Eastern suburbs youngsters ride wave of success in Jewish Swimming championships

A SUNNY Sunday proved fertile for the Blumberg clan at the 65th annual NSW Jewish Swimming Champs at Des Renford pool.

Wenty - Isabella coghlan at the Jewish Swimming Championships

A SUNNY Sunday proved fertile for the Blumberg clan at the 65th annual NSW Jewish Swimming Champs at Des Renford pool.

Jewish Swimming championships winners Josh Blumberg (right) with Kyron Israelson. Picture: Supplied.

First up, 19-year-old NSW University student Josh Blumberg took out the 100m freestyle, beating reigning champ and record holder Kyron Israelsohn, 18, from Lane Cove Swimming Club.

Blumberg blasted away his first lap and held off the fast-finishing Israelsohn to take the Australian Jewish News trophy and its $100 prize. Clovelly’s Josh Zwi, 17, finished a close third.

Blumberg’s cousin, Noah, who was inspired to start swimming competitively by the success of his older relative, also had a stellar day, undefeated in the 9 year boys’ events.

“Noah’s always been a determined sportsman but he’s definitely been inspired and encouraged in his swimming by his big cousin,” says Noah’s dad, Lawrence, about the Sydney Grammar Year 4 student who trains three times a week with the Goodridge Swim School.

Jewish swimming championships — Medallists for the women's 100m freestyle: (from left) bronze winner Mikaela Rifkin, 18, from St Ives; silver winner Brooke Roseman, 13, from Melbourne; and Cup winner Maya Murphy, 13. Picture: Supplied.

In the girls’ 100m freestyle, 13-year-old Maya Murphy from Knox Pymble took out the women’s Australian Jewish News cup from Victorian Brooke Roseman, 13, and last year’s winner Mikaela Rifkin, 18, from St Ives, who came in third.

It was the first of six wins for young Murphy, an outstanding effort which garnered her the Jo Bos memorial trophy for 13 years and over swimmer of the meet.

Isabella Coghlan held on to her 12 years and under trophy, beating fellow Maroubra 12-year-old Jared Elbourne by four points.

Coghlan, who usually competes at the Nipper’s Branch Championships in the morning before Jewish Champs in the afternoon, was unusually rested thanks to rough surf conditions cancelling the water events.

Both Coghlan and Elbourne set records in the 12 and under 200m individual medley, Coghlan with a time of 2.54.38 and Elbourne in 2.46.88.

Moriah College’s Frankie Kogan was undefeated in the 8 and under boys events.

Meanwhile, 47-year-old Amanda Penkin broke her own 50m breaststroke record, beating those 20 years younger than her.

Jewish swimming championships, seven-year-old stars, Randwick's Maya Antonir (left) and Taya Simmons, from Dover Heights take in the atmosphere. Picture: Supplied.