2. 27 November 2015 Pacific School Games 2015 – Swimming
ALL three KWS swimmers at the Pacific School Games have done us
proud, with a remarkable eight top 10 finishes. Fantastic effort!
Congratulations!
Maddie Griffiths:
6th in the Female 16-19 years 1500m Freestyle
7th in the Female 16-19 years 800m Freestyle
Ben Gillham:...
9th in the Male 14 years 50m Breaststroke
4th in the Male 14 years 200m Medley Relay (NSW B TEAM)
Ollie McLaughlin:
2nd Male 12 years 200m Medley Relay (NSW A TEAM)
10th Male 12 years 200m Backstroke
7th Male 12 years 50m Backstroke
9th in the Male 12 years 200m Freestyle Relay (NSW C TEAM)
Girls Top 25 LC 1 November 2014 - 29 April 2015
Girls 17-18 400 Free
1 4:10.42 L 867 Kiah Melverton 18 TSS 3/04/2015 2015 Australian Sw imming Championship
2 4:14.73 L 824 Remy Fairw eather 17 PBC 27/02/2015 2015 NSW State Open Championships
3 4:15.96 L 812 Acacia Wildin-Snedden 17 STPET 13/04/2015 2015 GHF Australian Age Championships
4 4:17.03 L 802 Sacha Dow ning 17 PERC 13/04/2015 2015 GHF Australian Age Championships
5 4:17.16 L 801 Moesha Johnson 17 BURAQ 13/04/2015 2015 GHF Australian Age Championships
6 4:21.52 L 761 Anna Murray 18 WES 19/01/2015 2015 SWA State Open & Age LC Championships
7 4:23.78 L 742 Sian Whittaker 17 MVC 13/12/2014 2015 Victorian Age Championships
8 4:23.81 L 742 Sophie Taylor 18 RYDE 19/01/2015 2015 NSW 13-18 Years State Age Championships
9 4:23.94 L 741 Jemma Schlicht 17 MLC 13/04/2015 2015 GHF Australian Age Championships
10 4:23.97 L 740 Delaney Ronan 18 CHAND 13/04/2015 2015 GHF Australian Age Championships
11 4:25.31 L 729 Bonnie Zhang 17 CBRA 21/02/2015 2015 NSW Country Championships
12 4:25.75 L 726 Georgia Truscott 17 PERC 13/04/2015 2015 GHF Australian Age Championships
13 4:26.38 L 720 Eliza Ham 18 NUN 13/04/2015 2015 GHF Australian Age Championships
14 4:26.71 L 718 Alina Tape 18 UNAQ 13/04/2015 2015 GHF Australian Age Championships
15 4:26.75 L 717 Ebony Blackstone 18 RACKL 13/12/2014 2014 McDonalds Queensland Championships
16 4:26.83 L 717 Sophie Yaksich 18 SSPW 19/01/2015 2015 SWA State Open & Age LC Championships
17 4:27.10 L 715 Niamh Bourke 17 WIAQ 13/04/2015 2015 GHF Australian Age Championships
18 4:27.13 L 714 Madelon Griffiths 17 KINW 19/01/2015 2015 NSW 13-18 Years State Age Championships
Girls 17-18 800 Free
1 8:31.01 L 887 Kiah Melverton 18 TSS 3/04/2015 2015 Australian Sw imming Championship
2 8:42.28 L 830 Alanna Bow les 17 CQAQU 13/12/2014 2014 McDonalds Queensland Championships
3 8:49.32 L 798 Acacia Wildin-Snedden 17 STPET 13/04/2015 2015 GHF Australian Age Championships
4 8:49.75 L 796 Sacha Dow ning 17 PERC 13/04/2015 2015 GHF Australian Age Championships
5 8:51.24 L 789 Moesha Johnson 17 BURAQ 13/12/2014 2014 McDonalds Queensland Championships
6 8:58.20 L 759 Anna Murray 18 WES 19/01/2015 2015 SWA State Open & Age LC Championships
7 9:00.36 L 750 Suzanne Ryan 17 MIAMI 13/12/2014 2014 McDonalds Queensland Championships

3. 8 9:03.05 L 739 Madelon Griffiths 17 KINW 21/02/2015 2015 NSW Country Championships
Maddie Griffiths powers to Gold in NSW Short Course Swimming Championships 2015
By MATT FINDLAY
Sept. 23, 2015
GOOD AS GOLD: Kinross swim captain Maddie Griffiths won gold in the 16-18 years girls' 800m freestyle at the NSW State
Open Short Course Championships recently, from second placed Emma Gillingham and third placed Sheree Farrell. Photo:
CONTRIBUTED
SWIMMING
KINROSS Wolaroi School produced stunning results at the 2015 Swimming NSW State Open Short Course
Championships a fortnight ago, finishing first in the region and 26th overall.
Maddie Griffiths shone,scoring gold in the 16-18 years girls’ 800m freestyle and recording two other top 10 finishes, while the
rest of Kinross’ young guns in Brandon Fraser, Ben Gillham and Josie Gillham swum with aplomb to earn 10 more top 20
finishes.
Griffiths won gold in the 800m freestyle with a finals time of 8.52.85, shaving more than 10 seconds offher qualifying time of
9.03.05.
She also placed seventh in the women’s open 400m freestyle (4.22.29) and eighth in the women’s open 200m (2.06.37)
freestyle despite the meet being just days prior to her trial HSC exams.
Of the other Kinross swimmers’ best results, Fraser earned fourth in the 16-18 years’ boy’s 1500m freestyle (16.23.05), Ben
Gillham came 10th in the men’s 400m individual medley (4.58.63), while Josie Gillham finished 17th in the women’s open
200m freestyle.

