Members of the Harden Swimming Club team who competed in the Shine Shield over 2024/2025.
Harden Swimmers have come together in the Shine Shield to defeat their rivals in Binalong, Yass and Boorowa over the summer. The final score saw the Harden team end up 99 points ahead of closet rival Binalong.
Georgie Loiterton has been swimming in the contest for around 30 years and her mother Marg swam in the first contest, highlighting the involvement the family has had and how Georgie has taken the club to new height in 2024/2025.
Georgie said, “We had the Binalong Shine Shield on December 20 and that was a nice way to finish up before Christmas. We had the Harden one last Sunday and the Yass one on the Wednesday.
Georgie said, “The Jugiong meet didn’t happen because the construction was meant to happen during the summer but has been ongoing, impacting users at the pool. “They were quite keen to try and host one, but they didn’t feel with the construction going on that they could. It was a bit disappointing, but they are hoping to get on board again next year.”
“Overall the Shine Shields were quite well represented. Harden ended up winning the Shine Shield as well as the relay trophy.
“The Shield is most points overall, whereas the relay is for most points acquired during the relay events. We won the relay one last season, but we haven’t won the Shine Shield in quite a few years.
“It was really good for us to be able to win that. We had great representation at all three carnivals. We had lots and lots of people getting in and having a go and heaps of parents and adults were well represented.
“It’s nice for the kids to see that their parents are happy to get in and give it a bit of a go. As a whole they were successful.
“We are looking at hopefully starting a bit more of a committee now. The last few years it has just been myself and Belinda from Binalong that have navigated it. We have had a few parents from Yass, Binalong and Harden enquire about what we can continue doing to make sure that the Shine Shields stick around.
“Next year the Shine Shield turns 60 and we are really hoping we can make some nice big community events around that and everyone can be a part of.
“Boorowa put a team together. Harden and Binalong had the most representation across all of them. Yass came out in full force at their home carnival to bring it home and they represented at Harden and Binalong too. “We had some sprinklings from Boorowa and Jugiong.
“I think this year was my 30th year competing in the Shine Shield. I first competed when I was four turning five in 1995.
“My Mum competed in the first ever Shine Shield as a five year old. “It’s quite a special tradition for my family and I think that is what keeps the Shine Shield going because we are just one of many that have that same connection to it.
“It’s those small communities that have those people that want to see it continue and see those generations keep going.
“I know in Binalong there would be numerous stories like that too. “Belinda Pigram would have definitely been involved in the first one, and probably swam in it too.
“I think that is what is special about and that is what keeps it going and people just want to see it continue and for other people to have those same stories and those same connections to it.
“Harden got over the line by about 100 points. Final Scores were: Harden 561, Binalong 462, Yass 439 and Boorowa 27.
Keep swimming everyone, it’s a life saving skill and one you need for the future. When you get competent enough you can swim and represent your town.
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