will be waiting when you are ready to burn off those extra calories.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank a few special folks who have
worked quietly behind the scenes all year, and over many prior years, to help
the club run smoothly for all of our benefit.
Phil Read has been our Treasurer and fiscal conscience, taking responsibility
for cash management and filing our returns with the NH tax authorities, for a
number of years. With plenty of support from Susan, he also plays an important
role in helping to organize our meets at JT, Portsmouth, and the NE SCM
Championship at BU. After a recent hiatus, we are pleased to hear that Phil
will be back on deck soon in racing shape. Another key member of the Board is
Dick Arnold who as Secretary ably ensures that we have professional records of
our operations. Other members of our Board, notably Chuck Doleac and Bob
Fernald, have played important roles this year in the SIPP initiative that is
ensuring a good future for the Portsmouth Pool for the benefit of the whole
swimming community. In this context we must also note the great work on SIPP
being done by GBM member Jennifer Zorn.
Darwin joined the Board two years ago and has brought his trademark enthusiasm
and good humor to motivating our team. He also works consistently behind the
scenes with Crystie and other Board members on all aspects of team management.
As ever, Coach Crystie has been our team hero again this year. She plays the
central role in meet management – kudos on a great meet at BU! - inspires us as
coach at workouts and at meets, and to watch her race is a study in beautiful
swimming technique.
We would like to THANK all of them, and the many other volunteers and supporters
who have stepped in when needed, for all that they have done for GBM throughout
the year, with a special shout out to Matt M for his support at the JT,
Portsmouth and BU meets as timing systems manager and chief T-shirt vendor, and
to Debbie H for her great help at BU. CHEERS!
BU Meet Report
Last weekend 36 GBM swimmers made the annual pilgrimage to BU's wonderful
swimming Mecca for the NE short course meters championships. The meet delivered
on its promises of FUN and FAST times, and GBM battled to the last relay to
retain the club championship. Alas, with a somewhat injury, illness and MDS
depleted team, were unable to overhaul our traditional rivals the Maine Blue
Lobstahs and had to settle for second with 2,913 points to Maine's 3,180. This
however did nothing to dampen post-meet celebrations at Fuddruckers.
We were very pleased to welcome a number of GBM members on deck for their first
masters championship meet with us – Kate Belavitch, Bob Seraiva, Brett Games and
Jennie Marshall, happily recovered from a nasty bicycle accident earlier this
year. It was also great to see Gail P back in action at her first SCM
championship meet since 2006.
There were many notable performances from the team. "Super Splashers" on the
team were Atie, Kasia, Ryan, Deb E, Diane, Tara, Jennie, Bart and Darwin,
swimming ten or more events over the course of the weekend. Ryan was our top
team point scorer with a gigantic 130 points, including a storming 50 back and a
stylish 400IM. Deb Edin, as she has so often before in the championship meets,
showed her mettle by swimming a tough program which included the 400IM and 200
fly as well as 3 other 200s. Atie was a meet and LMSC record breaker and our
female high point with 119 points.
Team den mother Jana and Todd lead our pack of one-day wonders swimming 5
individual events plus relays in their day on deck. Matt D, Bob M, Sarah, Tony
and Kirk also weighed in with big one day programs and fast swims.
GBM spiritual leader "I'm out of shape" Ed made a welcome return to the race
pool as he eased himself back into competition swimming the relays, capped by a
blazing fast 100 breaststroke to lead the 200+ 400 medley relay team to a new
LMSC record. Paul G was also back in action with a challenging program that
began with the 800m on Friday, and he even seemed to swim some of his events in
two different age groups – or was that his mysterious doppelganger?
The universally acclaimed GBM swim of the meet was one of Dick's many
top-of-podium performances. He swam his outstanding 100 backstroke in his new
Fastfeet4 swimming sandals (which look very like Tevas). Dick can be seen
modeling this breakthrough performance equipment on the GBM Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150425110090825&set=oa.10150458835574844&type=1&theater
Rounding out the GBM roster were team stalwarts Amy, Brett Z, Guy, Jacqui, John,
Jim, Pete, Tom M and, of course, Coach Crystie, together with clan
Layman/Johnson – Karol, Garry, Katie, Darren and Annika - as Karol delivered in
style on her 'pinky promise' to Darwin.
Great WORK team GBM!
Results from the meet can be found at http://scmchamps.blogspot.com/
Many thanks to consummate professionals Joan Rajfer and her BU meet management
team and Bob Fredette and the Officials crew for a VERY WELL MANAGED meet.
Next meet
Exeter Meet at Philips Exeter Academy on Sunday morning February 5th - now being
run by GBM. This is a very nice early season SCY tune-up meet at a high quality
aquatics facility in the seacoast area. It is a morning meet which we plan to
follow with a pre-Superbowl lunch at Margarita's. Don't miss it!
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