Fun in Feb 2025
North Mackay Sinkers Masters Swimming Club Meet report – 2025 Fun in February Short Course Meet
Our annual pool event held at our training pool at the Mackay North State High school is billed as the “Fun in Feb” meet. However, the day dawned grey, wet and windy and not at all enticing with a tropical low system threatening to develop into a cyclone. However, set-up crews happily braved conditions with gazeboes, tables, lane ropes and flags being placed ready for our 11 am warm up. The early arrival of more volunteers saw the last touches added as we greeted swimmers with a registration, raffle and a free lucky swimmer draw.
The 2025 event drew some 44 registrations with a strong showing from the Sinkers members with many new to masters having a hit out in the events. Entries were fielded from other Masters clubs including Mackay Swimming Academy, Long Tan Legends, Hervey Bay Humpbacks and several guests from Mackay Water polo and Triathlon Clubs.
Each year JB from the Rats of Tobruk club has been our main official aptly supported by Peter Nowlan (QNS) and we once again had the team from the Pioneer Swimming Club” Dolphins” provide the semi-automatic timing to ensure a smoothly officiated and run event. Many first-time volunteers from the Sinkers and friends filled the ranks of the chief timekeeper, timekeepers and announcing roles to keep the events moving.
All strokes in all distances from 25 – 200m were offered and it was great to see the new members experiencing an event under race conditions, albeit a very friendly and forgiving environment. Due to the challenging conditions, we reduced the format by eliminating the 25 skins event – pending a protest from the defending “Champion’ Tony Croft wanting to claim the prize as uncontested. We also held just a single exhibition relay with makeshift teams to conclude the day before the raffle and age group announcements. It is worth noting that the place getters in each age group could select a prize from the pool of chocolates made available in keeping with our fun theme. The day is designed for a friendly, fun meet with opportunity for new swimmers to experience races in a friendly environment and judging from the smiles and feedback we achieved that.
And what’s a swim meet without an after party! Almost 40 swimmers and partners regrouped at the Mt. Pleasant Tavern with a 1960 theme of Tie Die outfits with a few revisiting their youth. A great day followed by an entertaining evening to conclude the 2025 Sinkers Fun in Feb event.
Finally, the “Sinkers” would like to thank all officials and volunteers as well as the Pioneer Swim Club, Dan Murphy’s, Mt. Pleasant Tavern, Bunnings, Qld Country Bank and Silly Sollies for services, resources and prizes.
Other Club events to lock into the diary are:
- Whitehaven Open Water Swim (Airlie Beach) – Sunday October 5th 2025 (Kings Birthday weekend)
- Balnagowan Open Water Swim – Sunday November 2nd 2025 (First Sunday in November)
- 2026 Fun in Feb event – Saturday 28th February 2026 (Last Saturday in February)
Dan Stampa
VP – North Mackay Sinkers
Masters Swimming Club
Results:
