The 2011 MDASA AGM was held at the Midlands Golf Club on Friday 27th May 2011.  Present at the meeting were various representatives from each of the clubs (swimmers, parents and coaches), district life members, plus Geoff Hare and his wife from Swimming Victoria.

Up front on the agenda was the presentation of reports and the election of officer bearers for 2011-2012 season.  A big thank you to all office bearers and delegates for their contributions during the season, in particular Denise Williams and Ross Alexander who decided to step down at the end of the season.  Congratulations to the others who were re-elected to their positions.  There are still a couple of positions that remain vacant (Vice President and Assistant Secretary).  If anyone is interested in stepping up and filling these positions then the committee would be most grateful.

The Clegg Shield was not awarded this year, but Robin Alexander provided a new award - the Wendy Alexander Memorial - Achievement award.  Wendy Alexander started swimming in the late 1950s competing in Ballarat, Clunes, Skipton, Beaufort and Melbourne, joining GCO in the early eighties as a Committee Member where she was given a Life Membership for her services.  Wendy then went on to the Midlands Committee as Treasurer for many years and also received Life Membership.  Wendy was a Victorian Swimming Referee working for Midlands District and meets at National, State and Country level, receiving a Service Award from Swimming Victoria.  Wendy passed away on 15th of October 2004.  This new award in her memory and will be awarded in years when it is felt the criteria for the awarding of the Clegg Shield has not been met.

Several records were broken during the season, some broken multiple times.  The following individuals are congratulated for achieving new district records during the season:

Andrew McDougall, Ballarat GCO:  Male 14 Years Old, 50m Butterfly, 28.67

Hayley Tucker, Ballarat GOLD:  Female 13 Years Old, 100m Breaststroke, 1:20.02;  Female 14 Years Old, 50m Breaststroke, 35.70;  Female 14 Years Old, 100m Breaststroke, 1:19.27;  Female 14 Years Old, 200m Breaststroke, 2:50.57;  Female 14 Years Old, 400m IM, 5:58.87

Matthew Norman, Ballarat GOLD:  Male 16 Years Old, 50m Backstroke, 29.30;  Male 17 Years Old, 50m Backstroke, 28.46;  Male 17 Years Old, 100m Backstroke, 1:00.09;  Male 17 Years Old, 50m Freestyle, 26.09;  Male Open, 100m Backstroke, 1:00.09

James Elford, Ballarat Swimming Club:  Male 17 Years Old, 100m Butterfly, 59.97;  Male 17 Years Old, 50m Freestyle, 25.52

Daniel Cavanagh, Ballarat GOLD:  Male Open, 50m Butterfly, 26.18

Darby Ryan, Ballarat GOLD:  Female 12 Years Old, 100m Backstroke, 1:14.26;  Female 13 Years Old, 50m Backstroke, 32.72;  Female 13 Years Old, 100m Backstroke, 1:12.21

Hoping all present enjoyed the proceedings and look forward to seeing even more people in attendance next year.

Midlands District Amateur Swimming Association was extremely pleased to have three swimmers from the Ballarat Gold qualify to compete at national swim titles in April.

Competing at the 2011 Telstra Australian Swimming Championships at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, 1^st - 8th April, were Daniel Cavanagh and Matthew Norman.

The Semi-Finals and Finals of the Victorian Country All Junior Competition were held over the weekend of 19th and 20th March.  The Midlands District Amateur Swimming Association had 58 swimmers compete in the competition having qualified at the District Elimination event in February.  In all, Midlands had 22 swimmers making it into at least one final, with a further 10 swimmers placing 11th or 12th, just missing finals but making it onto the finals reserve list.

The majority of swimmers swam faster times in their Semi-Finals than the times they achieved at the elimination event, which was very pleasing.  Further to this, many swimmers achieved faster times again in their Finals.  Across the two days there were some very impressive PBs indeed.  An absolutely fantastic result.  Well done all swimmers. 

Midlands congratulates the following swimmers who made it into finals, especially our medal winners:

Midlands also congratulates the following swimmers for making it onto finals reserve lists:

On the evening of Wednesday 2^nd March, Midlands District Amateur Swimming Association held the annual Primary Schools 25m 9 & Under Swimming Sports at the Ballarat Aquatic Centre.  Open to all schools within the district, 187 swimmers from 22 schools participated. 

