The Grenfell pool had closed for the season and the swimming club awards had been presented, but local swimmer Tom Robinson had just one more swimming meet to attend.
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After placing a very credible fourth in the 16 years male 50-metre freestyle final at the Combined High Schools Swimming Championships on 9 April, Tom’s time of 25.21 seconds secured him a swim at the Georgina Hope Foundation Age Swimming Championships at SOPAC Homebush.
This is a meet that attracts the fastest teenage swimmers from across the country.
Racing against the fastest 15 year olds in the country in the 50m “splash and dash’, Tom placed 31st overall.
A truely commendable achievement.
This has topped off a terrific 2017/18 swimming season for Tom.
At The Henry Lawson High School swimming carnival, Tom was the 15 years male champion, breaking seven school records.
He won all of the events he entered at Western Region trials in Dubbo and just missed a spot on the dias, finishing fourth in the 50m freestyle final at the recent CHS championships.
Tom also enjoyed success at Mountains and Plains championships being named age champion after winning seven of the ten events entered. Well done Tom.
As a senior member of the Mountains and Plains Brophy Invitational team, he came home with two golds and a silver medal and has already qualified for six individual swims for the 2019 NSW Country Championships to be held at SOPAC in February 2019. Terrific effort.
The overwhelming majority of the competitors at the 2018 Georgina Hope Foundation Age Swimming Championships are based in larger centres, train 11-12 months a year, having access to heated indoor 50m pools.
Being able to qualify when having access to a pool for six months of the year is quite an accomplishment, something that is not lost on the Grenfell swimming community.
Congratulations Tom a fantastic achievement.
As a regional sporting centre, Grenfell certainly “punches above it’s weight”.
In recent years our youth have been very successful in many sporting areas including football, cricket, women’s Rugby, Rugby union 7’s and athletics just to name a few.
We may not have all the bells and whistles that our city counterparts have access to, but the message we can send to every member of our sporting clubs is that if you really want it and are committed to it, it is achievable.
The “obstacles” only make the victories sweeter.
There are many people that need to be thanked for what they do to make things happen in country communities.
Tom and his family would like to extend their thanks to everyone who has helped along the way including our Grenfell Swimming Club family.
A big thank you to Grenfell coaches Leann and Bianca, committee members, timekeepers and referees, without them swimming club wouldn’t happen.
Also to Tom’s extended swimming club family at Cowra who he swam with when our pool was out of action and continued to swim with this season.
So a big thank you to committee members, coaches Pat, Di and Kerry and the team that every week makes sure that the racing can happen.
Your support has been truly appreciated.
Thank you.
Thank you so much to everyone who has helped me along the way.
- Tom Robinson