1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: Are the city of Darwin INNT. Swimming Championships are getting 2 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: under way this week, with athletes from across the Northern Territory, 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: possibly even some from Interstate here for the three day 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: carnival at perhaps Swimming Pool. Now joining me in the 5 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: studio is the CEO of int Swimming, Warren Dobson. Good 6 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: morning to you, Warren. 7 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 2: Morning Katie how aween? 8 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, really good, lovely to have you in this studio 9 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: and swimming ambassador for the event and little gun swimmer. 10 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: I think you'd have to say James. 11 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 3: Smith, good morning morning Katie. 12 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you in this studio. Mate. Now these 13 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: champs they're set to begin on Friday morning, Warren. How 14 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: many swimmers are taking part? 15 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 2: We've got a few over the two hundred mark this year, 16 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 2: so it's pretty standard with what we've had the last 17 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 2: couple of years. And to your question, we did have 18 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 2: a couple. We've got eleven swimmers come up from from 19 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 2: Sa awesome and three that the head over to escape 20 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 2: cyclone Elfred obviously from from Queensland. And yeah, I'm sure 21 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 2: they'll appreciate the nicer weather. 22 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: Well, do you know what there was talk this morning 23 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: that we might be going to get a bit more 24 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 1: wet weather, so let's hope that they don't bring it 25 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: with them. 26 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 2: I was in Queensland last week and yeah, on the 27 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 2: gold person we got smashed. 28 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: So I think I've had my cycle. Yep, you've had 29 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: enough for one year now. In terms of the ages 30 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: of people taking part and what kind of events they're 31 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: going to be competing in, tell us a bit more 32 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: about that. 33 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:30,639 Speaker 2: So the event is so the actual state championships themselves, 34 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 2: or the Anti Swimming Championships are for ten and over 35 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 2: this year. We also have quite a few master swimmers attending. 36 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 2: I think the oldest is in the early seventies, so 37 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 2: that's pretty awesome. A lot of parents have joined Masters 38 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 2: recently to swim with their kids, so that's been a 39 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 2: really great addition over the last couple of years. But yeah, 40 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 2: so tan and over. We've also got a McDonald's participation 41 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 2: meet as well for those junior swimmers that are a 42 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 2: bit younger, so from eight and over, to compete in 43 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 2: the twenty five and fifty meter events. 44 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: That's a good thing because then they're part of you know, 45 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: what is one of the biggest carnivals that we have 46 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: in the Northern territory. 47 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's just an introduction to those biggest style meets. Yeah, 48 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 2: you know, it's it is our second biggest meat, so yeah, 49 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 2: great thing for them. 50 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: And obviously our ambassador for this meat is James. Are 51 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: you excited mate to be named as the ambassador? 52 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 3: Yeah I am. I've been, yeah, looking forward to it 53 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 3: for a while now, ever since war gave me the invitation, 54 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 3: and yeah, I'm just excited. Yeah. 55 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: Now you're what are you competing in this weekend? 56 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 3: So I've got all the freestyle events, the fifty hundred, 57 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 3: two hundred, four hundred, eight hundred, and fifteen hundred free 58 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 3: style just a few mote and then the two hundred 59 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:45,799 Speaker 3: back on top of all of the relays that I'll 60 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 3: be in. 61 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: Oh, good on you. Now, what's your favorite distance to race? 62 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 3: It's probably the fifteen hundred, As funny as it sounds 63 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 3: to say, I just enjoy it. 64 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well you're an absolute gun fifteen hundred meter swimmer 65 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: as well. Talk me through what you've got coming up 66 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: in the next few months when it comes to your swimming, 67 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: because you've written like you have achieved quite a lot 68 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: in the last couple of years and competing at you know, 69 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: on a national stage really, haven't you. 70 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I have. So I've got this weekend obviously the 71 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 3: Championships up here, and then next weekend I'm off to 72 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 3: Sydney for the New South Wales Open Champs and then 73 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 3: mid April I'm heading to Brisbane for the Open Nationals 74 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 3: and then later in the year I'm heading off to 75 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 3: the World champ Trials. 76 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: Awesome. Now in terms of you know, what you're hoping 77 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: to sort of achieve for the year, what are those 78 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: longer term goals. 79 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 3: So I'm really hoping to get selected for the Australia 80 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 3: A team. So they're traveling to California later in the 81 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 3: year for a swimming meet over there. I've got to 82 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 3: swim quite well to get on that team. 83 00:03:57,240 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: Yeah. In terms of you, like, in terms of the 84 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: events that you you're keen to try and qualify for 85 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: and your times, how are you're tracking at the moment. 86 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 3: I like to think I'm tracking really well. I'm getting 87 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 3: my times nicely in training, which is always a relief. Yeah. 88 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 3: We just you know, keep focusing on what we focus 89 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,239 Speaker 3: on and hopefully it all falls into place. 90 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 1: Now, James, for our listeners, you've literally you graduated from 91 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: high school last year, didn't you the year before, the 92 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: year before? Sorry? I do apologize. So you're studying, you're 93 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: juggling your study at the moment at CDU, doing accounting 94 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 1: and studying all your swimming training. That's a lot on 95 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 1: your plate. How many hours a week do you? Reckon? 96 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 1: You're swimming at the moment, there'll be quite a few, Timid, 97 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 1: have you in the water? You coach quite a bit, 98 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: wouldn't he. 99 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I'm in the pool eight times a week 100 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,479 Speaker 3: and it's five two hour long sessions and then three 101 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 3: hour half long sessions and then there's three gym sessions 102 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 3: on top of that. 103 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: Good stuff. But I mean, when you want to compete 104 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 1: at that level and when you're trying to get into 105 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 1: the Australian team, you know that is what is required. 