Fin Swimming - last competition for 2014shn

The Silvery Sharks Fin Swimming Club had a great final competition of the year with some great races and lots of medals being won.   Some of the younger swimmers really showed how much their fitness has improved and have the medals to show for it but Arthur and Matthew learned some very tough lessons.

1. Count your laps carefully and do not stop too early, (Matthew 400m)

2. Make sure you touch the timing board when you finish or your time keeps on rolling. (Arthur 400m)

Arthur had seven races in all some of which he was competing two age groups high than his age. He won gold in the 100m and knocked 4 seconds off his China time.   The jury is out on that one though.  Some great swimming by Ivan and LD and the little water flea, Kaa Fai all of whom slowly wore Arthur down in the 200m mono fin race to push him out of the medals.    Kara fair literally streaked ahead to win gold, followed by Ivan and LD then Arthur.   Well done boys, it was one of the most exiting races to watch and you all deserve your medals.    

Matthew missed a clear place in the 400m (see lesson 2 above).  He was five seconds clear and swam like a demon to catch up but did not quite make it. He earned a bronze for his efforts in the 200m though and a gold for the 4 x 50m relay.

HK Triathlon Association - The boys' first dabble in the realms of cyclists with pointy hats

No day of rest for the boys this Sunday.  Both Matthew and Arthur made their first forays into the murky secretive world of triathlon, albeit this was without the cycling part!    Wearing their cheap trainers, swimmers and an old school running the vest the boys were hob knowing with the skin suited kids who preferred to wear their race number on a special gadget belt and lace their swanky running shoes with toggles stolen from a a parka hood.   The boys did splendidly, both came out of the swimming pool in second place, pushed / wedged their feet into all ready tied trainers, threw on their vests and set off on the run.   Unused to running for anything other than a departing bus, they soon fell backwards but nevertheless they had fun.   

Next on the agenda was Arthur's 3000m open water swim in Deep Water Bay in preparation / selection for the 2014 Hong Kong Invitational, international fin swimming competition in December.     Despite the water looking clean and clear he swam the distance and came out with a fine coating of oil and slime.   Not ideal but his hair has a great shine!   Not sure when we find out if he has made the cut for the Hong Kong team but if not he will be swimming a parallel race in the local races anyhow.

Before that though he has the last pool race meet in December to contend with too.

Hong Kong Fin Swimming - October Championships

Since joining the "Silvery Sharks" Finswimming Club last year the boys have really improved their swimming.   This month the competitions were held in Ma On Shan.   Both Matthew and Arthur came home with medals for their efforts.  Well done boys...

Arthur

Matthew

Matthew took Silver in his age group's 50m relay and Bronze in the 50m mono fin but due to his Dad's advice of not going too fast too soon he misjudged it all and cold not catch them up.   He has however avowed never to listen to my advice ever again.  

A true sportsman's smile!

Marcus

School Team ma

Arthur on the other hand, still basking presumably from his China exploits in the summer when he swam with the Hong Kong team in the China National Youth Championships, was his usual laconic self and did just enough to win gold in his age group, 4 x 50m relay and 400m bi fin and silver in 200m and 400m mono fin (I think).  He has an uncanny ability to swim like he is not trying and keep himself exactly half a centimetre in front of the competition and no more.   I do admit to getting few school reports that were worded similar, "Does well but could do more if he applied himself."   But to be fair to him he certainly applied himself in the last race of the day and showed his speed in the 50m relay when as the last swimmer and in throe place by two or three metre he powered past the two leaders to take first place.    

Have to say well done to the other Silvery Shark swimmers too.   Amalea and Ethan did brilliantly entering their first swimming competition and they really swam their hearts out.   And after swimming together in their 50m relay race and winning gold, they and their teammates had to do it all again when the race was rerun after every team did a false start.   However, they won through again and just like Arthur, Ethan swam like a demon to pull his team from third to first.   Exciting stuff to watch too.   What was also great to see was the number of children from Mui Wo School who are getting active in the sport too.

Marcus and his Mum

Amalea and Ethan