CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS: Sheets are on the Board for nominations for all 2017 Club Championships. Please indicated early your intentions to play in these events.  A draw will be done today after Bowls for the fours championships.

PENNANTS: Due to the extreme heat the Pennant Trial against Dubbo City was cancelled. Another in house trial will be arranged shortly. Pennants start March 5 with an away game at Yeoval. Full draw on the noticeboard.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Due to the warm conditions this competition was suspended last week with only Social Bowls played.

SATURDAY TWILIGHT: Mixed Pairs or Triples, (Depending on numbers)  Single  entries, names in by 6pm play to commence at 6.30pm. Mufti Dress. 

FRIDAY NIGHT: Raffles at 6.00pm – Drawn 7.30pm. Badge Draw Friday Night + $1000

SENIORS: Like many Associations throughout NSW, the Federal Hotel T20 competition was suspended last weekend due to the extreme weather conditions. Due to no cricket being played the Pointscore did not change, meaning the following teams begin their semi-finals on Saturday. Major semi-final: Amaroo Peckers and Amaroo Ducks do battle. Minor semi: Redferns and Federal Floggers play.

These two teams have the opportunity to play their games on Friday or Saturday evening or Saturday afternoon then night if they wish. How lucky are these teams to have this opportunity to choose their playing time. The Consolation Division teams do not play until next week. Farmers have the bye whilst Geurie and Federal Thundercats do battle see who will play Farmers in the Grand Final scheduled for the 4th March.

Brewery Shield: Our representative team under the leadership of Nick Cosier have the opportunity of giving themselves an outside chance of making the semi-finals with their postponed game against Nyngan scheduled for Sunday 26th February a Nyngan. 

Presentation: All being well with the weather the Grand Final will be played under lights on Saturday 4th March with a BBQ followed by the Presentation either at the ground or back at the Federal. 

JUNIORS: The Juniors look great in their new shirts with the Wellington Bicentenary logo on them, players and parents dont forget you all have a maroon hat or cap in your cupboard from other Wellington sports or the Cricket wide bream hat most received last year. All games are now entering their last two weeks of competition before the semi-finals commence on March 4.

The 14s should be there, 12As need to win and hope some other results go their way whilst the 12Bs entered the competition late and are having alot of fun. Results of last weekends games were not to hand at time of print. Thanks to all parents and players for starting last week's games at 8am so they could be finished before the heat arrived.

Draw for this week: 12As - play St Johns Yellow at Rygate; 12Bs - play Rugby at Bob Dowling 1; 14s - play St Johns at John McGrath

Milo T20 Blast: Is on again tomorrow at Pioneer from 3.30 to 5pm, great to see so many keen youngsters running around last week. Thanks to Rachel for supplying the "ice blocks", Bianca and Harry for running the program. These young cricketers and those that have been helping before Christmas and hopefully back this week will get the opportunity to attend a coaching school during the winter as part of their assistance package this season.

Presentation: The Junior presentation is being held on Saturday 18th March from 6pm with a game planned for "under lights" for those in attendance. This fits in well with the Swimming Club who are holding their Championships during the afternoon, so many players and parents can attend both.

Regional carnival

It has been a big  few week for WASC swimmers and swimming carnivals. The Country Regional Carnival in Janurary was a huge success. The club jumped on board with Dubbo Regional Council to host the Swimming NSW Country Regional Meet as an event to celebrate Wellington’s Bicentenary.

In the beginning there was Tracey Whillock, Wes Giddings, Ian McAlister, Michael Kneipp, Shannon Starr, Lana Willetts, Alison Gibbs and Kate Austin (along with all the other staff members who assisted them). They have worked alongside the club the entire time, to assist planning, parking, seating, toilets, grounds, shade structures, water, pool entry conditions and the list goes on. An amazing group of people who worked very hard to assist WASC to ensure we could co-ordinate this event effectively.

Thank you to Michael Kneipp and Ben Austin for supporting the swimmers and the meet and generously giving up their time to present the medals to our many winners. Their presence was a real highlight, two wonderful people in their own right.

To our club sponsors: Ron Stubberfield Toyota, Glenwood Merinos, Fast Eddie Owens, MA and JJ Clarke Building Contractors, Choice Home Loans, Keirle’s Pharmacy, HelpEm Shearing, Paxton Plough and Co, Brennan’s Welding for their donations of materials and labour, as well as Mr Coupe of Tyreright Wellington and Dubbo and Pedder’s Suspension and Will Redfern for his time and labour and parts for the clubhouse, Colin Sheridan for the sandbags and parking equipment. Thanks also to Pip Smith for her Raffle donations, Sportsman’s Warehouse for prizes and Woolworths for their voucher donation; we all know it couldn’t happen without this type of support. Thank you to Elders, Joblink, Stubberfield’s, Wellington Public School, St Mary’s and the Edward’s family for the provision of much needed shade tents and also Little A’s for their grandstand shading and Allan Nicholson and Michelle Eather for their assistance with this. To McDonald’s for their water containers, these were very handy over the weekend.

To Twin Rivers printing, thank you for working closely with the Club to produce the swimming program and especially for the last-minute production of extra programs Saturday morning.