4. The four swimmers combined to make up Kinross’ mixed 4x50m freestyle relay and mixed 4x50m medley relay teams,
placing 11th (1.44.98) and 16th (1.59.81) respectively.
The two Gillhams also competed for Kinross at the 2015 NSW State Age Short Course Championships at the end of August,
along with Joshua Chai, Oliver McLaughlin, Keely Potter and Gus Staniforth, bringing home a combined five top 10 placings.
 Maddie Griffiths wins Gold at NSW State Short Course Championships 2015
16 September, 2015
KWS swimming sensation Maddie Griffiths has been rewarded for her dedication and commitment with a
gold medal at the State Open Short Course Championships.
Maddie raced away to a gold medal in the 16-18 years girls’ 800m freestyle, and also added two finalist
positions to her tally: 7th in women's open 400m freestyle and 8th in women's open 200m freestyle,
matching it with more mature swimmers.
Her efforts were even more remarkable considering she finished her HSC trial exams just days before
competing.
Our other swimmers also performed strongly, achieving finalist placings and personal best times.
Brandon Fraser (16 years) placed 4th in the 16-18 years boys’ 1500m freestyle, showcasing the talent in
the distance events emerging from coach Gary Hollywood’s KWS program.
Ben Gillham (14 years) added to the finalist placings in another distance event, the 400m individual
medley, placing 10th in an Open field.
Josie Gillham (16 years) improved her best times and placed 17th in the women's open 200m freestyle,
22nd in the open 100m freestyle and 24th in the women's 50m freestyle, racing girls up to 12 years her
senior.
These four swimmers combined to place 11th in the 4 x 50m freestyle relay and 16th in the 4 x 50m
medley relay, mixing it with older, more experienced swimmers.
Overall this small but dedicated group of swimmers placed Kinross Wolaroi Swimming into 26th position
in the NSW State Club score and first in our region (from Glenbrook to Condobolin)

5. Boarding Boosts Swimming Successes
July 29, 2015,
Maddie Griffiths representing Australian Ag Championships and State Age Dual Medalist.
Boarding at Kinross Wolaroi School (KWS) in Orange proved a turning point for talented young
swimmer Maddie Griffiths.
The Australian Age Championships rep and State Age dual medallist has been a keen swimmer since her
days as a junior with the Nyngan Amateur Swimming Club, where she was coached by her mum.

6. But moving to KWS in 2010 forced Maddie to quickly decide whether she was swimming for herself, or
her parents.
“I train 18 hours a week in the water and I have to get up at 5am to catch a bus over to the indoor pool at
the Wolaroi site,” Maddie said.
“You get days where you wake at 5am and don’t particularly want to get up, but you make yourself come
to the pool.
“My parents aren’t here to get me up, so I worked out pretty quickly I wasn’t doing it for them.”
A high achiever in the classroom as well as the pool, Maddie has won speech day prizes for academic
excellence for the past three years.
She believes the independence she has gained as a boarder, the discipline instilled by her swimming
training, plus swimming’s relaxing effects, have all contributed to her academic achievements.
“My training schedule gets rid of any temptation to procrastinate,” she said.
“I know I don’t have time to muck around, so I just get in and do my work.
“I also love the way swimming takes my mind off everything else. When you’re in the water you can’t be
worrying about your maths assessment the next day.”
Maddie’s commitment to training is an inspiration to younger members of the KWS Swim Club, and
there is no slacking off in the holidays, either.
Armed with a program prepared by KWS’s acclaimed international swim coach Gary Hollywood,
summer sees Maddie training in Nyngan’s outdoor pool, dodging recreational swimmers, jumping kids
and the odd tennis and cricket ball.
In winter she makes the 320km round trip to Dubbo to train in an indoor pool, catching lifts “with anyone
I can” - including the local courier.
Maddie’s commitment was rewarded earlier this year with silver medals in the 17-18 years girls 800m
and 400m freestyle events at the NSW State Age Championships, and a stellar swim at the Australian
Age Championships in which she placed sixth overall.
After a bronze medal winning performance at the NSW All Schools Swimming Championships, Maddie
is now focused on representing NSW at the flagship event of School Sport Australia, the Pacific School
Games, later this year.
“Kinross has definitely given me opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” she said.
“Having access to the pool is great and Gary (Hollywood) is an amazing coach.
“He’s only been at KWS about three years but the way the junior program is expanding is incredible and I
think in 10 years’ time Gary will have created something very special here.
“We’re very lucky.”
If you would like to learn more about the many opportunities available at Kinross Wolaroi School, simply
contact the registrar, Michelle Pryce Jones, on 02 6392 0300.

7. Golden meet at NSW Country Short Course titles
for Kinross Wolaroi School
By MATT FINDLAY
July 18, 2015
SUPERFISH: Kinross' Joshua Chai, Ben Gillham, Clive Hinrichsen, Amelia Hinrichsen, Catie Crisp, Maddie Griffiths, Josie Gillham and
Keely Potter all performed well at theNSW Country Short Course Championships. Photo:MATT FINDLAY0716mfkwsswim2
KINROSS Wolaroi School’s swimming team’s effort, diligent preparation and commitment were all rewarded at the NSW Country Short
Course Championships, at Sydney OlympicPark Aquatic Centre, with theside coming away with a swag of individual and team medals.
Kinross’ superfish won a total of eight individual medals, along with - for what is thought to be the first time in KWS history - two relay
medals and a host of fourth and fifth-placed finishes.
The Kinross boys’ 13-14 years 4x200 metre freestyle relay team claimed gold, clocking one minute, 48.36 seconds, while the boys’13-14
years 4x50m medley team claimed silver.
Joshua Chai was Kinross’ best performed swimmer, swimming in both therelay teams and also claiming gold in the boys’ 13-14 years 200m
butterfly and theboys’ 13-14 years 200m individual medley.
Chai also finished second in the boys’ 14 years 100m freestyle and butterfly events.
Ben Gillham also swum in both relay teams, and also won two silver medals in theboys’ 14 years 100m breaststrokeand 400m individual
medleys, along with a bronze in the boys’ 13-14 years 200m individual medley. Clive Hinrichsen and Matthew Dun joined Chai and Gillham
in winning both relay medals.
Kinross team captain Maddie Griffiths came away with a silver medal in her girls’ 15 years and over 400 metre freestyleevent, clocking
4.22.65 to claim second.
Amelia Hinrichsen, Catie Crisp, Josie Gillham, Keely Potter, Angus Staniforth, Hugh Gillham, Jade Browne, Lucy Wilson and Brandon
Fraser also swum with aplomb, earning several fourth and fifth places.

8. All the results catapulted Kinross into 15th at themeet of 51 competing clubs, a stunning result considering the size - or lack thereof- of the
school’s swim club compared to the Canberra, Newcastle and Illawarra clubs competing.
Medal Successes for Small but Determined Swim Team
17 July, 2015
The KWS Swim Team enjoyed a successful outing at the NSW
Country Short Course Championships, delivering 22 top 10 finishes.
The small, eight-member team managed to finish an admirable 15th out of the 51 competing clubs, with
the top 14 being large Sydney-fringe clubs from Canberra, Newcastle, the Central Coast, and
Springwood.
The team won seven individual medals and two relay medals, the first time anyone can remember KWS
winning relay medals at NSW Country.
KWS was ably represented by Prep School swimmers Amelia Hinrichsen (Year 5) and Catie Crisp (Year
6), and Senior School swimmers Joshua Chai (Year 9), Ben Gillham (Year 8), Josie Gillham (Year 10),
Madelon Griffiths (Year 12), Clive Hinrichsen (Year 8) and Keely Potter (Year 10). Unfortunately Prep
School swimmer Ollie McLaughlin was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Individual results included:
• Madelon Griffiths: Silver – Women’s 15 and over 400m Freestyle
• Joshua Chai: Silver – Men’s 14 years 100m Butterfly and 100m Freestyle; Men’s 13-14 years 200m
Freestyle Relay; Gold – Men’s 13-14 years 200m Butterfly and 200m Individual Medley Relay.
• Ben Gillham: Bronze – Men’s 13-14 years 200m Individual Medley; Men’s 14 and under 400m
Individual Medley; Men’s 14 years 100m Breaststroke; Silver – Men’s 13-14 years 200m Freestyle
Relay; Gold – Men’s 13-14 years 200m Individual Medley Relay.
• Clive Hinrichsen: Silver – Men’s 13-14 years 200m Freestyle Relay; Gold – Men’s 13-14 years 200m
Individual Medley Relay.
Congratulations to our swimmers on a great result.

