Last Wednesday saw well over 400 participants take to the water at Ryde Aquatic Centre for the annual Newington Preparatory Schools Inter-House Swimming Carnival. This carnival is not only used to find our champion house and age division winners, but also to find the 2015 Newington swim team and IPSHA representatives. The swim team competes at 4 Invitational swim carnivals throughout the year, with a select group having the opportunity to represent at IPSHA, CIS and beyond. The day began with straight finals in the backstroke, butterfly and Individual Medley events. It was clear early on, that the day would be full of close finishes, enthralling battles, fast swims, house spirit and of course participation.

In the 8 year age division, Joel Zipeure scorched the pool, winning the 50m freestyle and 25m breaststroke races on his way to claiming the age champion title. Orlando Mina showed swimming runs in the family, with a 2nd in the breaststroke and a terrific 3rd in the butterfly in the older 9 year division. These performances enabled Orlando to come in runner up in this division, not bad from a current Year 2 student. Liam West, Sam Chittendon and Bailey Childs also had successful meets sharing in the ribbons.

In the competitive 9 year age group, Lewis Saupin declared himself a swimmer of the future winning the 9’s backstroke and butterfly events. Lewis’s butterfly time eclipsed a school record set only 12 months ago by Sebastian Parhash making it an even more impressive start to his programme. Lewis went on to win the breaststroke event as well helping him claim the 9 year age champion title. Placings in the 9 year age races was spread amongst many participants, displaying the depth of this age division. Harry Forsyth was named runner up in this age after winning the 50m freestyle and competing strongly in the other events. Daniel Johnson and Gabriel Gordon showed their versatility, both placing in the breaststroke with Daniel also placing in the freestyle and Gabriel also placing in the butterfly. Jamie De Botton, Toby Torrible and Oscar Neale swam well throughout the day, all winning ribbons in this strong age group.

The 10 year age group saw perennial swim team members Sebastian Parhash and Nicholas Venetoulis, clash with the up and coming Jayden Stanton-Keir, and impressive new Wyvern student Henry Isherwood. This age group has performed very well in the carnivals to follow over last few years, and you can’t help but feel this may continue. Apart from the breaststroke event, these 4 boys finished top 4 in every 10 year and junior event on the card. Sebastian Parhash won the backstroke, Henry Isherwood won the butterfly and Nicholas Venetoulis won the breaststroke. But with Parhash winning the junior 100m and individual medley, the worthy age champion title was confirmed. The consistent Nicholas Venetoulis claimed the runner up honours with a total of 4 ribbons, just superceding Henry Isherwood also with 4 ribbons. Jayden Stanton-Keir claimed 3 ribbons with Matthew Torrible spoiling a clean sweep finishing 3rd in the breaststroke.

Against many older competitors, Thomas Oates shocked all onlookers early, when he smashed a class field in the senior individual medley. Thomas was not troubled for the 11 years champion title winning every age race as well as the senior medley and a 3rd in the senior 100m. Lindfield students Lachlan Hull and William Gray both figured prominently in the race to claim the runner up medallion. Lachlan eventually winning over his counterpart with a 2nd place finish in the freestyle and butterfly and a 3rd in the backstroke. William finished with a 2nd in the backstroke and a 3rd in the freestyle. James McGregor 2nd in breaststroke, Nathan Ma 3rd in breaststroke and Flynn Gannon 3rd in butterfly were also successful in reaching the podium.

The strength of Newington’s 12 year age division is exceptionally high at present. Dominic Goonan 3rd in backstroke, Thomas Baird 3rd in freestyle and Fallon Fotaras 2nd in breaststroke and 3rd in butterfly all finished in the placings, however, it was the battle between Jarrah Ronan from Rydal House and Christopher Mina from Howe House that had the raucous crowd captivated. These 2 boys swam in some of the most enthralling races seen in recent years. Christopher finished the day with 1st in the 50m freestyle, 2nd in the 100m freestyle and backstroke, 3rd in the senior medley and breastroke. But it was his 1st in the 50m butterfly that was his finest of the day, bettering a school record last set in 1983. Jarrah finished 1st in the breastroke, backstroke and 100m freestyle and 2nd in the senior medley, 50m freestyle and butterfly to deservedly take out the 12 years champion title.

As the day got on, and after well over 400 boys had competed individual events, it became uncertain whether time would permit the relays to be contested. Fortunately, one last surge from the race marshals enabled the running of the relays, in a fitting finale to a great competition. It was Howe House winning the 12’s relay, but with William’s House claiming the remainder, the day was decided. Mighty William’s House! 2015 Newington Preparatory Schools Inter-School Swimming House Champions!

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