To our Life members whom are such a beautiful part of our club, it’s always an honour to be in their company and whenever we put the call out, they are always there to help. Bernie Sheridan, Rod Pedron, Jen Bourke, Norm Smith and Donna Cosier, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

To our massive team of helpers - Sally, John, Maddi and Myah Hunt, Charlotte Boland, Cecil Wilson, Sara and Chris Stevens, Alison and Jack Owens, Jakob and Ethan Styles,  Erin O’Brien, Lucy and Anne Edwards, Amber, Daisy and Maggie Smith, Nashie, Wade, Callum and Keeley Smith, Kevin, Kyla, Karl and Jamarl Tasker, Elise, Naylise and Nicholli Thompson, Andrew, Mason and Isaiah Hill, Marcus, Lara,Josie and Lilly Clarke, Graham and Sue Martin, Trevor Owens, Tippy and Donna Dray, Neil Miller, Marie Cornish, Al, Marg and Wok Thompson, Michael and Sue Smith, Peter, Anne and Ella James, Gary, Catherine, Soph and Claud Whiteman, Kate Kiss, Vaughan Klein, Cathy Smith, Alicia Thompson, Rebecca, Adam, Pat, Harry and Darcy O’Donnell.

Huge thanks also to all the clubs for happily filling timekeeping duties, without this support alone we simply could not have run this meet, we are extremely grateful for this assistance. Special mention to Dubbo City Swimtech and Mudgee Indoor for manning lanes for both days, WASC is very grateful for your commitment to provide this support for the entire Country Regional Meet - thank you.

To the Swimming NSW staff and officials both paid and voluntary, Pam Weste, Sarah Koen, Pat Troy, David Goff, John Williams, Colin Touzell, Felicity Palmer, Margaret Spurway, Chris and Helen Hayes and others from within our region and Mountain and Plains, as well Christina Gordon, Brigette Jones, Barbara Weaver and Murray Wood. Many travelled a fair distance to support our meet, they were extremely professional and happy to share their wisdom and assist with accrediting many throughout the weekend. Their ability to gel with WASC all played a massive part in ensuring the carnival ran as it did. Special mention also to Mark Heathcote, Shannon Smith and Josh Karp who in the background handled all our emails and needs.

To Chris Myers for his coaching in-service workshop and his swimmers for providing valuable professional development to many regional coaches; these opportunities are always valuable and we thank him for his expertise.

And last but not least the WASC committee, we did it. Thank you for your tireless work, support and love for this club and what it’s all about. Ed, Chris, Cat, Pip, Anne, Michael, Elise plus your families thank you very much for making this happen. 

Western Area Championships February 4 and 5 held in Dubbo - Wellington swimmers performed exceptionally well. A number a PB's were achieved along with a swag of medals, special mention to Naylise Thompson and Karl Tasker for their individual efforts they were awarded the 12 and under Multi Class Champions.We would like to congratulate all of these swimmers for their efforts. Kayla Tasker, Patrick O'Donnell and Isaiah Hill were also medalist's at these championships.

Congratulations also to Dubbo City swimtech for receiving the Western Area Championship Trophy, Warren Swimming Club for receiving the small club trophy and to Coonamble Swimming Club for receiving the yearly overall pointscore trophy. Thanks also to the Western Area committee for conducting a smooth and efficient carnival.

Congratulations to all of our swimmers competing in your very own school carnivals, and best wishes to those who have progressed to the next pathway.

Special mention to all of our swimmers who are setting new challenges and achieving them, for some swimming in their very first 50m event for others the 100m, great to see all of our members just giving things a go.

Well done to the Diggers who ran a fantastic carnival on the weekend as well, it was a lot of fun with a number of clubs represented throughout the region, everyone was catered for and proving that swimming really is an enjoyable  lifelong activity.

Wellington Diggers Swimming Club

Last Sunday our Club conducted a very successful Western District AIF Carnival. Some 90 swimmers participated from Cobar, Condobolin, Dubbo, Forbes, Nyngan and Wellington. Locals to do well were John Donnelly who won the 50 metre open handicap being 0.02 outside his nominated time. Aaron Edwards managed two second placing, Mark Inwood gained a second and third placing while Peter Ryan finished second in the 100 metres. Our 10x50 metre relay team finished second to Cobar.

Our club would like to thank the following sponsors for their support: Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club, Wellington RSL Sub Branch, Parkes International Motel, Central Butchery, Cusacks Butchery, Big on Style, Toohey’s, Carlton United and Aristrocrat Leisure. Also thanks go to the Wellington Amateur Swimming Club for their assistance during the day and for the use of their equipment.

Last week 21 members faced the starter with some good times recorded. Mark Lousick swam spot on his nominated time to win the 30 metre event while Rob George continued his good form winning the 50 metre event. Georgia Knowles and amy Ryan combined to win the Brace Relay while Bonnie Sheridan and Isiah Hill won the Junior Events.

We have use of the Pool between 6.00pm and 7.00pm so members are asked to be at the Pool by 5.45pm to enter in the events or ring your entry through if you are going to be late.

For Juniors to compete there must be a senior family club member competing. Please make an effort to be at the pool by 5.45 to enter your names and times for the first swim.

Results for February 7:

Juniors 25 Metre: 1st Bonni Sheridan 0.19, 2nd Lilly Sheridan 0.22, 3rd Charolette Ryan 0.31

50 Metre: 1st Isiah Hill 0.28; 2nd Amy Ryan 0.81; 3rd Bonny Sheridan 1.22

Seniors 30 Metre: 1st Mark Lousick 0.00, 2nd Georgia Knowles 0.06, 3rd Peter Ryan 0.12

50 Metre: 1st Rob George 0.25; 2nd Peter Ryan 0.34, 3rd Nick Knowles 0.37

Kevin “Bubbles” Bourke Memorial Brace Relay: 1st Georgia Knowles  and Amy Ryan 0.44; 2rd Melissa Frappell and Peter Ryan 1.31; 3rd Rob George and Isiah Hill 2.81