By TANIA PHILLIPS
A dozen Dolphins from Tweed Heads have taken the National Winter Swimming Titles in Perth by storm.
All the members of the Tweed Heads Winter Swimming Club returned from the nationals late last month with medals – a record for the 25-year-old club.
The club’s 30 members meet each Sunday morning throughout winter in front of the Greenmount Surf Club with the season culminating in the nationals each year against members from the 42 other clubs including the world famous Bondi Icebergs, Cronulla Polar Bears and Cottesloe Crabs and Harbord Frigid Frogs.
More than 5000 swimmers across Australia are part of winter swimming clubs and this includes more than 200 Olympians and many Surf Life Saving champions, past and present.
Dolphins club secretary Trevor ‘Stumpy’ Bathie said this year’s result was particularly pleasing.
“The local Dolphins Club are a small, very social group who gather during winter to swim with their friends and to travel so far and return triumphant was a great result for our little happy club,” Stumpy said.
He said the club also came second in the club relay getting within 0.41 seconds of the time it nominated for its 10 swimmers.
The event was won by near neighbours the Gold Coast Marlins in a national record time of 0.05.
“What makes this more unbelieveavle is our club does not swim in a pool, which it makes it so hard to put in a competitive time,” Stumpy said.
He said the club held its presentation at sponsors the Dolphin Hotel, Tweed Heads, and has now wrapped up for the year.
“We start again next May at 9am in front of Greenmount Surf Club and new members are always welcome,” Stumpy said.
“Next year’s end of season titles are in Sydney.”
