Tasmania makes a splash at Australian Finswimming Championships

TASMANIAN swimmers made a splash and broke Australian Masters records in the recent Australian Finswimming Championships at the Clarence Aquatic Centre.

Brett Stephenson, from Lauderdale, broke Australian Masters records in the 400-metre, 800-metre and 1,500-metre events.

World Master’s champion Glenn Hoppitt, from Howrah, broke his own record in the 800-metre event.

The sprint events were close contests between Mr Stephenson and Matt Edmunds, of Victoria.

Mr Edmunds won the 50-metre underwater and the 50-metre surface events, while Mr Stephenson enjoyed success in the 100-metre and 200-metre events.

The women’s events were dominated by Tasmanian local Sabina Lane, from Lauderdale, who placed ahead of Queensland’s Lina Walker, an Australian team member.

First place in junior women events were shared between Leilani Stephenson, 15, of Lauderdale, and Adele Harman, 14, of Opossum Bay, both recording Junior Australian top 10 times.

Patrick Harman, 12, of Opossum Bay, was the most outstanding junior male of the meet.

The following local competitors made qualifying times for the Australian Masters team to compete in France next year – Glenn Hoppitt, Brett Stephenson and Matt Edmunds.

Caption: From left, Glenn Hoppitt, Brett Stephenson and Matt Edmunds.