Loading ...Originally written by DEAN MILLARD
PORTLAND Swimming Club president David Shiels has described this weekend’s Victorian Country Swimming Championships as a great success, with more than 2000 people walking through the gates in Portland during the three days of competition.
Close to 800 people attended the championships on each of the first two days of competition, while a further 650 people walked through the gates on Sunday.Shiels said the club had received a lot of positive feedback so far on the way the championships had been run from both local people and families of competitors.“The feedback from up the street, with people who have spoken to locals and things like that, they say they love Portland, they love the people and this is the best meet that they have been to for ages,” Shiels said.“People have been saying it has been magic; it has been a wonderful weekend.”He said the 60 race officials had also been more than pleased with the support and services provided for them, adding they had not expected to be treated as well as they had.Shiels said the local Portland and Hamilton swimmers stood to benefit greatly from having held such a large swimming meet in their area.“This has given our swimmers, especially our little ones from here and Hamilton, a taste of what it is all about, so now they will try that little bit harder to get a qualifying time so they can go away and do it again.”Shiels said preparing for such a large event would not have been possible without the support of the Glenelg Shire Council, who he said needed to be commended for their endeavours to meet the needs to the swimming club.“The Council has been tremendously helpful.“No matter what we have asked for they have at least tried to do it, and most times they have succeeded in doing it.“Nothing has been too hard for them.“They get a lot of kicks in the teeth, but with what they have done with this they should really be given a pat on the back.“The public has got something out of this that will stay here, and hopefully there has been a flow on effect to the wider public from having all of these people here as well.”He said the local tourism industry had already benefited before the championships had started, with about 150 families spending time in Portland in the six months prior to now to check out the facilities and local area, adding given the feedback he had received many would likely return to visit the area in future as well.
Shiels said the support of the local businesses had made organising sponsorship for the events a lot easier than he thought it might have been, adding he had been extremely impressed with just how generous many members of the public had been in regards to the championships.“The community for its sponsorship and support has been unbelievable.“We sponsored every race, we had 100 races and they were all sponsored, it was tremendous,” the happy president said.“When we wanted donations for raffles, people were really forthcoming, it had a real community feel about it.“Sometimes you have to struggle to get things like this organised, but we have been very, very fortunate and the public needs to know that we appreciate it and we just hope that there has been a big flow on into the community and local businesses have picked up from it as well.”He said he believed Portland had proved with the championships the local district was capable of holding such a large meeting and added in the future similar events could be held locally again.“It has been hard work and has taken a lot of time, but gee it has been a great committee, it has been tremendously easy to organise in that respect because it has never been hard to find someone to organise something.“Hopefully in five or six years we can get this back again.”
RICARDA McMillan powers through the water during the 100-metre backstroke heat over the weekend, finishing third at the Victorian Country Championships.Picture: EBONY GARNER 080127eg31
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