mmg.com.au

Peter Tindale says an increased emphasis on this year’s Victorian Country Inter-District swimming meeting has resulted in a stronger Goulburn Valley squad.

The Goulburn Valley District Swimming Association president said he was confident the 33-strong squad could record some good results at tomorrow’s competition.

The five clubs in the Goulburn Valley district are Shepparton, Mooroopna, Kyabram, Benalla and Cobram.

A Goulburn Valley inter-district training session, which Paralympic gold medallists Ellie Cole and Matt Haanappel attended, was organised at Shepparton’s Aquamoves on Monday night.

Tindale said it was mostly a bonding session and for swimmers to meet coaches Willy O’Callaghan and Monica Hurley, who are both at Shepparton.

Kyabram’s Kylie Gale and Benalla’s Richard Barrow are the team managers.

Victoria country is divided into 10 districts, with Goulburn Valley competing against Midlands, Ovens and Murray, Gippsland, Hume-Upper Goulburn, Sunraysia, Geelong, Wimmera, North Central and Central.

‘‘Countrys (Victorian Country Championships) is a different beast to this, because as many kids who qualify can swim in that, whereas this is more of a team event,’’ Tindale said.

‘‘There is one swimmer per district in each event and it’s based on times.

‘‘It’s a different atmosphere, with clubs all combined to form a district, because in Countrys it’s more the one team supporting the one team.’’

Swimmers had to nominate for Goulburn Valley inter-district selection and Tindale said officials then picked the fastest for each event.

‘‘We talked to the coaches about the kids who had a lot of swims to see which ones they should do,’’ Tindale said.

‘‘Then we took them off certain events and gave them to other kids, because they had too busy of a schedule over too short a time.’’

The quickfire meet includes 64 events in a two-and-a-half hour period from 1pm tomorrow at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

GOULBURN VALLEY DISTRICT TEAM

Darcee and Georgia Anker, Johnathon Barrow, Hannah Botta, Jorja Bourke, Marc and Nicolas Carroll, Maddison Cross, Rebecca Danaher, Ashleigh, Daniel and Georgia Dunning, Blake and Mahony Fothergill, Grace and Sarah Gale, Darcie Guthrie, James and Stuart Hart, Emma and Hume Hurley, Brittany Johnston, Samuel and Luke Macadam, Chelsea Mailer, Bridie Moylan, Myra Pole, Daniel Romeo, Cameron Shandley, Brennan, Carter and Kalen Swift and Stephanie Wilton.