Parap set for Open and Age titles, will also host interstate swimmers
FOUR days of intense racing are on the agenda when Territory and interstate swimmers alike take to Parap Pool to compete in the 2021 Open and Age Championships.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FOUR days of intense racing are on the agenda when Territory and interstate swimmers alike take to Parap Pool to compete in the 2021 Open and Age Championships.
The Open and Age Championships are the premier event on the Top End swimming calendar and serve as an important stepping stone leading up to the National Championships on the Gold Coast in April.
MORE NT SPORT STORIES
Waratah eye semis after knocking Buffaloes out of the 2020-21 premiership race
Territorian Ned Stevens is already impressing at Gold Coast Suns Academy after making move
The 2021 edition of the Championships at Parap Pool will include seven sessions of intense racing with plenty of titles on the line for athletes of all age groups from March 4-7.
There will also be an NT participation meet, which will offer beginners the chance to try out for and potentially qualify into the main competitions.
Some of the finest Territory swimmers will be on show including Andrew Materazzo, who swan the fastest 100m freestyle time in Australia as a 14-year-old.
Also set to compete is Tahnee Afuhaamango from Masters Swimming Club, who broke the 200m freestyle world record for para-athletes.
Free entry will be given to all spectators, while for the first time ever the entire four-day event will be livestreamed on Swim TV.
The event ambassador is Tia Hutton, who originally comes from Nhulunbuy and has since moved to Darwin, showing the link Swimming NT has with remote communities.
Swimming NT pathways manager Thomas Noblett was excited for the event to commence, with over 240 swimmers likely to take part.
“Everyone is excited as it’s our first major competition of the year and the perfect lead-in for our athletes heading towards Nationals,” Noblett told the NT News.
“We have swimmers travelling from all over the Territory as well as a fair few interstaters looking to get a title.
“The Open and Age Championships is the highlight for any NT athlete on our national calendar.
“The swimming will be very competitive with everyone aiming for the win so there will be plenty of excitement on offer for all our spectators.”
Sarah Emery is the chief referee for the event and brings with her plenty of experience as the current president of Swimming Queensland Technical Officials and directory of Swimming Queensland Board, while previously being the chief referee at the Commonwealth Games.
$1 FOR ALL YOUR NEWS? HERE’S HOW: Sign up now to our amazing deal of $1 for 28 days
The Championships will be opened by award winning radio presenter Katie Woolf, while Swimming NT extends a special thanks to their major sponsor City of Darwin and partner McDonalds.
DRU 2024-25: Top performers and point scorers of round named
The NT News sport team has run the rule over the DRU grade competition, compiling a list of the top performers and point scorers from Round 12. See who made it from your club.
‘Exciting milestone’: Stingers depart Darwin for Kuala Lumpur
A sense of responsibility and pride and an update on the future of Marrara’s turf fields were the talking points as the Stingers officially departed for Malaysia.