Swimmers from across Alberta called the Innisfail Aquatic Centre home during the Innisfail Dolphins' 65th annual swim meet on June 27 and 28.
“Over 300 swimmers from two Calgary clubs, Ponoka, Canmore, Hanna, Lacombe, Okotoks, and Red Deer competed along with the Innisfail Dolphins in our swim meet,” said Tammy Thompson, event official and team volunteer. “If we add the parents and siblings, there were over 600 people at the pool all weekend. They spilled out onto the centre grounds in tents and sat around on lawn chairs waiting for their competitions.”
The Innisfail Dolphins Swim Club is part of the Alberta Summer Swimming Association (ASSA) and its meet is one of eight club members can compete in, not counting regionals and provincial meets.
“All told, there were 1,276 individual swims during the weekend,” said Thompson. “Our event included 15 events for swimmers of all ability levels, which ranged from a 25-metre race to a grueling 1500-metre swim (60 lengths of the pool from start to finish).”
Although meet results were not available at press time, Thompson was impressed with the event. She served as a volunteer stroke and turn judge.
“We have to watch very closely to make sure that the swimmers don't swim the wrong stroke, or not do a regulation turn. If they do, they are disqualified,” said Thompson. “This year we had two clubs come to the meet who are not in our area so our swimmers had an opportunity to compete against some different talent that they see usually at provincials.”
Thompson noted the season is basically half over at this point, adding that there are still meets to run in Hanna, Ponoka, Canmore, and Red Deer, as well as upcoming regionals and provincials.
"We currently have 55 swimmers from six years-old to 19 years-old. In the past we have had swimmers who were 40 plus," said Thompson. "That's the beauty of swimming. It's a lifelong skill."
The club volunteer said Dolphin swim club members often develop strong friendships with other swimmers over the summer as they spend as many as 10 weekends together. She said that is just one of the many positives swimming competitively brings.
"We have great community support for the swim meet from our volunteers and the Town of Innisfail who cleared the pool for us, and made our meet successful,” said Thompson. “We are grateful for that.”
For more information on the Innisfail Dolphins, go to www.innisfaildolphins.com .
