The Cairns Post

Liam MacGillivray, Gemma Dalby, Sean Nieuwenhoven, Ben Fuller and Jordann Hickey have been chosen to compete in the Pacific School Games. Picture: Justin Brierty

Nine swimmers off to games

Max Bennett

20Jun08

TRAINING without a swimming pool is difficult at the best of times, especially for the nine rising stars of Red Centre swimming who are preparing for the Pacific School Games in November.

The youngsters are suffering from the annual big dry when the Alice Springs pool closes down.

But, even with this setback, the swimmers are expected to shine.

All the swimmers managed to swim qualifying times for the events in the recently finished season, ensuring their passage to Canberra for the games.

However, it is expected to be a nervous week for the lucky nine as they wait for the events they will be participating in to be finalised.

NT Swimming officials expect to make the announcements by the end of the month.

The Pacific School Games will see the best young swimmers from the Territory, Australia and around the globe converge on Canberra for the week-long event.

Swimmers are expecting to be back in the pool by mid-September prior to the Masters Games in October.

The Alice Springs NT Squad members include Ben Fuller, Liam MacGillivray, Hayley Curtis, Taylor Chalker, Gemma Dalby, Jordann Hickey, Alana Fuller, Sean Nieuwenhoven, Jake Nieuwenhoven.