9. Gillham makes All Schools Swim Team
By Michelle Cook
June 1, 2015,
Ben Gillham and KWS Coach Gary Hollywood. FILE PHOTO.
Three Kinross Wolaroi School (KWS) swimmers have earned selection in the NSW All Schools swim
team to contest the 2015 Pacific School Games.
Oliver McLaughlin, Ben Gillham and Maddie Griffiths all won medals at last week's NSW All Schools
Swimming Championships.
KWS swim squad Head Coach Gary Hollywood was understandably impressed with the trio's results,
especially after their less than ideal preparation.
"It was quite a surprise," Hollywood said.
"A lot of our swimmers had already peaked for the Australia Age Championships [in April]. So coming
off the back of that, I wasn't sure how they'd go."

10. McLaughlin took out the 12 years boys' 50m backstroke in a time of 33.23 seconds.
He also won bronze in the 100m backstroke in 1:12.50.
"I thought Oliver would be a chance of a medal," Hollywood said of the young star.
Griffiths overcame illness to finish third in the girls' 18 years 800 metres, stopping the clock in 9:13.27.
"She wasn't far off her best time. She's a battler," Hollywood said.
Gillham also showed his potential when he finished third in the 14 years boys' 50m breaststroke in 32.61.
"Ben's a big talent," Hollywood said.
"With both the boys, we're not trying to get them anywhere too quickly. We're just putting in the building
blocks."
The results mean the three swimmers will line up at the Pacific Schools Games (PSG) to be held in
Adelaide from November 21-29 this year.
It brings together around 4000 school-age athletes from at least 12 countries, to contest nine different
sports, including swimming, diving, basketball, touch football, baseball, softball, football, table tennis
and goalball.
Hollywood said the PSG was a fantastic opportunity for his swimmers.
"It's is such a friendly environment. It's also a multi-team environment which is so different," the coach
said.
"Hopefully they come back more motivated to get on more teams."

11. Kinross stars make waves: Swimmers pool
talents for Pacific School Games
By MICHELLE COOK
May 27, 2015
DOUBLE ACT: Maddie Griffiths and Ben Gillham won bronze medals at the NSW All Schools
Swimming Championships. Photo contributed
GOLDEN BOY: Oliver McLaughlin shows off his medal. Photo: CONTRIBUTED
THREE Kinross Wolaroi School (KWS) swimmers have earned selection in the NSW All Schools swim
team to contest the 2015 Pacific School Games.

12. Oliver McLaughlin, Ben Gillham and Maddie Griffiths all won medals at last week’s NSW All Schools
Swimming Championships.
KWS swim squad head coach Gary Hollywood was understandably impressed with the trio’s results,
especially after their less than ideal preparation.
“It was quite a surprise,” Hollywood said.
“A lot of our swimmers had already peaked for the Australia Age Championships [in April]. So coming
off the back of that, I wasn’t sure how they’d go.”
McLaughlin took out the 12 years boys’ 50m backstroke in a time of 33.23 seconds.
He also won bronze in the 100m backstroke in 1:12.50.
“I thought Oliver would be a chance of a medal,” Hollywood said of the young star.
Griffiths overcame illness to finish third in the girls’ 18 years 800 metres, stopping the clock in 9:13.27.
“She wasn’t far off her best time. She’s a battler,” Hollywood said.
Gillham also showed his potential when he finished third in the 14 years boys’ 50m breaststroke in 32.61.
“Ben’s a big talent,” Hollywood said.
“With both the boys, we’re not trying to get them anywhere too quickly. We’re just putting in the
building blocks.”
The results mean the three swimmers will line up at the Pacific Schools Games (PSG) to be held in
Adelaide from November 21-29 this year.
It brings together around 4000 school-age athletes from at least 12 countries, to contest nine different
sports, including swimming, diving, basketball, touch football, baseball, softball, football, table tennis
and goalball.
Hollywood said the PSG was a fantastic opportunity for his swimmers.
“It’s is such a friendly environment. It’s also a multi-team environment which is so different,” the coach
said.
“Hopefully they come back more motivated to get on more teams.”

13. Swimmer Magazine March 2015 Edition
Page 12
Country swimmer overcomes extra
challenges
Everysuccessful swimmerneedsdiscipline andcommitmenttosticktotheirtrainingprograms,butsome needa
little more thanothers!Countryswimmer Maddie Griffiths hailsfromNynganinwesternNSWandduringschool
termsboardsat KinrossWolaroi School (KWS) inOrange.
Maddie saysshe isveryluckyto be guidedbyKWS SwimClub’s“amazing”seniorcoachGary Hollywood,whohas
helpedherachieve recentsuccessesincludingtwosilvermedalsatthe 2015 NSW State Age Championships.But
they’re medalsthe Year12 studentcouldn’thave wonwithoutherowndrive anddetermination.Withnoone to
gether out of bedfor 5am trainingsessions,Maddie saysboardingschool helpedherquicklydecidewhethershe
was swimmingforherself,orherparents.Itrain18 hours a weekinthe waterand I have to getup at 5am to
catch a busoverto the indoorpool,”Maddie said.“Yougetdays where youwake at5 o’clockand don’t
particularlywanttoget up,but youmake yourself come tothe pool”.
“My parentsaren’there toget me up,so I workedoutprettyquicklyIwasn’tdoingitfor them.”
Duringschool holidaysMaddie returnstoNynganarmedwitha trainingprogrampreparedbyGary. Insummer
she completestwosessionsadayin the local pool,dodgingrecreationalswimmers,plusthe oddtennisand
cricketball.There are alsono lane ropes,speedoclocksorcoachesto urge her on.In wintershe makesregular
320km roundtripsto an indoorpool inDubbo,catchinglifts“withanyone Ican” – includingthe local courier
truck.
The KWS SwimTeamcaptain’sdedicationisinspiringheryoungerteammembers,whoare all hopingshe willbe
rewardedatthe AustralianAge ChampionshipsinApril.

