Competition Wrap - 2025 Apollo Projects Division II Swimming Competition
There were more than 385 swimmers take part in an excellent the days of racing at the 2025 Apollo Projects Division II Swimming Competition that was held over the weekend at the Sir Owen G. Glenn National Aquatic Centre in Auckland between Friday 21 - Sunday 23 March.
Following the Competition Review recommendations announced last year, it was the first time that the competition was held in the shorter format with all events raced as timed finals. The updated format across the shortened duration of five sessions produced lots of positives, highlighted by lots of personal best performances, with the scoreboard displaying many green results at the end of each race to celebrate the swimmer going faster than their entry time.
There was a terrific atmosphere around the pool across the weekend, with passionate supporting for teammates spurring each other on, and plenty of relay teams that became the highlight of each session. We also loved seeing some clubs work together to form relay teams so they could get involved too.
As has become the case in recent years, the competition also showcased some of the best dressed outfits, with the theme this year being "Beach Party". About 200 swimmers, coaches and managers were decked out in some of the most impressive outfits, ranging from lifeguards to tropical shirts and floaties. Swim Rotorua, Southland and Coast were amongst the teams and individuals to receive best dressed prizes from Teamline for their efforts.
In the break between sessions on Saturday, the fifth Dive Start Clinic of the year was held for kids who purchased tickets to learn race skills from Aquablacks Andrew Jeffcoat (United) and Chelsey Edwards (North Shore), and Olympians Rebecca Meder (North Shore) and Tracy Breuer (Kiwi West Aquatics). The clinics included demonstrations from Meder (dive positioning), Edwards (dives, timing of the underwater kick and turns) and Jeffcoat (backstroke starts and turns). The kids also had the chance to race Jeffcoat or Edwards across 50m, before a Q&A and photo/signing session rounded out the clinic. Thanks to everyone for participating and to our Aquablacks for hosting the clinic.
The battle for the Top Club across the weekend saw some of the local clubs establish an early lead. Coast Swimming Club (1676 points) took home the trophy after establishing a strong lead, ahead of North Shore (1365 points) and Pukekohe (828 points), the winners in 2024, to round out the top three.
Congratulations to the many swimmers who were stoked to achieve qualifying times for the upcoming 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships in Hawke's Bay next month. Don't forget to get your entries in before they close on Tuesday 2 April next week.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the weekend, particularly our volunteers and officials, and to the clubs and swimmers who created a great atmosphere. Congratulations to all of the swimmers who achieved their goals and/or personal bests across the weekend.
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