More than 600 swimmers of all ages from the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley took part in the Langley Flippers Swim Club Invitational at Al Anderson pool on June 29-30, a record for the club.
A record setting turnout at the annual Langley Flippers swim club meet this weekend at Al Anderson Pool. More than 600 competitors are taking part. pic.twitter.com/WJYwYUxvn3
— Langley Advance Times (@LangleyTimes) June 29, 2024
At a confirmed 612 swimmers this year, 96 of them club members, "it's our largest meet on record, said Mandy Whiddington, a Langley Flippers Swim Club volunteer and spokesperson for the club.
"Everyone's pretty excited," Whiddington told the Langley Advance Times.
"We have teams here from Burnaby all the way to Hope. We definitely draw a crowd."
Whiddington explained the annual Flippers event is a qualifying meet for swimmers looking to compete at regional competitions.
"They actually need to swim in one of these qualifying meets in order to swim in the regional level meets and then at the regionals [where] they can qualify to go to provincial."
Several Flippers swimmers had a good meet.
Among the first-place finishers, Brielle Woodruff won both the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly in the Div 8 Girls 20-plus category, and Henry Wong, winner of the Div 8 Boys 50m freestyle.
Oliver Griffioen won the Div 7 Boys 17-19 50m freestyle.
Elliot Griffioen won the Div 6 Boys 15-16 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle.
Cameron Jorundson won the Div 6 Boys 100m butterfly.
In Div. 1 boys 8 and under, Simon Rossnagel won the 50m backstroke and set a new club record in the 50m freestyle, where he finished second.
Dayton Perry, in the Div. 1 open category, won four events, the 100m individual medley, 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle.
On behalf of the club, Whiddington thanked the City.
"We're super thankful to the City of Langley that we have a beautiful eight-lane outdoor pool that we can host this in."
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Operating as a not-for-profit run by volunteers and parents for more than 60 years, the summer swim club offers programs for all ages and all levels of ability, including Little Flippers for ages seven and up, competitive swimming and masters courses.
It is a member of the BC Summer Swimming Association (BCSSA), part of the Fraser Valley region.
BCSSA competition season wraps up with regionals and a provincial championship swim meet, held this year at UBC, August 16 - 28.
More information can be found online at https://langleyflippers.com.
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