14. Oliver motors his way to NSW Primary School
Sports Association gold
By NICK MCGRATH
March 28, 2015
GOLDEN RUN: Oliver McLaughlin won gold at the PSSA swimming championships in the 12-13 years
50m backstroke. Photo: NICK McGRATH
KINROSS super fish Oliver McLaughlin is officially the fastest boy under the age of 13 in the
NSW Primary School Sports Association after collecting gold at Homebush in the 50 metre
backstroke final.
Cruising to a personal best (PB) time and first place in the qualifying swim, the 12-year-old was
overcome with nerves ahead of the final, but put aside any poolside butterflies to storm home over the
final 25 metres and claim gold in the final, clocking a new PB of 32.89 seconds - shaving 0.01 off his
previous best.
The year six student said the build up to the final was almost too much - almost.
“I had quite a while to rest (after qualifying for the final),” McLaughlin said.
“And I did a couple of laps warm up to prepare for the finals ... I felt really prepared for the final, but
when I went down (to the pool) I was feeling really, really nervous.
“Right before I was diving in I was almost crying with nerves with my goggles on.”
But the competitive streak in the Kinross Wolaroi student fired him home.

15. And with two of his good swimming friends swimming in lanes next to his plush lane four spot,
McLaughlin wasn’t about to let either Allambie Heights student Tyler Krenkels and fellow Combined
Independent Schools student Harrison Williams, of Central Coast Grammar School, beat him to the wall.
“The race was very difficult,” he continued, with Krenkels half-a-body length in front of McLaughlin
with 20 metres to go.
“I started not being able to feel anything and kicking and pulling as fast as I possibly could, I was
relieved that at the 10-metre mark I was getting in front of (Krenkels). I did manage to beat him and did
a .01 second PB.
“Harrison and Tyler, they really spurred me on.
“I was happy to see another good friend of mine come fourth, and he’s going to the swim-offs in May.”
McLaughlin will now compete against high school students who are also 12 years old for the right to
swim at the Nationals in Adelaide.
A top four place against the best the high school swimmers of the same age will ensure the Kinross gun
progresses.
 ISA Swimming Report
17 March, 2015
On 11th March, a team of KWS students travelled to Homebush to compete at the Independent Schools
Association swimming championships.
After an early start, the swimmers performed extremely well, with over half of the 35 swimmers to
compete at the CIS championships next term.
The KWS boys came fourth in the point score and the girls secured a win overall, thanks to the
intermediate girls who convincingly won their shield. True to their winning form, the intermediate girls,
consisting of Josie Gillham, Keeley Potter, Maggie Yeomans and Sophie Hay McKenzie won both the
medley relay and freestyle relay. The senior girls will also go to CIS for both relays, joined by the junior
girl’s medley relay and intermediate boy’s freestyle relay.
Though excelling in the relays, KWS had many individual stand outs, with many swimmers placing and
achieving PB’s. Congratulations to Maggie Noonan and Josie Gillham who managed three wins in their
divisions and Sophia Grout and Josh Chai who also picked up a blue ribbon.
A special mention to Babs King-Christopher, Olivia Kennedy and Doug Arthur who helped out by
swimming up an age group. Thanks to Mr Joe Priest and Mr Gary Hollywood for taking the team to the
Championships.
Good luck to those swimmers competing at CIS.
Maddie Griffiths
Swim Captain

16. Oliver McLaughlin breaks 20-year-old swimming
record
By NICK MCGRATH
March 11, 2015
SUPER FISH: Oliver McLaughlin broke a 20-year-old HICES swimming carnival record on March 5. Photo: NICK
McGRATH
OLIVER McLaughlin is a young swimmer on the rise.
The 12-year-old backstroke gun blitzed the field in the Heads of Independent Co-Educational Schools (HICES) swimming
carnival at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on March 5, breaking a two-decade old record for the boys’12 years 50
metre backstroke event,clocking 34.31 seconds.
Shaving half a second off the old mark, McLaughlin said he had the previous best time in the back of his mind, but wasn’t sure
he’d be able to better the opposition.
With a competitor from a rival schoolalready banking a quicker time in qualifying, the Kinross Wolaroi School prep student
had one eye on the clock and anotheron the lane next to him.
The supercompetitive juices in McLaughlin got the better of both.
“I beat him, which I was pretty happy about,” McLaughlin grinned.
The HICES record smashing comes on the back of a stellar Kinross swimming carnival, too, with McLaughlin contesting five
events - the 100m freestyle, the 50m freestyle (twice), the 50m butterfly, the 50m backstroke and the 50m breaststroke - and
breaking five records.
It’s prompted the swimming sensation to look ahead.

17. He’s now qualified for the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) carnival and is eyeing off a spot at the NSW All Schools
swimming carnival as well.
“I really hope I do well,” he added.
“I want to make it through to state.I’ll be competing against all swimmers from around NSW.
“I just love the feeling of going to a carnival and doing well and knowing the hard work has paid off.”
Hard work is something McLaughlin isn’t shying away from either, with he and his fellow Kinross swimmers putting in close
to six kilometres worth of swim training every afternoon of the week.
He’s hoping such work will have the ultimate pay off - and he isn’t talking about state either.
“My overall dream is to go to the Olympics.”
 Sports News
10 March, 2015
HICES Swimming Team
Congratulations to our HICES swimmers who competed in Sydney last week to compete at the HICES
swimming Carnival. Our team went exceptionally well with many PB’s and places attained. We placed
3rd overall in Division 1 behind Central Coast Grammar School and William Clarke College. Our team
was one of the smallest of all the schools making these achievements doubly impressive. Our KWS team
was led by our Captains: Ollie McLaughlin and Bailie-Rose Miller. Ollie had a brilliant meet, breaking
the HICES record in the 12 years boys 50m Backstroke, which had stood for over 10 years. Our
swimmers were: Alice Waddell, Emma Aldersey, Helen Suthers, Angus Pengilly, Hugh Hinrichsen,
Sophie Martin, Oscar McLaughlin, Lily Robson, Arnie Tancred, Henry Wakem, Ben Chai, Lucy
Waddell, Annabel Pengilly, Amelia Hinrichsen, Zac Lewis, Catherine Crisp, Jonathan King-Christopher,
and Ziggy Jackson-Le Couteur. HICES team results & places for the CIS carnival on the 19th are yet to
be received.

