Athletes from around Otago, neighbouring regions and as far afield as Auckland gathered on Sunday, 26 October for our first long course meet of the season, the Perpetual Guardian Kiwi Challenge. Athletes dived into the action, gaining valuable long-course race experience and building their confidence. The competition saw not only personal bests smashed but also the setting of one new Otago record, making for an outstanding day capped off by the wildly exciting novelty relay.

One of the day's standout performers was Myla Duncan (Kiwi), who smashed the Otago Female 12 Years 50m Backstroke record in a time of 31.68, taking more than one second off the previous record holder, Luisa Palmer (Wanaka). This also marked Myla’s first Otago Age Group Record, congratulations 👏👏

The novelty relay is growing in stature year on year. This year, it involved each member completing 50 meters with either cups & kickboards, balloons between the toes, flippers on their hands, or holding up umbrellas. What a great way to end the day, fun-filled excitement with a sprinkle of chaos. To all those who participated, well done!  

The top eight finishers in each individual event earned points toward their age-group standings, with several young athletes turning in standout performances. The following swimmers were crowned Age Group Winners for 2025:

• Female 9 & Under: Stella Hawken (Neptune) – 108 points
• Male 9 & Under: Liam Symons (Kiwi) – 100 points
• Female 10-11: Margaux Sumner-Brown (North Shore) – 114 points
• Male 10-11: Fergus Kindiak (Kiwi) – 134 points
• Female 12-13: Myla Duncan (Kiwi) – 122 points
• Male 12-13: Tenki Watanabe (Wanaka) – 90 points
• Female 14-15: Lily McGrath (Neptune) – 90 points
• Male 14-15: Fletcher McCall (Neptune) – 90 points
• Female 16 & Over: Haidee McRae (South Otago Sharks) – 78 points
• Male 16 & Over: Neo Salomonsson (Kiwi) – 92 points

Congratulations to all the Age Group Winners!

This competition wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of so many. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Kiwi Swim Club team for their dedication and effort behind the scenes. To the technical officials, timekeepers, and all those who volunteered, thank you for making this event run smoothly. And where would we be without sponsors? Your support ensures these competitions continue to inspire the next generation of athletes - thank you all for being part of a memorable day!

👉 To view the full results, click here.

Congratulations to everyone who participated! We hope you had fun and look forward to seeing you poolside again soon.

👀Looking for your next racing opportunity? 

Don't miss the Breen Construction Oamaru Swim Meet on Saturday, 8 November at Waitaki Aquatic Centre in Oamaru - entries close on Thursday, 30 October at 11:59pm. Get your entries in now!

🤔Interested in becoming a Technical Official?

 Check out our web page here, or flick us an email at admin@swimotago.org or tap a shoulder at the next competition – we would love to hear from you!

Article added: Tuesday 28 October 2025