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Attention Sports Editors
 
Christchurch swimmers compete in force in national age group championships
 
All but two swimmers from a Christchurch contingent of 40 swimmers hit the water on the opening day of the Mayfair Pools New Zealand Age Group Swimming Championships in Wellington today.
 
There was massive support from competitors and supporters for the Christchurch-based swimmers, who thanks to the kindness of coach of North Canterbury, Brigitte Mahan, and the district council of Waimakariri all those who have been preparing for this national event have been able to access training at the Rangiora pool.   Great to see Cantabrians pulling together.  Organisers held a minute’s silence and a collection was taken at the Wellington Aquatic Centre in Kilbirnie.
 
Counties Manukau swimmer Hayden Church provided the highlight in the pool when he broke a national record in winning the 13 years 50m freestyle. Church clocked 25.61 to edge the previous record off his Howick Pakuranga clubmate Corey Main.
 
Main was not left out of proceedings though, winning the 16 years 200m individual medley with his young brother Bayley fastest in the same event for 13 years age division.
 
Famous families were not restricted to the Main family, with United’s Max Polianski, son of former Olympic gold medallist Igor Polianski, winning the 14 years age group.
 
Top performance of the night went to brilliant Christchurch swimmer Sophia Batchelor who earned 793 FINA points in winning the 15 years 200m backstroke in a slick 2:14.81.
 
Next in line was Wellington’s Samantha Lucie Smith who earned 774 points in winning the 17-18 years 400m freestyle in 4:20.39.

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