18. KWS Swimming Championships 2015
10 March, 2015
On Friday 6th March KWS held the annual Swimming Championships. This was held on the same night
as the school fair which created a great atmosphere for our best swimmers to display their talents. It was
also the first opportunity the swimmers have had to compete in the KWS pool since the upgrade of the
blocks and the re-numbering of lanes into the correct order.
This created a fantastic night of swimming with six record broken on the night. Congratulations to the
swimmers below who have set new school records and to those who managed to place in the overall race
for age champion.
Maddie Griffiths – 16-19 200m Freestyle and 17-19 100m freestyle
Josie Gillham – 16yr 50m Butterfly and 15-16yr 100m freestyle
Josh Chai – 15yr 50m Butterfly
Ben Gillham – 14yr 50m Breaststroke
Swimming Age Champions 2015
Finally I must thank all the parents and staff members who gave up their own time to assist with the time
keeping and starting at the carnival. Without your assistance this carnival would not be possible. Good
luck to all of our swimmers who are progressing onto ISA swimming.

19. Swimmers enjoy success at Country Championships
23 February, 2015
The small but dedicated group of KWS swimmers who
headed to the 2015 NSW Country Championships have returned home with no less than five medals in
their luggage.
KWS Swim Team captain Maddie Griffiths won three medals – gold, silver and bronze – while her
teammates Josh Chai and Ben Gillham won one bronze medal each.
The details were:
o Maddie Griffiths: Open Women’s 800m Freestyle – Gold; 15 and over 400m Freestyle – Silver;
15 and over 200m Freestyle – Bronze
o Josh Chai: 13-14 years 200m Butterfly – Bronze
o Ben Gillham: 14 and under 400m IM – Bronze
The eight-member team achieved an outstanding 17 top-ten finishes, with Josh also qualifying for the
Australian Age Championships in April.
Four KWS swimmers – Maddie, Josh, Ben and Josie Gillham – have now qualified for the Australian
Age Championships.

20.  Swimming Success at Regionals
11 February, 2015
On the 7th and 8th of February the Kinross Wolaroi School Swim Team attended the NSW Swimming
Mountains and Plains Championships in Parkes. It was an extremely successful meet with 25 swimmers
competing, and the team finishing third in the point score.
This meet allowed the junior swimmers to compete alongside the senior swimmers. We had a number of
swimmers competing for KWS for the first time and it was great to see the leadership shown by the senior
school students.
Of the 25 swimmers, KWS had 7 Age Champions. Congratulations to Millie Hinrichsen, Angus
Staniforth, Ollie McLaughlin, Ben Gillham, Josh Chai, Josie Gillham and Maddie Griffiths who all took
out their respective point scores. Additionally, KWS swimmers broke 22 Mountains and Plains Area
records, a number higher than any other club. KWS also claimed the men’s and women’s open champions
(Josh Chai and Maddie Griffiths) and distance champions (Brandon Fraser and Maddie Griffiths).
A special mention to all those who competed in relays, with 6 of the 10 relays placing, the highlight being
the open boys relay consisting of Ben Gillham, Clive Hinrichsen, Josh Chai and Brandon Fraser who
outclassed much older and more experienced teams to take the win by less than half a second.
Well done to all the swimmers on a fantastic weekend of racing and on the sportsmanship showed by all.
It was great to see everyone getting behind each other and having a go at a range of events. A big thank
you to Gary, John and Carol for all your hard work. Good luck to all the swimmers competing at the
NSW Country Championships at the end of the month.
Maddy Griffiths
KWS Swimming Captain

21. Silver lining: Pair of Medals give Maddie a
Springboard into 2016
By MATT FINDLAY
Feb. 5, 2015
SILVER LINING: Kinross swim captain Maddy Griffiths won two silver medals at the 13-18 years State
Age Championships last week. Photo: CONTRIBUTED
2015 NSW 13-18 years State Age Championships provided a silver lining for Kinross Wolaroi
School’s Maddy Griffiths as the year 12 student secured podium finishes in two events.
Held at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, Griffths - Kinross’ swim captain - won silver medals in
both of her freestyle events at the championships, in which 149 clubs and schools participated, four of
which were interstate or international clubs.
Griffiths, who is from Nyngan and boards at Kinross, finished second in both the 17-18 years 400 metre
freestyle and 800 metre freestyle events, shaving considerable amounts from her preliminary time in both
finals.
After swimming her preliminary heat in 4.33.21 Griffiths cut more than six seconds off that time to clock
4.27.13 in the final.
Griffiths clocked 9.14.20, more than four seconds faster than her preliminary 800 Freestyle time of
9.18.66.
Griffiths also competed in the 17-18 years 200 metre freestyle, 200 metre individual medley and 50 metre
freestyle.

22. Oliver's out of the Blocks after Bronze Medals at
State Age Swimming Championships
By MATT FINDLAY
Jan. 21, 2015
BRONZE FIGURE: Oliver McLaughlin with Kinross swimming head coach Gary Hollywood at Sydney
Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. Photo: CONTRIBUTE
KINROSS Wolaroi School’s famed swimming program continues to produce results, and prodigiously
talented swimmers, this time in the form of year 6 student Oliver McLaughlin.
McLaughlin brought home two medals at the 2015 under 10-12 years NSW state age championships last
weekend at Sydney Olympic Park.
The state age championships are traditionally one of the most hotly contested in NSW, regardless of age,
and 2015 was no different considering the event was open to all clubs registered with Swimming NSW.
In fact, 128 clubs from around the state competed at the 2015 championships.

23. McLaughlin competed in five events, winning two bronze medals and earning two personal best times.
McLaughlin earned a bronze medal in the 11 years 100-metre backstroke, swimming one minute, 14.61
seconds to secure third, and won his second bronze in the 200-metre backstroke, touching the wall in
2.42.92.
While he didn’t secure a medal in the 11 years 100-metre freestyle, 50 metre freestyle or 200-metre
breaststroke, he swum personal best times in the two former events to finish 21st and 22nd respectively.
Triathlon Teams enjoy State Successes
Triathlon requires high degrees of mental toughness and self-motivation and it looks like KWS students have those
qualities in spades.The KWS triathlon team recently contested the NSW All Schools Triathlon in Sydney, with
outstanding results. Day One saw a number of our solo racers place in the top 20 for independent schools: Tom
Tudor, Ethan Buesnel, Josh Dominello, Charlotte Simmons (5th), Charlotte Haling, Connor Whiteley (3rd), Sam
Broadley, Kelsey Gray, Mia McCarten, Mia Hull, Georgia Booth and Fleur Connick. The following day saw 779 teams
compete in six relay events with KWS winning two! Our results were: Junior Boys – 4th and 9th; Junior Girls – 8th
and 10th; Intermediate Boys – 1st and 7th; Intermediate Girls – 3rd and 8th; Senior Girls – 1st, 4th and 8th. KWS
spirit shone through as each triathlete was cheered to the finish line, and the team also received the Graham Harivel
Trophy for the highest participation in the championships.
Josh Chai - Gold
Josie Gillham – Bronze
Maddie Griffiths – Gold

24. Homebush Gold for Ben Gillham
July 11, 2014

Ben Gillham and Coach Gary Hollywood.

