Back in the swim of things …

Blenheim’s competitive swimmers have wasted no time before testing the water in 2025.

Thirty-six members of the Blenheim Swimming Club, aged from 7-22, recently took part in the club’s sixth Camp Warrior.

The annual new year lead-in was staged from January 6-11 with the group undertaking two daily swim sessions, dryland classes and a variety of team-building activities, facilitating a quick return to intensive training after just a two-week Christmas break.

The club hired the outside pool and a lifeguard for the camp’s exclusive use in the morning, allowing for the two sessions per day.

With the senior swimmers covering 8-10km per day, plus undertaking a fitness class, lunchtime nutrition was high on the agenda with parent Camille Verran providing a healthy, filling lunch each day, highlights being the burritos and homemade cinnamon rolls.

Another highlight was the daily team relays with the group’s enthusiastic and vocal support hard to miss for anyone in the vicinity of Stadium 2000.

The camp catered for a huge variety of swimming abilities, with Para NZ record holder Jack Bugler, NZ triathlete Gus Marfell and national short course champion Jack Love leading the way for the senior squads.

The club’s newest member, seven-year-old Freddy, completed the camp for the first time, partaking in all sessions during a challenging week.

Many of the attendees wrapped up the camp with a sea swim in bracing conditions at White's Bay on Saturday.

The first competitive meet of the season is in Nelson on January 18, where many of the swimmers will be keen to see how their week of intensive training has paid off.

The camp was sponsored by NZ Home Loans Insurance Blenheim, with generous support from Stadium 2000, Dr Dave Edgar and Star of the Sea Parish and Rarangi Surf Lifesaving Club. For any enquiries, please contact Blenheim Swimming Club on [email protected]