Mt Barker Amateur Swimming Club juniors shine at 2023 Country Championships

Mt Barker Amateur Swimming Club travelled to HBF Stadium at the weekend to compete in the 2023 Country Championships with a stack of swimmers returning home with personal best times. The squad, competing under the banner of the Barracudas, was coached by Jeff Osborne with 12 athletes taking part in the action-packed three-day tournament. Dylan Glas and Samuel Western were part of the Great Southern relay team that finished third across two separate races. Kaleb Glas, 12, recorded four PBs and finished second across all his races, as well as claiming seven medals. Dylan Glas notched nine PBs, six medals and a State qualifying time in the 50m breaststroke while 14-year-old Western had seven PBs, two medals and a State qualifying time in the 50m freestyle. Hannah Osborne shone across the competition with five PBs and five medals while Annie Newman finished with four PBs and two medals. Nine-year-old Elliot Osborne finished with a 100 per cent PB rate along with 14-year-old Lincoln Large, 10-year-old William Henderson and Madeline Henderson, 12. Koos De Jong, 11, Jack Rowe 12, and 16-year-old Adam Large all recorded PB rates of 50 per cent with Adam Large also taking home two medals. “I am very proud of all our swimmers, their families and our club,” Osborne said. “Our kids surpassed all of our expectations. Country championships is a great initiative for our regional clubs and it gives kids a taste of competitive swimming on the ‘main stage’. “I feel that Mt Barker proved that our swimmers are up there with the best of them.” The Barracudas are now preparing for the Great Southern Regional Championships in York in February and Country Pennants in Northam in March.