Ben Gillham receiving his gold medal

25. 
Kinross Swim Team (Maddy Griffiths, Joshua Chai, Coach Gary Hollywood, Josie Gillham, Ben
Gillham).
Kinross Swim Team (Maddy Griffiths, Joshua Chai, Coach Gary Hollywood, Josie Gillham, Ben
Gillham).
Former Cowra Stingrays swimmer, Ben Gillham won a gold medal at the NSW Swimming Short Course
Country Championships, held at Homebush over the weekend (5-6 July 2014).
Thirteen-year-old Ben Gillham came first in the 13-14 years 100m Breaststroke beating out the fourteen
year olds in a race which he will be able to compete in again next year.
Ben came away from the two day meet with six top ten finishes.
His sister Josie Gillham, also a former Stingray, had two top ten finishes in very competitive competition
and younger brother Hugh (the only Cowra Stingrays competitor) had 1 top ten finish, coming 9th in the
50m Butterfly.
The swimmers - who now train with Kinross Wolaroi School - were in the top placed swimming club in
the region on the medal tally, finishing 19th out of 61 NSW country swimming clubs, with a team of only
five swimmers.
The Canberra, Central Coast and Wollongong clubs dominated the series but the Kinross swimmers had
an amazing 18 top ten places throughout the two day carnival.
On the overall pointscore, which favours large clubs, Kinross still managed to place 22nd out of 61,
despite having only 5 swimmers.
The Carnival was taken out by Tuggeranong Vikings who had a large team of 36 swimmers at the two-
day meet.
Orange was also represented by the Jets Swim Club who came in at 42nd and the City of Orange Swim
Club who finished 53rd.

26. The Kinross swimmers averaged 66.2 points per swimmer, only falling marginally behind the winning
Tuggeranong Club which averaged 67.8 points per swimmer.
The swimmers are reaping the benefits of an experienced international coach in Gary Hollywood, who
now calls Orange home.
Kinross Head Coach Gary Hollywood said he was very pleased with the team's performance, and knows
in the future the Club is well placed to finish in the top three.
"The dedication and commitment of the Kinross swimmers speaks volumes and the results speak for
themselves", he added.
The Kinross Swim Club runs Learn to Swim programs through to a Squad program all based at the
school's indoor 25m pool facility, all year round.
The Kinross swimmers will now be focussing their attention on the NSW State Age Championships
which will be held in August. These championships include Country and City swimmers, with entry
based on qualifying times.
The top ten finishes for the Gillhams include:
Ben Gillham (13 years) - 6 top ten finishes & 1 medal
7th 100m Butterfly
5th 400m Individual Medley
6th 100, Backstroke
1st 100m Breaststroke (GOLD MEDAL)
7th 200m Breaststroke
7th 100m Freestyle
Josie Gillham (15 years) - 2 top ten finishes
9th 50m Freestyle
7th 100m Freestyle
Hugh Gillham (11 years) - 1 top ten finish
9th - 50m Butterfly

27. Assembly Recognizes Achievement and Dedication
21 May, 2014
Displays of outstanding sportsmanship, leadership and
dedication were recognised at the 2014 Summer Co-curricular Assembly.
Senior School students who had achieved high levels of success in their chosen co-curricular summer
activities were honoured at the annual assembly, which also featured a stunning program of musical items
performed by KWS ensembles under the direction of Anneliese Alloway.
The assembly began with the staff procession, which was accompanied by the Symphonic Wind
Ensemble playing ‘Disney at the Movies’. Other performers included the String Quartet and the Year 7
Ensemble, which featured talented singer Billie Brownlow.
Principal Brian Kennelly addressed the gathering before handing over to Head of Sport Joe Priest and his
fellow presenters.
Presentations were then made of Honours, Full Colours, Half Colours, Junior Colours and Representative
Colours. The recipients were:
Cricket:
Honours – Charles Litchfield
Full Colours – Andrew Johnson, Toby Polkinghorne, Billy O’Connor, Samuel Nicholls, Cameron
Williams, Thomas Rogers
Half Colours – Rowan Wilson, Peter Crisp
Junior Colours – Hugh Britton, Charles Mortimer, Max Manson
Boys’ Basketball:
Full Colours – Duncan Whittaker, Tony Pellow
Half Colours – Nicholas Dunstan, Nicholas Holman
Girls’ Basketball:
Full Colours – Nikhola Collins, Sophie Gullifer, Sarah McIntyre
Half Colours – Evangeline Jackson, Sarah Steele-Park, Annika Bush, Madison Ryan
Junior Colours – Olivia Mulholland
Rowing:
Honours – Nicola Thomas, Georgina Uttley, Kate Hall, Madeline Hawthorne, Siobhan Herbert, Ned
Yeomans, Benjamin Watt
Full Colours – Hugh Alston, Nicholas Filmer, Bailey Hilder, Alexander Amos, John Thompson,
Zachary Whitehead, Sophia Cassimatis
Junior Colours – Joe Yeomans, Jack Lamph, Hamish Ellis-Peck, Nedd Brockmann, Sophie Broadley,
Rebecca Crisp, Jocelyn Date, Matilda Starr, Ross Alston
WAS Tennis:
Full Colours – Talor Hamilton, Luke Petraglia
Half Colours – Kate Mitton, Eleanor Crane, Chloe Oates, Joshua Chney, Christopher Watt, Nicola
Harvey, Colleen Crayford
Triathlon:
CIS Medallian and Honours – Luke Chalker
Honours – Thomas Kotzur

