Myall Masters swimmers stay active in the cold months

SWIMMERS with the Myall Masters have managed to stay warm and active as winter sets in, despite the temptation to hunker down.

The local Tea Gardens Pool has set seasons, and so is closed for the winter, but the creative Masters swimmers have been driven by a desire to maintain the hard-won fitness from last summer.

“You might expect that members put their beanies on and hit the couch with a hot chocolate,” Masters swimmer Sharon Taylor told NOTA.

“But they’re a creative bunch and have been keenly seeking swimming opportunities wherever they go.”

While some have endured car-pooling to visit regional heated pools, others have had the opportunity to head overseas to train in open-water swimming in the northern hemisphere, meaning that Myall Masters blue dolphin swim caps have popped up in ponds all over the planet.

The Masters take their sport quite seriously, as seen in their numerous reported endeavours and successes last summer, and their competition continues with interclub meets in the Sydney region.
The next local group swim for Myall is a ‘friendly’ at Maitland’s indoor 25-metre pool in July.

A trio of Masters coaches also braved the frozen Molonglo region to attend the Masters Swimming National Coaching Conference in Canberra.

“Leon, Steve and I spent a weekend immersed in swimming ideas, participating in lessons, workshops and networking with national coach leaders, stroke specialists, exercise physiologists, elite coaches, programmers and coaching peers,” Sharon explained.

“The content is designed to progress masters coaching excellence through continuing professional development, and that will find its way into the swim programming that ensues in earnest over the winter recess.”

“If anyone is also thinking about getting fit and swimming once winter passes it is a good time now to get in touch and be ready to join the Myall Masters program as soon as the season starts.”

Find out more on the Myall Masters website or Facebook pages or contact Club Coach Sharon (0467 001 423) or Club Captain Shane (0412 684 003).

By Thomas O’KEEFE