A-grade performance from Geraldton swimmers at 2023 Country Pennants

The 2023 WA Country Swimming Pennants, the highlight annual event for country swim clubs, took place over the long weekend at Northam’s Aquatic Facility.

Geraldton Amateur Swimming Club fielded 23 swimmers across all age categories at the event, which combines points across all race and age categories to produce a final team score, with each swimmer limited to four individual event entries.

Club president Marijke Travasso said the club was delighted to cement its position in the A-grade section, finishing third behind Peel and Mandurah swim clubs.

“We were so delighted to see so many of our younger, newer members attend the event, many for the first time, as well as many of our longstanding members returning to swim for the club,” she said.

The Geraldton team was captained by Ben Naisbitt and Kaley Lynas, who led team members out dressed as “local legends” for the opening ceremony, in a nod to the Mid West region’s famous AFL identities.

In keeping with this year’s theme, the members had received a special video message ahead of the event from Josh Kennedy, who wished them luck in Northam.

In addition to the overall team result, following the event, Angus McDonald and Mila Brown received Rising Star awards from Swimming WA, recognising their achievement and development potential.