28. Junior Honours – Connor Whiteley
Full Colours – Christopher Henderson-Matuschka
Half Colours – Callum Cope, William Tierney, Arizona Savage, Isabella Hazelton
Swimming:
Full Colours – Emma Rutherford, Kerrod Potter, Annika Bush, Madelon Griffiths, Christopher
Henderson-Matuschka, Ned Yeomans
Half Colours – Thomas Kotzur, Meg Crouch
Junior Colours – Joshua Chai, Josephine Gillham
WAS Touch Football:
Full Colours – Tony Pellow
Junior Colours – Anna Seymour
Waterpolo:
Full Colours – Vaughn Higgins, Ned Yeomans, Bailey Hilder, Timothy Gillham, Sarah Steele-Park,
Christopher Henderson-Matushka, Emma Rutherford
Half Colours – Edwina Kennelly
Agriculture:
‘Raddon and Dian Reynolds, Fullerton Station Crookwell’ Trophy for Excellence in Agriculture/Cattle –
David Nott
Equestrian:
Full Colours – Sophie Hardie
Golf:
Junior Colours – James Conran
Athletics:
CIS Medallian and Junior Honours – Hamish Sheehan
Music:
Concerto Competition Junior winner – Hannah Solari; Runner-up – Molly Straney. Senior winner –
Cecilia Carter; Runner-up – Nevena Kosarac.
The program also included the announcement of our Winter Sport Captains for 2014. They are: Madeline
Hawthorne (netball), Kate Mitton (athletics), Sarah Steele-Park (hockey), Annabel Mutton (equestrian),
Evangeline Jackson (football) and Ben Raines (rugby).
Congratulations to our new sport captains and to all the award recipients for their great co-curricular
achievements and the wonderful contribution they make to our School.

29. Swimming News
1 April, 2014
Championship Carnival
Held on the 21st March.
The KWS Championship swimming carnival was a fantastic night of racing. The competitors were
outstanding throughout the night with 17 records broken during the meet. Below is a list of the records
broken.
o Josie Gillham broke 4 records – 200m IM, 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle & 50 Butterfly
o Maddie Griffiths broke 3 records – 200m Freestyle, 100 Freestyle & 50 Freestyle
o Kerrod Potter broke 3 records – 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle & 50 Breaststroke
o Josh Chai broke 3 records – 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle & 50 Butterfly
o Chris Henderson-Matushcka broke 2 records – 200m Freestyle & 50m Backstroke
o Emily Shields broke the 50m Breasstroke
o Ben Gillham broke the 50m Breaststroke
The age champions were decided on the night. Congratulations to the following students:
o 12 Girls – 1st Julia McElroy, 2nd Maddie Smith, 3rd Molly Harris
o 12 Boys – 1st Logan Buckley, 2nd Hugh Aldersey
o 13 Girls – 1st Sally Uttley, 2nd Libby Noonan, 3rd Sophia Grout
o 13 Boys – 1st Ben Gillham, 2nd Mitch Strike, 3rd Max Waddell
o 14 Girls – 1st Maggie Noonan, 2nd Maggie Yeomans, 3rd Maggie Smith – Gordon
o 14 Boys – 1st Josh Chai, 2nd Doug Arthur, 3rd Richmond
o 15 – Girls – 1st Josie Gillham, 2nd Sophie Hay-McKenzie, 3rd Babs King-Christopher
o 15 – Boys – 1st Jack Griffiths, 2nd Harrison Crouch, 3rd Bailey Kelly
o 16 Girls – 1st Eddie Kennelly, 2nd Sarah Valantine, 3rd Olivia Archer
o 16 Boys – 1st Joe Yeomans, 2nd Sam Vail, 3rd Jack Lamph
o 17 Girls – 1st Maddie Griffiths, 2nd Meg Crouch, 3rd Meg Forsyth
o 17 Boys – 1st Nick Holman, 2nd Tom Payne, 3rd Matthew Yeo
o 18 Girls – 1st Emma Rutherford, 2nd Arizona Savage, 3rd Annika Bush
o 18 Boys – 1st Kerrod Potter, 2nd Chris Henderson-Matuschka, 3rd Tom Kotzur and Ned
Yeomans

30. ISA Swimming
On Thursday 27th March the school swim team travelled to Homebush to compete in the ISA swimming
championships. Our team performed exceptionally throughout the day. We retained the Girls Overall
Shield and the boys performed well against some large boys schools and managed to finish in 4th place
overall.
We have had over twenty students selected to represent ISA at the CIS swimming carnival. This is an
outstanding result and we wish all of these athletes the best.

31. Sports News
19 March, 2014
HICES Swimming Carnival results
Congratulations to the Kinross swimming team on their brilliant results from last weeks HICES
Swimming Carnival. Our swimmers were competing in Division 1 this year after our promotion from
Division 2 last year. The KWS team had tough competition from the Division 1 schools resulting in many
PB’s being attained. Our swimmers also won many places in their races resulting in Kinross winning the
overall Percentage Trophy. This is determined by our overall results being divided by the number of
students in our school. As we are one of the smallest schools in this division, we did exceptionally well.
As an added bonus, we placed 4th overall on points behind Central Coast Grammar, Arndell and William
Clarke College.
From results at HICES, we have 9 students who will represent the HICES Swim team at CIS swimming
on Wednesday 26 March. Our students are:
4 x 50m Freestyle relay: Zac Lewis, Oliver McLaughlin, Jack Wakem and Jack Pengilly
50m Freestyle: Angus Pengilly, Oscar McLaughlin, Jack Pengilly, Oliver McLaughlin
50m Breaststroke: Lucy Waddell, Ziggy Jackson-Le Couteur, Jack Pengilly, Oliver McLaughlin
50m Backstroke: Bailie-Rose Miller, Oliver McLaughlin, Jack Pengilly, Jack Wakem
50m Butterfly: Bailie-Rose Miller, Jack Pengilly, Jack Wakem
100m Freestyle: Jack Pengilly
We wish these students the best of luck for Wednesday week.

32. KWS Swimmers Smash Records at Lithgow
12 February, 2014
There was no slacking off in the holidays for KWS
Swimming Club members, who proved their commitment when they competed at the Mountains and
Plains Swimming Summer Championships recently.
The KWS team finished second overall at the Lithgow event, moving up the rankings an amazing four
places after their sixth placing at last year’s championships.
It was a fantastic result for our swimmers and testament to all the work the team has put in with coach
Gary Hollywood and at home over the break.
The KWS competitors broke a number of senior and junior records at the championships, as well as
achieving numerous personal best times.
Here is just a tiny selection of the team’s notable performances:
• Madelon Griffiths – five wins, four records
• Bailey D’Monte – five wins, two records
• Angus Staniforth – four wins, four records
• BenGillham – four wins, four records
• Josie Gillham – five wins, two records
• Joshua Chai – five wins, one record
• Oliver McLaughlin – one win, one record
• Kerrod Potter – six wins, five records
A number of team members will now compete at the NSW Country Swimming Championships in Sydney
this weekend (February 22-23). Good luck to all our representatives: Josie Gillham, Madelon Griffiths,
Libby Noonan, Sally Uttley, Douglas Arthur, Joshua Chai, Ben Gillham and Kerrod Potter.

