We were delighted to host the inaugural Mary McFarlane Classic at Moana Pool in Dunedin from 3–4 May, marking a special addition to the Otago competition calendar. This new long-course competition honours the extraordinary service and legacy of Mary McFarlane, a true pillar of our Swimming Otago community.

Mary has dedicated over 50 years of service to the sport since first becoming involved in 1970 when her son joined Kiwi Swim Club. From club president and technical official to regional trustee and, since 2011, Patron of Swimming Otago, Mary has left an indelible mark on swimming in the region. Her commitment has extended to officiating at the local, national, and international levels. Among her many honours are Life Memberships with both Swimming Otago and Swimming New Zealand, and in 2021, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Whether through her formal roles or unique touches—like piping in athletes at NZ Division II Championships—Mary's passion and generosity have directly impacted generations of swimmers.

The two-day event featured a mix of emerging talent and seasoned athletes, all competing for age-group ribbons and the prestigious Mary McFarlane Classic Most Points Cup.

The home-pool advantage paid off for Fergus Kindiak (Kiwi), who set two new Otago Long Course Records in the 9 & Under age group. Fergus shattered the 50m Butterfly record, clocking 36.63 and taking more than 1.5 seconds off the previous mark set in 2013. He also broke the long-standing 50m Freestyle record with a time of 33.31, with the record held by Ronald Poon (Kiwi) since 2006. Well done, Fergus!

Hannah Ker-Fox (Neptune) continued her outstanding form, this time in the long-course pool, by breaking the 12 Years Otago Record for the 400m Individual Medley. She recorded a stunning 5:21.08—over five seconds faster than Stefannie Gillespie's (Zenith) mark from 2008. Congratulations, Hannah!

The battle for the Most Points Cup was closely contested. Lily Macleod (Hokonui) finished with a strong 124 points, just behind Iliana Peniamina (Kiwi) on 126. However, Fergus Kindiak (Kiwi) claimed the title with a remarkable 152 points, courtesy of multiple bonus points due to his record-breaking performances. An exceptional performance across the board—congratulations, Fergus!

⏱️ View the full results here.

📷 View the competition photos here.

In addition to the excitement of racing, Ryan Stringer (Oamaru) successfully passed his assessment to become an accredited Inspector of Turns (IOT). Congratulations, Ryan, and thank you for giving up your time to make our sport possible! 

If you're interested in becoming a technical official like Ryan, we'd love to hear from you. Visit our website or email us at admin@swimotago.org to get started.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone—officials, volunteers, coaches, swimmers, and supporters—who helped make this inaugural event a success.

Congratulations to all who competed. We look forward to seeing you poolside again soon!

Looking for your next racing opportunity? You won't want to miss the Neptune King's Birthday Meet from 31 May to 1 June at Moana Pool - entries close on Thursday, 22 May, at 11:59pm. Get your entries in now!

Article added: Tuesday 06 May 2025