THE Cooma Swimming Club started the return of its season with a training session on Sunday February 2 for club swimmers eight years and older.

The event was sponsored by Snowy Hydro with Snowy Hydro manager for social impact and engagement, Sarah Norris, on hand to present a cheque to the club.

The training run by swim coaches, Michelle and Lorraine, entailed lap swimming, starts, turns, finishes, diving and stroke correction.

This helped prepare swimmers for their school carnivals which are now under way.

The first club meet back after the training showed the benefit of the session with improvement across the board. The swim club thanked Snowy Hydro for their sponsorship and thanked Michelle and Lorraine for conducting the session.

The club season began in mid October. Having lost a number of senior swimmers, numbers were expected to be down for the season but instead the club has now passed its highest number of swimmers for a good number of years.

There has been an influx of youngsters from five to nine years-of-age. The way they have performed and their eagerness to try every stroke makes all look good for the future.

“Seeing three heats of butterfly and breaststroke line-up with little people first asking how do you do them before diving in and having ago, and backing up each week to try those strokes has been a highlight of the season,” Cooma Swim Club committee member, Betty Longhurst, said.

The B Grade members have all stepped up, putting in strong swims each week as they strive to reach the next level.

The A graders have been setting a good example to the younger swimmers with close battles across the swims. Time trials will continue until mid March with club age championships then being held on Tuesday February 18 and Tuesday February 25.

“The club has been fortunate in gaining support from within the community with sponsorships to help cover the cost of hiring the pool each Tuesday for two hours,” Betty said.

“This support ensures that clubs like ours can continue to operate each year and we are very grateful for this support.

“Once again our faithful barbecue cooks Henry and Carol have been in attendance feeding the swimmers at the end of the night and donating the money back to the club.”

Time trial results - February 4

Freestyle

C grade

Fastest: girl, Zarlia Shaw; boy, George Morley

Most improved: girl, Zarlia Shaw (nine seconds); boy, Jack Brigden (13s)

Improved: George Morley, Indie Hartas, Isla Probert, and Inara Freeman

B grade

Fastest: girl, Charlotte Morley; boy, Charlie Redden

Most improved: girl, Chelsea Lloyd (eight); boy, Jack Payne (six secs)

Improved: Charlie Redden, Jarrah Riley, Koen Tenkate, Ella Probert, Anna Payne, Maddison Hopkins, Bella Rose and Brigden

A grade

Fastest: girl, Gabby Lloyd; boy, Mitchell Adams.

Most improved: girl, Gabby Lloyd (six secs); boy, Mitchell Adams (four secs)

Improved: Kirra Tenkate

Backstroke

C grade

Fastest: girl, Maddison Hopkins; boy, Patrick Barrett

Most improved: girl, Inara Freeman (23s); boy, Patrick Barrett (four secs)

Improved: Maddison Hopkins, Anna Payne, Ava Bilish, Kalarni Tenkate, Isla Probert and Layla Irvine

B grade

Fastest: girl, Charlotte Morley; boy, Cooper Shaw

Most improved: girl, Grace Brigden (seven secs); boy, Jack Payne (1.5s)

Improved: Cooper Shaw, Charlotte Morley and Charlie Redden

A grade

Fastest: girl, Gabby Lloyd; boy, Michell Adams

Most improved: Gabby Lloyd (one sec); boy, Mitchell Adams (.5s)

Improved: Kirra Tenkate

Breaststroke

C grade

Fastest: girl, Ava Belish; boy, Finn Dietrich

Most improved: girl, Inara Freeman (19s); boy, George Morley (six secs)

Improved: Finn Dietrich, Ava Belish, Zarlia Shaw, Chelsea Lloyd, Georgia Redden, Kalarni Tenkate, Indie Hartas, Jack Brigden, Olive Neilson and Layla Irvine

B grade

Fastest: girl, Ella Probert; boy, Jarrah Riley

Most improved: girl, Ella Probert (seven secs); boy, Koen Tenkate (eight secs)

Improved: Jarrah Riley, Jack Payne, Bella Rose, Brigden and Anna Payne

A grade

Fastest: girl, Gabby Lloyd; boy, Mitchell Adams

Most improved: girl, Emily Payne (one sec); boy, Mitchell Adams (six secs)

Improved Gabby Lloyd.