33. Water wings: Courtney flying under Gary’s
coaching
By NICK McGRATH
Feb. 27, 2014

SPLISH SPLASH: Looking to further build on the work put in throughout training, Courtney
Chapman, with swim coach Gary Hollywood, is hoping for a national swimming medal in the
future. Photo: NICK McGRATH 0224nmswim
COURTNEY Chapman has gone from not wanting to swim at all to such rapid improvement in the pool,
she’s on track to potentially claim a medal at the 2015 Australian National Open Water Championships.
The 16-year-old Orange High School student is being mentored by former Ireland, Britain and New
Zealand national swim coach Gary Hollywood and having already shaved two minutes off her 10
kilometre time, she’s hungry for me.
“It’s tough at times, but it’s worth it.” Chapman said of her dive back into the swimming game.
“It’s intense, but at the same time if I didn’t enjoy it I wouldn’t do it.”
Chapman’s most recent efforts in the water were at the Australian Nationals in Melbourne, and it’s there
she “made some big improvements” in extremely trying conditions.
Encountering jellyfish off the coast of Victoria, Chapman defied the odds to shave two minutes off her
personal best 10km time and improve her national ranking from 23rd to 16th in the 5km open water
swimming event.
The new benchmarks aren’t a huge surprise to her coach, however.
“She’s made great progress this year,” Hollywood said.

34. “From where we first started ... she’s already improved seven places (in the 5km event).
“The conditions in Melbourne weren’t ideal either. Not many swimmers swam to their best times, but
Courtney took two minutes off her 10km time.”
Coaching in Australia for just over a year, Hollywood was directed to be the head coach of the swimming
program at Kinross Wolaroi by Ian Thorpe’s former mentor and having dreamt of working in Australia
since 1988, jumped at the chance to move to Orange.
Able to source a fifth of his squad from outside of the Kinross school under the proviso the applicants are
swimming national qualifier times, Chapman was exactly the sort of swimmer the Northern Irishman had
been looking for.
“A good tough Aussie chick. Good height, good work ethic and good ability,” Hollywood said, adding
there was plenty of laps still to be swam.
“I don’t like to rush things, and we’ve got a lot of work to do because, although we’re in Australia, people
aren’t used to training to my level in the country. We’ve got to try and bring the city to the country.
“We’ve got a lot of foundation work to do but I like to think maybe in a couple of years time she’ll be in
the mix for a medal and then hopefully that’ll be the launching pad she needs for her career.”
Chapman said the ultimate goal was a national medal, of any kind.
Adding the improvements in her times had a lot to do with “getting that confidence” back in the water,
the budding open water star said the only way is up.
“Last year I didn’t want to swim,” she admitted.
“Last year at nationals I went bad and then this year I didn’t give up, I didn’t fall behind and I kept going.
“I feel fitter.”
nick.mcgrath@fairfaxmedia.com.au
FAMILY NEWS BULLETIN

35. Term 1 Week 6
Wednesday 6th March 2013
SWIM NEWS
As Head Coach I could not have been happier to a�end my first KWS Swimming Championship Carnival.
The spectators filled the stands, there were plenty of volunteers to ensure the carnival ran smoothly,
and
last but not least there was a good turn out from the swimmers, all giving of their best.
The icing on the cake was that in addi�on to many personal best �mes, twelve school records were
broken, seven going to the girls and five to the boys. Records below.
Girls 16‐19 200 Free 2:16.25 25/02/2013 Madelon Griffiths – Douglas
Girls 16 50 Free 28.10 25/02/2013 Georgia Baker – Gordon
Girls 16 50 Back 31.42 25/02/2013 Georgia Baker – Gordon
Girls 18‐19 50 Back 32.28 25/02/2013 Shelby Archer ‐ Brown
Girls 14 50 Fly 31.55 25/02/2013 Loren Hughes – Richards
Girls 16 50 Fly 30.53 25/02/2013 Georgia Baker – Gordon
Girls 15‐16 100 Free 1:02.14 25/02/2013 Georgia Baker ‐ Gordon
Boys 18‐19 50 Free 25.38 25/02/2013 Joshua Hay‐McKenzie – Douglas
Boys 17 50 Back 29.93 25/02/2013 Ned Yeomans ‐ Douglas
Boys 18‐19 50 Back 30.32 25/02/2013 Joshua Hay‐McKenzie – Douglas
Boys 17 50 Breast 32.62 25/02/2013 Ned Yeomans – Douglas
Boys 18‐19 50 Fly 27.44 25/02/2013 Joshua Hay‐McKenzie – Douglas

36. Chapman happy in open water
By NICK MCGRATH
Feb. 6, 2013

IN DEEP: Courtney Chapman will contest the Open Water Swimming Championships this
weekend. Photo: NICK MCGRATH 0204nmswim
COURTNEY Chapman ditched the pool for the open water two years ago and hasn’t look back since.
Given the success she’s enjoyed, it’s little wonder too.
The 15-year-old Orange High School student will swim in her second open water nationals at the 2013
Open Water Swimming Championships at Point Wolstoncroft Sport and Recreation Centre on Lake
Macquarie this weekend.
“I got into it maybe two years ago. I was never really good in the pool and I thought maybe the longer
stuff would be a bit better for me, and on my first attempt I made nationals,” Chapman said, qualifying
via the state championships at Penrith’s International Regatta Centre.
This year’s three-day open water national championships begins on Friday.
Chapman will compete in the 10 kilometre event on Saturday and the five kilometre swim on Sunday.
The event showcases Australia’s top open water swimming talent, with the open 5km and 10km events
incorporating the selection trials for the 2013 World Open Water Swimming Championships in
Barcelona, Spain.
And while Chapman hasn’t yet booked a place on the plane to Europe just yet, her goals ahead of the
national championship suggest she has one eye on Spain.
“I’m hoping to medal in the five (kilometre) and finish in the top 10 in 10 (kilometre),” she said.

37. Open water swimming is largely a foreign sport in Orange.
Aside from triathletes, Chapman said only a handful of swimmers have given the open water variety of
the sport a chance, but, personally, it has been a challenge she’s loved.
“It’s hard to explain, you don’t have anything to follow and there’s no turns and you’ve just got to look
up... you’ve got to have a lot of strength,” she said.
“It’s a different feel in the water. There’s no chlorine, it’s fresh water.
“I really enjoy it.”
She said training alongside the experienced Gary Hollywood at Kinross has helped in her development
immeasurably.
“He is from New Zealand, and he is very, very good,” she said.
“I train in the pool but he gives me six to seven kilometre sets, which prepares me for the open water
swim.”
The 2013 Open Water Swimming Championships in Lake Macquarie start on Friday and wrap up on
Sunday.