches! 

The medal total after Day 3: 

Individual: 

3 Gold, 3 Silver & 2 Bronze 

Relays: 

1 Silver 

Go The Mighty Blues 

DAY 2 REPORT 

Things keep rolling along for the Mighty Blues here in Busselton with some great swims from our younger athletes.  

In the Boy’s 14-15yrs 5km OW Championship Jayden Schipp (Revesby Workers – Coach Alex Clarke) placed 2nd and Finn Kelly (Lower Blue Mountains - Coach Corin Dobson) took the bronze medal...great effort Jayden and Finn and congratulations to Coach Alex and Coach Corin! 

In the Girl’s 14-15yrs 5km Isobel Mulcahy (Carlile – Coach Michaela Pattinson) put in a wonderful performance to place herself on top of the podium in the 15yrs age group. In a great race over the 4 laps of the 1.25km course Isobel pulled away from her competitors to set up a great victory and secure the gold medal! In the same race her Carlile team mate Maisie Langley placed 3rd in the 14yrs 5km…both girls must have been inspired by their team mate Taylah Martin’s victory in the 10km yesterday. Congratulations to both Isobel & Maisie and to their coach Michaela Pattison…great effort! 

In the mixed 4 x 1.25km relay Team Aquablitz A came in 9th place, Team St George placing 14th and Team Orana placing 18th…well done to the relay teams! 

The total for Day 2: 

Individual: 

3 Gold, 3 Silver & 2 Bronze…more to come! 

Go The Mighty Blues 

Footnote: Open Water age swimming can be a little tricky as the age up date is 31/12 of that year (same as school sport swimming) so if you are born in the last quartile of the year you are at a disadvantage. At the end of the day there will always be swimmers disadvantaged no matter what date is in play… 

DAY 1 REPORT 

A great day for the NSW Mighty Blues in the ever-changing conditions that greeted each event on Day 1 of the Australian OW Championships here at Busselton. 

One of many highlights from today’s racing was Tayla Martin (Carlile) took the gold in the W 10km race with a superb effort. Leading for the first 4 laps of the 1.25km course she let the visiting Japanese swimmer take over the lead for laps 5 & 6. She applied the blowtorch to the field on the 7th lap and pulled away for her first National title. Congratulations to Tayla and her Coach Chris Nesbit. 

In the Boys & Girls 16/17yrs 7.5km race there were some fantastic performances. These races were the selection events for the Australian Junior OW Team to compete in Italy at the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming Junior World Swimming Championships 2024 later in the year. In the boys Luke Higgs (Warringah – Coaches Angelo Basalo & Lach Van Tempest) won the boys event gaining selection for the team (top 2 combined ages) and winning the gold in the 16yrs age group plus qualifies him for the National Flippers OW Squad. Nicholas Macher (Revesby Workers – Coach Alex Clarke) put in a great performance to win the silver in the 16yrs age group and coming 4th in the combined ages to qualify for the National Flippers OW Squad. 

In the corresponding Girls event Chloe Brodrick (Ginninderra – Coach Steve Meredith) came in with the same time as the winner but at this stage was given unofficial 2nd…it still qualifies her for the Australian Junior OW Team and the National Flippers OW Squad – a superb performance. Congratulations to Chloe and coach Steve! 

In the first race of the morning, the M Open & 18/19yrs 10km with Euan Linney (Knox Pymble) came in 5th in the Open race. Max Moylan (Cranbrook) came 4th in the 18yrs age group. 

The total for Day 1: 

2 Gold, 2 Silver

Go The Mighty Blues