2017

The annual Copeton Freshwater Swim was held Saturday April 8. With bright sunshine, little to no breeze, water temperature around 23 degrees and air temperature around 25 degrees’ conditions were excellent.

Yamba Surf Life Saving Club again provided the safety backup necessary for the day. They provided the first-aid officer and 8 other water support crew as well as water craft and buoys. There were plenty of local kayakers also on hand to support swimmers if required.

Thanks go to the many sponsors listed on the article below. Special mention must go to The Gwydir Shire Council, Inverell Shire Council, McDonalds, Inverell Diagnostic and Imaging and Simply Print Anything. These bodies provided the major part of the finances and or materials necessary to run the day.

In the main event – the 5km swim – Bill Thorley from the Woolongong area took out the men’s division with a very good time of 1h 15min. Libby Magann of Tamworth was not far behind and first in for the women with a time of 1h 26min.

Contestants came from a wide area to compete. This can be seen just by noting the home town of each of the winners.

500m u/14 girl’s Victoria Hansen (Surfers Paradise)

500m u/14 boys Angus Coleman (Croppa Creek)

500m open women Anaya Boal (Gunnedah)

500m open men’s Richie Goddard (Hernani – Ebor)

1km women’s Lilly Seagrott (Inverell)

1km men’s Luke Deasey (Kootingal)

2.5km women’s Bethany Counsell (Armidale)

2.5km men’s Sam Thorley (Thirroul – Woolongong)

5km women’s Libby Magann (Tamworth)

5km men’s Bill Thorley (Thirroul – Woolongong)