By WO2 Greg Young
With the demise of swimming as a powerhouse sport, the question of who is the best male of female swimmer in the ADF has been left unanswered since the mid 80’s.

The Australian Services Triathlon Association (ASTA), with the help of Frontline Defence Services, has undertaken to return swimming to its former greatness by conducting the ASTA National Swimming Championships on February 26 at Holsworthy Barracks, commencing at 9am.

The only events that will be conducted at the championships are the freestyle 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m.

All heats will be conducted in the morning session.

The number of heats to be conducted will be determined by the number of competitors in each event with the fastest nine competitors going through to the finals which will be completed in the afternoon session.

There are no minimum qualifying times required and all members who attend will be given an opportunity to compete in the heats.

In addition to the ASTA Swimming Championships, ASTA will be conducting:

• The 2003 Combined Sports Championships.
• Cycling Time Trial at RAAF Richmond on February 27 at 1.30pm, cycling 60km Road Race at 9am and Cycling Criterium at 2pm, both at Holsworthy Barracks on February 28.
• Athletics 10km Road Race at 10am at Holsworthy Barracks on March 1.
• National Triathlon Championships at Penrith Lakes at 8am on March 3.

The primary focus of the Combined Sports Championships is to foster the growth in the sport of Triathlon and encourage those swimmers, cyclists and runners to participate as team member in the National Triathlon Championships on March 3.

The Combined Sports Championships enables Commanders to send a team of three made up of their best swimmer, cyclist and runner to represent their unit in the individual events and as a team in the Triathlon in events held over the relatively small period of six days.

ASTA will again conduct the Endurance Championships where individual members are required to compete in the 800m swim, time trial, 60km road race, criterium, 10km road race and olympic distance triathlon.

This will determine which member of the ADF has the best endurance and overall physical capabilities.

In short if you can swim, ride or run and you think you have the ability to participate in the above sports then you need to get yourself to the Combined Sports Championships.

• All information on the above events can be found in your unit registry or by contacting WO2 Greg Young on (02)96004366 or e-mail greg.young2@defence.gov.au

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