Our coaches and many of the girls in Abbotsleigh Swim Club compete for the school. Today the school swim team won IGSSA.
The Independent Girls’ Schools Swimming Association (IGSSA) annual carnival is the pinnacle of competition between member schools. Held at Sopac, over a thousand supporters are bussed in from across the State to cheer along their swimmers. The announcer struggles to be heard and the floor moves under the weight of passionate crowds jumping in unison.
The carnival is all about team. Swimmers may swim a maximum of 4 events and points are awarded according to placings in events. The team with the highest number of points wins. There is intense rivalry between teams – Abbotsleigh last won in 2010 and were determined to claim back the title from PLC Sydney who had triumphed every year since.
Abbotsleigh swimmers swam very controlled races in the morning heats to secure places in the finals. In the afternoon they were unleashed to swim their best. Abbotsleigh took an early points lead with impressive freestyle performances, but PLC Sydney fought back to lead during the form strokes. With 1 event to go only 2 points separated Abbotsleigh from PLC Sydney, and so it all came down to the 6 x 50m all age freestyle relay. PLC had taken line honours during the heats, could Abbotsleigh create some magic in the final?
Mrs Poole, Mrs Wheatley, Mr Everingham, Mr Baltitude, Leanne, Brandon, the parents, the whole Sopac audience, and the entire Abbotsleigh swimming team watched as Holly Nelson confidently climbed onto the blocks to launch our winning bid. 2’49.71″ later Abbotsleigh hit the wall first in a record breaking time and the celebrations started.
Abbotsleigh set 6 new IGSSA records and 1 new State record (pending official confirmation) during the day. Special mention also goes to our club swimmers competing for other schools.
Thanks to Tim Ong for these great photos. Videos of all the finals are available here.
