SOME Murray Bridge Amateur Swimming Club members have been training a few times a week during the winter as well as being involved in football, netball and other winter sports.

Now that the winter sports have ended, the swimmers are training with new gusto for the coming season as they eagerly await the opening of the newly heated Olympic pool on Monday, October 11.

Last weekend four swimmers travelled to Noarlunga to compete at the South Coast Swimming Club's annual short course carnival with great results, holding their own against those from clubs with access to regular training all year round.

Ten-year-old Nick Rowe competed in four events to take third place in the 50m freestyle in 38.77 seconds, also gaining a new personal best time in the 100m individual medley in 1:44.68, slashing 2.21 seconds off his old time.

Sarah Wright, 15, was in great form, registering three great new personal best times in one of the hardest age groups, the 15 and over women.

Wright dropped an impressive 8.7 seconds off her time for the 200m freestyle and 3.52 seconds from her time for the 100m individual medley.

She also claimed a new personal best for the 100m freestyle, lowering her time to 1:11.68.

Sixteen-year-old Brad Stevens was also competing in a tough age group, the 15 and over men and, although battling illness, still came through to record two personal best times.

Stevens took on his favourite event, the 50m breaststroke, to slice one second from his previous best to record a time of 37.47 while in the 100m individual medley he reduced his old personal best by 1.18 seconds.

Brent Rowe, 12, competed in one of the biggest age groups, the 11/12 year girls, with great results, recording a third place in her favoured event, the 50m butterfly. Rowe also slashed 2.94 seconds off her time for the 200m freestyle and 0.57 seconds off her time for the 100m individual medley.

Coach Michelle Rowe said it was heartening to see the swimmers recording personal bests at this time of year, especially with the limited access they have had to training.

Summer training will start on Monday, October 11, at the newly-heated Murray Bridge swimming pool at 5.30pm.