Cairns Mudcrabs Swim Meet Report 2025
2025 Cairns Mudcrabs Short Course Meet Report
Twenty-nine swimmers competed in the 2025 Cairns Mudcrabs Short Course Swim Meet on Saturday 16 August at the Gordonvale Aquatic Centre. Nine clubs were represented on the day, including the three Cairns-based clubs (Mudcrabs, Bunna-barras and CLAMS), as well as the Atherton Mountaineers, Long Tan Legends, Gympie Gold Fins, Noosa Masters, Belgravia Masters and the Bushrangers.
It was a special day for a number of swimmers, as it was their first-ever masters swim meet:
- Cadence McShane, representing Gympie Gold Fins, who had only just turned 18 that week!
- New Mudcrabs members: Kate Steyn, Belinda Suthers, Sandra Wycherley, Whitney Newberry, Andrew McDonnell and Leanne Kelly
- Bunna-barra swimmer Marilyn Woods
In addition to the regular pool events, a 50m handicap race was held. The 50m Breaststroke was drawn as the handicap event, and names of swimmers who raced the 50m Breaststroke were drawn to determine participants. Six ladies took to the starting blocks, with LiQun Hussey holding on to take home the $50 cash prize.
As always, Mudcrabs like to keep the fun happening at our swim meets, so the meet finished with a mixed team relay. Six captains were chosen and took turns drawing the names of their team members out of a hat. Each team member swam 50m Freestyle while carrying/transporting a toy mudcrab, then handed over the ‘baton’ to the next swimmer. The ‘mudcrabs’ are now enjoying a well-deserved rest after being clenched in fists, hidden in togs and thrown around during the relay. In the end, Claire Acworth’s team were the winners, with each team member taking home a prize bag.
Presentations were held on-site at the Gordonvale Aquatic Centre, where swimmers and supporters refuelled on Subway platters and drinks supplied by the Mudcrabs. A special presentation was awarded to the ‘Mudcrab of the Meet’—a member who went above and beyond in preparing for the event. The award went to Karen Whitworth for her work in preparing prizes and catering, organising stopwatches and officials, co-ordinating a Technical Officials training session prior to the meet, and serving as Meet Referee on the day. Mudcrabs are very fortunate to have Karen as a member. Thanks to her generosity of time and willingness to share her knowledge, more Mudcrabs members are now undertaking training and pool hours to become qualified in a number of technical roles.
Special guests Cr Brett Moller (Div 1) and Mayor Amy Eden took time out of their busy schedules to see the meet in action. Mudcrabs took the opportunity to thank them for their support of our successful application to the Cairns Regional Council’s Community Partnerships Grant, which helped make the meet possible by covering pool hire costs.
Also making the meet possible:
- Referee John Barrett, who again travelled from Townsville to officiate
- Sponsors: Peak Mobility and Rehab, Mission Consulting Solutions, Sunlover Cruises, Spirit of Cairns Dinner Cruise and Nateve Australia
- Management and staff of the Gordonvale Aquatic Centre
Once again, Mudcrabs members pulled together to make the meet a success. It takes a team effort to deliver a swim meet, no matter how big or small. Always looking to improve and meet the needs of masters swimmers in FNQ, Mudcrabs will be sending a survey out to swimmers who competed, asking for feedback on the meet and suggestions for the 2026 swim meet.
Gaby Donnelly
Cairns Mudcrabs – Meet Director
Meet Results:
