Broome Barracudas take crown at Pilbara Swimming Championships

The Broome Barracudas have proved who’s best in North West swimming after splashing their way to 135 medals in the 2022 Pilbara Swimming Championships, taking first place as a team ahead of Karratha. Held at the Karratha Leisureplex from November 25 to 27, the Hancock Prospecting 2022 Pilbara Swimming Championships saw more than 185 competitors from 10 different clubs around the Pilbara and Kimberley compete in several different disciplines. The weekend ended with Broome on top with an impressive 61 gold medals, 40 silver and 34 bronze. Second-place Karratha finished with 46 gold, 46 silver and 32 bronze medals. In third place was Port Hedland, who managed to claim 29 gold medals, 31 silver and 23 bronze. Rounding out the top five were Exmouth and Tom Price, followed by Wickham, Pannawonica, Carnarvon, Paraburdoo and Derby. Northern Swimming Association president Brianna Crisp said the event displayed the growth in participation the sport has seen across the Pilbara and Kimberley. “To watch the region grow is truly unbelievable. The bar is being raised each year and the swimmers/clubs are truly stepping up and thriving,” she said. “The weekend always brings about standout moments. So many swimmers achieved PBs, numerous Pilbara Championship records were broken, Swimmers qualified for States and some even made Australian national qualifying times. There were so many that one does not take away from the other. “This weekend would not have happened without the endless number of volunteers that put in countless hours that are not seen, from driving the swimmers to training, meal prepping, time keeping, coaching and everything else that allows the association to provide for our members.” “The next competition on the calendar is SwimmingWA Long Course State Championships in mid-December for those that have achieved qualifying times. For others it is the Country Championships in Perth in January which brings all country clubs together for a weekend of racing.”