106 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: Isn't it like it's a huge level of commitment. 107 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 3: Yeah, it is. Tim's been trying to get me to 108 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:10,479 Speaker 3: do more, but I'm hoping that I don't have to 109 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 3: for now. 110 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: I reckon, He'll be listening and you're gonna have to 111 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:19,679 Speaker 1: do more. No, I think it's been wonderful to see 112 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,840 Speaker 1: how well you've been going as well over the last 113 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: few years. I know that you coach some of the 114 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: younger kids as well, or certainly you used to. I 115 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: think that's a really great thing that we see at 116 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: the Darwin Buffs and with some of the other swimming 117 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 1: clubs I'm assuming as well, where you're really involved in 118 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: trying to develop those younger swimmers too. It's good for 119 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 1: him to see somebody like you and see what you're 120 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,919 Speaker 1: achieving and the level of effort you put in. You know, 121 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: if you can't be what you can't see, as the 122 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 1: saying goes, and I think that's a really great thing 123 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:50,359 Speaker 1: that we see in the Northern Territory. I hope you 124 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 1: do really well this year, mate, I hope like you're 125 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: needing to knock off much time off your fifteen hundred. 126 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 3: I think I've got to take off almost half a minute, 127 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 3: which sounds like a long a large amount of time 128 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 3: I should say to take off. But when my race 129 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 3: is fifteen odd minutes long, it's becomes a bit easier. 130 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: Well, it's more just about knocking off a little bit 131 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 1: off every sort of hundred, isn't it. 132 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, not two seconds. Yeah, it's quite manageable. 133 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: I believe it. I believe you can do it. I'm 134 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: hoping you will, and I'm sure the whole of the 135 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: Northern Territory will be too well. And we've seen, like 136 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: our Northern Territory swimmers developed quite a bit, haven't we 137 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:26,040 Speaker 1: over recent years, And it seems as I when t 138 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: swimming's put a bit of extra effort into trying to 139 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: do that. 140 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, we've allocated a bit more to the development of 141 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 2: the swimmers over the last last little time, always wishing 142 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 2: that there was some extra money so we could could 143 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 2: extend that out and service the regions a little bit better. 144 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 2: But you know what, the guys, we've taken a team 145 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: away to Melbourne earlier last year in September. We took 146 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 2: another team away to the Gold Coast for a bit 147 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: over a week in January this year and they got 148 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 2: to experience different squads and all those sorts of things, 149 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 2: so it's all a learning experience. We recently had Australian 150 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 2: coach Richard Slight come up. He ran a national preparation 151 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 2: camp for these guys that are already qualified for or 152 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 2: right on the precipice of qualifying for Australian Champs. James 153 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 2: was mentioning earlier in Brisbane in April, so that was fantastic. 154 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 2: Now we're putting a lot of effort into these kids, 155 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 2: as James said, he trains eleven times a week at 156 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 2: the moment, and they put in the effort, so it's 157 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 2: very important that we do as well and give them 158 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 2: every opportunity they can to succeed. 159 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. 160 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 1: Look, I love seeing young people do well. I say 161 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 1: that all the time, but I love you know, I 162 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: know how much effort goes into it. You see how 163 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: much training goes into it, and I think that it's 164 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: really important for the whole of the Northern Territory to 165 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: have an understanding of that too, and have an understanding 166 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: of the fact that we've got these wonderful young Territorians 167 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: like yourself, James, that are doing awesome things and have 168 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: these like have some great goals, but they're so achievable, 169 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: Like we would love to see you in the Australian team. 170 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: That'll be incredible. 171 00:07:58,360 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 2: It's actually a bit of a race something that I 172 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 2: challenged James about her earlier, that we've got Macy Sherion 173 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 2: as well. She's looking at World Junior Champs this year, 174 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 2: which is qualifying. The qualifying event for that is in Brisbane, 175 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 2: so there's every chance that she may make that. She's 176 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 2: right on the cusp and that'd be great for her 177 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 2: and Romania and on Tim's hoping to get an invite 178 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 2: to that too if Macy makes a team. But there's 179 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 2: plenty of opportunities around this year and it's great. And 180 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 2: it's not only Macy and James. We've got a few 181 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 2: new younger swimmers coming up as well, with Liam Brown 182 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 2: and Bailey Young's also qualified for World Champs. So wonderful 183 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 2: the numbers are getting up there. 184 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: Wonderful stuff. Well, and if anybody is keen to head 185 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,839 Speaker 1: along and watch all the action this weekend, it's at 186 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,599 Speaker 1: the Perhaps swimming Pool, kicking off Friday morning. 187 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 2: Friday morning at eight o'clock eight till about eleven most 188 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 2: mornings on Friday. Saturday Sunday is a little bit later, 189 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 2: and then we've got five from about four o'clock in 190 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 2: the afternoon. 191 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: Good stuff, wonderful stuff. Well, we'll wait and see how 192 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 1: everybody goes. Thank you both so very much for joining 193 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: me in the studio this morning. Of course NT Swimming 194 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 1: CEO Warren Dobson and of course James Smith who is 195 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 1: the ambassador for the event and all round gun swimmer, 196 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 1: thanks for joining me this morning. Mate. 197 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:22,439 Speaker 3: All good, Thanks Katie, thank you.