Over the weekend of July 9 to 10, members of Penticton Pikes swim club travelled to Colville, Wash. for one of the team’s favourite meets of the summer season.
To celebrate her birthday, Cloe Bouchard earned one second-place, one sixth-place and two ninth-place ribbons in turtle races. Also competing in turtle action was Katie Drobe who had one sixth-place finish, as well as a 10th and two 11th place results.
In division 1, Isabelle Bouchard and Carson Drobe had a best time in their 50-metre freestyle race. Richter Heintz earned two best times and placed fourth in the 100 IM and had three 9th place finishes.
Noah Bettauer recorded two best times as he finished second in the 50-m butterfly, third in the 50-m freestyle, fourth in both the 100 IM and 50-m breaststroke and eighth in the 50-m backstroke.
Mason Heintz had three best times and J.J. Henderson had four. David Paisley also earned four best times and finished eighth in both the 50-m butterfly and 100-m freestyle races. Kiver Heintz had two best times and was fifth in the 100-m freestyle, sixth in the 50-m freestyle and eighth in the 100 IM.
Simon Paisley earned two best times. He placed second in the 50-m butterfly, 100 IM and 100 backstroke and third in the 50-m and 100-m freestyle races. TJ Paisley recorded five personal bests, placing second in the 50- and 100-m breaststroke, third in the 100 IM and the 50- and 100-m freestyle and fourth in the 50-m backstroke.
Assistant coach Shannon Clarke had three best times finishing second in the 100-m breaststroke, fourth in the 100-m freestyle, fifth in 50-m breaststroke, seventh in 50-m freestyle and ninth in the 100 IM. Assistant coach Emily Henderson had five best times. She finished fourth in both the 50- and 100-m butterfly, sixth in both the 50- and 100- freestyle, seventh in the 100 IM and ninth in the 50-m breaststroke.
Coach Ann Turgeon brought home a silver medal in the 100-m backstroke and bronze in the 100-m breaststroke, while also placing fourth in 100-m freestyle, fifth in 50-m backstroke, sixth in 50-m breaststroke and seventh in 100 IM. Coach Elliot Clarke won gold in the 50-m backstroke, fourth in 50-m breaststroke and fifth in 50-m freestyle. Pikes parents Brad Heintz, Margot Heintz and club president Katy Clarke also raced.
The medley relay team of Mason, TJ, Simon and Kiver finished 1st in their division. The team of Shannon, Margot, Katy and Chloe were third in medley and second in freestyle relays. Elliot, Carson, TJ and Simon won their freestyle division, while Ann, Emily, Katie and Isabelle finished third, and David, J.J., Noah and Mason were fourth.
A unique event of the Colville meet is the Guts to Glory 400 IM. A swimmer from each club competing at the meet is selected for this grueling race. Eleven-year-old J.J. Henderson was the only Pikes volunteer this year. In spite of last minute apprehension, he had a respectable finish in a field of much older competitors, maintaining excellent form in all four strokes.