Natalie Allen and Katia Manton.
Binalong Marching.
Harden Murrumburrah Marching.
Jugiong Marching.
Local Legend Norm Bourlet.
Off and racing – competitors at the Jugiong Shine Shield event held last night.
Jugiong Swimming Club are the 2017 Shine Shield Champions after a thrilling win over their rivals at Jugiong Swimming Pool on Saturday night.
The Jugiong club members proudly wore their #playlikelui swimming caps in their traditional green colours. The hashtag allows the memory of Lui Polimeni to live on forever. The 15 year old passed away last year after a rugby league match, playing for his beloved Gundagai Tigers.
Lui and his brother Joey were regular competitors, representing Jugiong over the last few years. Joey competed again in this year’s carnival.
Jugiong held off a fast finishing Harden club, winning the overall points score and the Terry Sheahan Trophy for the relay events.
The Shine shield held its first of four legs at Binalong on January 11 before heading west up the Burley Griffin way for round 2 at Harden.
The third leg was held at Yass before the final leg at Jugiong.
Jugiong were in the box seat after the 3rd round at Yass, leading Harden 1425 points to 1366. Yass were in 3rd place on 1257 and Binalong in 4th place on 1176. The placings didn’t change after the Jugiong event however Harden were able to close the margin from 59 to 40.
At the completion of the 4 rounds Jugiong: 1629 Harden: 1589 Yass: 1541 points and Binalong:1400 points.
The Shine Shield celebrated its 51st year of competition. The competition is an excellent platform for individuals to test themselves against other swimmers in neighbouring towns. However, the competition rewards the clubs who are willing to compete and participate, awarding points for the number of races attempted by club members.
The event has seen approximately 1000 swimmers, parents, officials and spectators pass through the gates of the 4 pools over the last 10 days. It has always been a great way for swimmers both young and old to have fun, improve their strokes and build village and town rivalry.
The ET Shine Shield was donated by the late Buster Shine, a local Binalong grazier. The first round of the ET Shine Shield was on the 18th December 1966 where the local towns of Binalong, Boorowa and Yass competed. Harden and Jugiong joined the competition in the following years, with Boorowa bowing out of the competition in 2007.
