Saturday night Finals - Once again Maddie opened the swimming, placing 8th in her 200m Breastroke, and taking home our first coveted badge for the meet. Jess Dodd, in her first Countries, finalled in 12/13yr 100m Back, placing 6th (PB) also receiving a finalist badge. Taylah in 200m I/medley swam another PB, and placed in 5th fastest South Australian. Grace had placed 7th from the heats, put in an amazing effort, touched 4th, but placed 2nd South Australian, and earned our first medal, silver, also taking 3 seconds off her previous time. To finish the night, our 15 & u 4 x 50m male freestyle relay, NickE, Nathan, Zac, NickR, all received badges, placing 7th, (6th Sth Aust).

Sunday - Day 2- Heats - NickR 400m F/S - qualified in 5th for the final, Jess - Open 50m Back - 17th (PB), Taylah - 14/15yr 100m Fly - 6th for the final, Grace - 11&u 100m F/S - 12th (PB), NickR - 200m i/medley - 6th(achieving B15/16/17/SM club records) , 14/15yr 100m F/S - Maddie 15th, Taylah 10th, 12/13yr 100m Brst - Chelsea 28th, (PB), Elyce 26th , Rhiley 14th. Open 50m Fly - Maddie 25th, Taylah - 13th, Open 50m F/S - NickR - 42nd, 200m Brst - NickR 10th, 2nd reserve for final, 13&U 4 x 50m F/S relay - Grace, Emily, Chelsea, Jess - 11th, 15&u 4 x 50m F/S relay Team MERT, Maddie, Elyce, Rhiley, Taylah, swam great splits and placed in 5th for the final.

Sunday night finals - NickR - 400m F/S - taking 7 seconds off his heat time, placed 5th, and took the B15/16/17/SM club records, Taylah Edwards - 14/15yr 100m Fly - 6th (but 4th Sth Aust), NickR - 14/15yr 200m i/medley - 7th, Team MERT - all swam well again, taking 3 seconds off their heat time, but still placing in 5th.

Monday - Day 3 Heats - Open 50m Brst - Maddie 10th - 2nd reserve for finals, 14/15yr 100m Back - Maddie 21st, Taylah 9th - 2nd reserve for finals, 14/15yr 100m Brst - Nathan - 18th, (PB), NickR - 10th , NickE - 11th, 200m F/S - NickR - qualified 6th for the final (PB) and new club records for B15,16 & 17 year. Grace - 100m Fly - 10th - 2nd reserve for finals, (PB), Maddie 14/15yr 100m Brst - qualifying in 2nd for finals, 14/15yr 100m Back - NickR - 3rd, and earning another B15yr club record, NickE - 12th (PB), Open 50m Brst - NickR - 42.06 - 27th, 13&u 4 x 50m Medley relay - Emily (Back) Chelsea (Brst) Rhiley (Fly) Grace (F/S) once again with some great splits, finished 10th in the heat - 2nd reserve for the final. 15&u 4 x 50m medley relay - Jess (Back) Maddie(Brst) Taylah (Fly) Elyce (F/S), all swam amazing PB’s in their splits - placed in first for the final.

Monday Finals - NickR - 200m F/S - 7th, Maddie 14/15yr 100m Brst - 3rd , earning a bronze medal, NickR - 14/15yr 100m Back - improving on his heat time, taking another B15 club record, 4th. Then we made club history - the girls 15&u 4 x 50m medley relay Jess (Back), Maddie (Brst), Tay (Fly) Elyce (F/S) took 3.5 seconds off their heat time, all PB’s in their splits, all pushed themselves to bring home Gold, a most memorable moment as we have only achieved silver with the Dream Team (Elyce Pollard, Tegan Pollard, Leticia Goss, Ashleigh Edwards) in this event before. Then it all came crashing down - the boys 15&u 4 x 50m Medley relay - NickR (Back) Nathan (Brst) NickE (Fly) Cameron (F/S),( who came especially for this event) all swam well, great splits, came in 5th, and ready to line up for their badges, were disqualified, on a rule infraction of incorrect attire - wearing two pairs of bathers. Not the best finish to the weekend after being on such a high with the girls efforts. But we all learnt a lot.

We achieved 27 personal best times, 13 club records, 6 medals, and took home 24 coveted country champs finalists badges!

Jess Dodd and Nathan Bennett received the Country Champs awards for achievement and team support. Clare finished 15th overall, a great effort with our few swimmers. With many first timers at Country Champs, everyone performed extremely well, and we will look forward to next year at Broken Hill.