The 25m event is a great opportunity for young swimmers within the district to experience competitive swimming in a relaxed environment and is a good lead up event for swimmers moving to the Primary Schools 50m event in 2012.  First, second and third placegetters in each heat received a ribbon, with overall top three placegetters for each event receiving medals. 

Midlands hopes all competitors enjoyed the event and hopes to see swimmers at future events.  Midlands would also like to thank all the people that donate their time to the preparations and running of the event.  Whilst small charges apply (for event entry, spectator entry on the night and for programs), these charges do not cover the full costs of running the event (pool hire, printing, ribbons & medals) and the shortfall is picked up by the District.  Support from volunteers is fundamental to the success of the event.  To the schools who encourage and organise swimmers to participate, to local club members and officials that organise and run the meet and to the girls from Ballarat Grammar who helped with the timekeeping - a very BIG THANK YOU. 

Full results on the Results Page.

The Primary Schools 50m Swimming Sports was held on Sunday 27^th February 2010.  The meet was well attended with 317 swimmers from 28 Schools.  Although conditions looked ominous the weather fortunately held off for the duration of the meet.

The top two individuals in each individual event and the top relay team in each relay event proceed through to the Victorian Primary Schools Regional Swimming Sports in Horsham on 15^th March.

The event finale – the McCains mixed freestyle relay was won this year by Ballarat & Clarendon College closely followed by Ballarat Grammar and St Patricks College. 

1st Ballarat & Clarendon College:  Matthew Jenkins, David O'Donnell, Chloe Walton, Grace McGoldrick

2nd Ballarat Grammar:  Nick Gilbert, Leah Purtell, Jack Thomas, Brittney Edwards

3rd St Patricks College:  Lucy Olver, Harry Turner, Ned Nash, Maddie Ven

Congratulations to all placegetters and well done to all swimmers.  Thank you also to all officials and timekeepers.

Full results on the Results Page.

The Midlands District Amateur Swimming Association held the annual Secondary Schools Swimming Program at the Eureka Pool on Sunday 27^th February.  Unfortunately the poor weather conditions saw some dropouts, 37 hardy individuals from 4 schools competed in the event. 

Congratulations to all placegetters on the day:

Full results on the Results Page.

The Victorian Country Interdistrict competition was held at MSAC on Saturday, 26^th February.  In all nine country districts participated in the event, with each district being permitted to enter a maximum of one swimmer per event. 

The Midlands District Amateur Swimming Association was pleased to have 29 swimmers competing:

Ballarat GCO (11 Swimmers):  Riley Afford, Connor Bentley, Harrison Doust, Aidan Hanrahan, Liam Hanrahan, Quinlan Lowe, Rebecca McColl, Andrew McDougall, William Sullivan, Audrie Weber, Alexandra Willowhite

Ballarat Gold (8 Swimmers):  Daniel Cavanagh, Thomas Halliday, Winona Hoffman, Matthew Norman, Michael Rodger, Darby Ryan, Jessica Stewart,  Aftyn Whitfield

Ballarat Swimming Club (10 Swimmers):  Danielle Anstis, Josh Benfield, James Elford, Janessa Fitzgerald, Olivia Henderson,  Paddy Taylor-Potter,  Sophie Thomas,  Patrick Thorpe,  Hannah Walter,  Stephanie Wright

Congratulations to the following swimmers and relay teams that medalled at the event:

Boys 17 & Over 50 LC Meter Freestyle:  James Elford, BSC, 2

Boys 11-12 100 LC Meter Breaststroke:  William Sullivan, GCO, 3

Boys 17 & Over 50 LC Meter Backstroke:  Matthew Norman, GOLD, 3

Boys 10 & Under 50 LC Meter Breaststroke:  Aidan Hanrahan, GCO, 3

Girls 13-14 100 LC Meter Freestyle:  Sophie Thomas, BSC, 3

Boys 17 & Over 200 LC Meter Medley Relay:  Midlands A (Daniel Cavanagh, GOLD; Patrick Thorpe, BSC; Mathew Norman, GOLD; James Elford, BSC), 3

Boys 400 LC Meter Medley Relay:  Midlands A (Daniel Cavanagh, GOLD; Patrick Thorpe, BSC; Mathew Norman, GOLD; James Elford, BSC), 3

