The 2024 Apollo Projects New Zealand Swimming Championship were held last week at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatics Centre, powered by PAKn’SAVE Hastings, with some of our Aquatics Centre Swim School Instructors right in the thick of the action.  Heretaunga Sun Devils swimmers Charlotte Cole (18), Kate Molloy (17) and Breeze van Veldhuizen (16) all competed in events throughout the week, up against the best athletes in the country.

Cole found the NZ Swim Champs an experience she’ll never forget.  “It was really inspiring to have top swimmers in the same heat as us, but it also made me very nervous. It was a really good experience though”.

These thoughts were echoed by Molloy who enjoyed the opportunity to compete alongside some of her role models. “It was pretty cool being in the same heats as someone who can get an Olympic qualification time, and the atmosphere in the crowd when someone got that time was pretty awesome.  It was great watching top athletes in the finals reaching their goals.”

Van Veldhuizen, who only turned 16 during the week of the NZ Swimming Champs, felt the nerves, but relished the opportunity to swim in her home pool.  “It was definitely nerve-wracking, but it was good to race with the bigger kids and the swimmers who have been overseas who have got a lot of good racing experience”.

There is no rest though, with all three backing up again this week in the NZ Swimming National Age Groups Championships (NAGS), swimming most days in an array of events.

However, the Sun Devils trio are a bit more relaxed this week.  “It’s a lot less pressure but it’s good fun and good competition with everyone else in that age group who didn’t go to opens,” Cole said.

The vibe in the Regional Aquatic Centre during NAGS is very enthusiastic.  Cole was pleased to see lots of kids come along and watch – many that she has taught at Swim School lessons since the opening of the facility. “Some of these kids have expressed an interest to me in joining the Sun Devils so that’s cool”.

Molloy was also full of praise for the club. “It’s pretty cool representing Sun Devils here at home.  You don’t feel as nervous as you know all the walls, all the blocks and we train in the pool every day”.

When asked about the camaraderie within the swimming community van Veldhuizen’s response was in line with what has been witnessed here at the Regional Aquatic Centre over the last 10 days.  “In Hawke’s Bay we all know each other, and all the other regions are pretty close too.  Willie (Benson), our coach, is very social, he knows everyone, which helps us so we get to know more coaches and swimmers too”.

The future looks bright for these up-and-coming athletes, with Cole, Molloy and van Veldhuizen all aiming for higher honors. The general theme of more training, getting stronger and working hard in the pool all resonated with the ultimate goal of going as far in the sport as possible.

The HBCFCT certainly wishes them well in their endeavors!

The three swimmers have been active Swim Instructors for the Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness Centre Trust’s (HBCFCT) Swim School and Learn to Swim Programmes and have spent hours in the pool teaching local young school kids the basics of swimming and water safety. 

HBCFCT General Manager Brendan Bourke said “It has been very rewarding to see the pathway that swimming in Hawke’s Bay is providing. A number of our swim instructors and lifeguards are members of the Sun Devils and other clubs - not to mention multitudes of our Swim School participants - and to see them now competing on the national stage is great to see.  Competing against World Champions or NZ Record holders must be very motivating for our young swimmers, and we hope we can continue to provide the foundations for this in years to come through our programmes."

Photo: HBRAC Swim School instructors Breeze van Veldhuizen, Kate Molloy and Charlotte Cole (Sundevils Swim Club)