Teen swimmer Cody Robin of Ashburton won three races at a recent Special Olympics swim meet at Rangiora.
Robin, competing as part of five strong Special Olympics Mid Canterbury team, won the freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke events, all 25m. Also to do well was Ella Gardner who won her 25m freestyle event.
Other team members were Megan Isherwood, Peter Testa and Fergus Wilson.
Special Olympics Mid Canterbury president and coach Colleen Lindsay said the swim meet was a big event with about 35 swimmers in teams from Mid Canterbury, North Canterbury, Canterbury and Selwyn.
‘‘It was a very successful day,’’ she said.
Cody Robin, 18, got three firsts in freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke and Ella Gardner, 20, won her freestyle event, and placed second in backstroke and breaststroke.
‘‘It was a beautiful day.
‘‘They all did so well. I’m so proud of them all,’’ she said.
Swimmers, who train every Tuesday at EA Networks, will next attend a meet in September at Rolleston, and then host the swim meet at EA Networks in October.
Colleen said anyone wanting to join can make contact at the pool on a Tuesday from 4pm.
The Special Olympic nationals will be in Christchurch at the end of 2025. Competitors need to qualify to attend.
‘‘It would be nice to take them, and it means (starting) fundraising for new a uniform,’’ Colleen said.
Meanwhile at the recent Special Olympics bocce tournament, also in Rangiora, Mid Canterbury players Peter Thomson, Peter Judge, Stu Chesmar, Emma Hurst and Joanne Isherwood competed against North Canterbury in a variety of games in four person teams and/or pairs.
About 25 players in total took part.
‘‘It’s a big day. The (team) hadn’t played on a full sized court for 12 months so they did very well,’’ she said.
Colleen was assisted by cocoaches Colleen Isherwood and Ann Craig for the event.
‘‘We just love going there because the people are so friendly and that’s what it is all about, friendship.’’
Mid Canterbury, who train on Mondays at the Ashburton RSA, and North Canterbury are the only groups actively playing bocce in the region.
The bocce team are now gearing up to host North Canterbury at the Idea Services outdoor court in October.