Girls 11-12 100 LC Meter Freestyle:  Olivia Henderson, BSC, 3

Boys 17 & Over 50 LC Meter Butterfly:  Daniel Cavanagh, Gold, 1

Boys 17 & Over 200 LC Meter Freestyle Relay:  Midlands A ((Daniel Cavanagh, GOLD; Patrick Thorpe, BSC; Mathew Norman, GOLD; James Elford, BSC), 3

Boys 400 LC Meter Freestyle Relay:  Midlands A (Daniel Cavanagh, GOLD; Patrick Thorpe, BSC; Mathew Norman, GOLD; James Elford, BSC), 3

Midlands District was pleased to place 4^th overall in the Open Relay Events, 6^th overall for Boys, 8^th overall for Girls and 7^th overall for the competition.  Midlands was also pleased to see so many swimmers from the District swim Personal Bests at the competition.  Well done all swimmers.

On Sunday, 20^th February 2011, Midlands District Amateur Swimming Association held its annual MDASA Championships at the Eureka pool. 

Congratulations to the following swimmers who medalled at the event:

 Congratulations to the following relay teams that medalled at the event:

Full results on the Results Page.

The Victorian Sprint Meet was held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre over the weekend of 12^th-13^th February, with preliminaries on Saturday 12^th and finals on Sunday 13^th.  26 swimmers from clubs within the Midlands District Amateur Swimming Association were amongst 1188 swimmers that competed in the event. 

Ballarat Swimming Club (2 swimmers):  James Elford, Patrick Thorpe

Ballarat GCO (7 swimmers):  Connor Bentley, Liam Hanrahan, Quinlan Lowe, Andrew McDougall, Samuel Parkinson, William Sullivan, Alexandra Willowhite

Ballarat Gold (17 swimmers):  Daniel Cavanagh, Jordan Davis, Thomas Halliday, Winona Hoffmann, Tanika James, Ella McCahon, Roseann Mitchell, Matthew Norman, Eboney Olver, Lucy Olver, Michael Rodger, Darby Ryan, Jareth Smart, Jessica Stewart, Hayley Tucker, Maaike  Vrij, Paige Wilson

Midlands swimmers competed in 41 of the 66 events on the program.  Many swimmers swam personal bests at the event which was great to see. 

Congratulations to the following swimmers that swam in finals:

Daniel Cavanagh, Ballarat Gold, 6^th, Men 19 & Over 50 LC Meter Butterfly

Maaike Vrij, Ballarat Gold, 7^th, Women 12 Year Olds 50 LC Meter Breaststroke

Darby Ryan, Ballarat Gold, 2^nd, Women 13 Year Olds 50 LC Meter Backstroke

Hayley Tucker, Ballarat Gold, 8^th, Women 14 Year Olds 50 LC Meter Breaststroke

Matthew Norman, Ballarat Gold, 6^th, Men 17-18 50 LC Meter Backstroke

Congratulations to the following swimmers that just missed the finals but made it onto the finals alternate list:

Tanika James, Ballarat Gold, 12^th, Women 17-18 50 LC Meter Butterfly

James Elford, Ballarat Swimming Club, 12^th, Men 17-18 50 LC Meter Butterfly

Alexandra Willowhite, Ballarat GCO, 12^th, Women 11 & Under 50 LC Meter Breaststroke

Matthew Norman, Ballarat Gold, 11^th, Men 17-18 50 LC Meter Freestyle

Daniel Cavanagh, Ballarat Gold, 8^th, Men 19 & Over 50 LC Meter Breaststroke

Connor Bentley, Ballarat GCO, 12^th, Men 14 Year OIds 50 LC Meter Backstroke

The MDASA 200m-400m Distance Meet was conducted at the Eureka Pool on Sunday, 6^th February.

Placegetters in the 400m events were: 

Placegetters in the 200m events were: 

Full results on the Results Page.

The MDASA All Junior Eliminations was conducted at the Eureka Pool on Sunday, 6^th February.  It is the precursor to the Country All Junior competition to be held at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre 19^th & 20^th March.   The five fastest swimmers in each event for each age group, from 8 and under to 14 years, are selected to represent the District at the Country Competition.  The event is open to competitive and non-competitive swimmers within the District.

Individuals placing in the Top 5 in their respective events were: