20th March 2002 Local legends in training for Homebush

The super Junior Relay team - Cooper Scoles, Patrick Small, Will Weeks and Jordan Dowdle

Excitement mounts as the boys Junior Relay Team and Carly Kennedy are at the height of their training which prepares them for Homebush in April.

There are reports of personal bests being recorded with abundant levels of determination and encouragement on display.

“I was really happy when I made it,” said Patrick Small who wanted to make it for his Dad’s birthday and also Uncle Malcolm’s.

“My personal best is 39 but at Homebush I want to win and bring my time down to 38,” he said. A little disgruntled at having to travel the long distance to Sydney

Cooper Scoles still had his sights set on the Nationals.

It is going to be an exciting time for Will Weeks who was bubbling over at the prospect of competing in the same pool and Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett, and of course he’s hoping to snatch a few celebrity autographs.

“It is going to be so cool,” he said. “Everyone has been so excited for us.

“I felt like a celebrity when our relay team qualified for Homebush. Everyone rang - aunts, uncles, cousins, my nans and grandpa! It made us all feel so good.

“I will be so proud to swim at Homebush where all the great swimmers have competed.”

The combined relay team, Patrick the Superfish, Jordan the Shark, Dowdle, Will, the Flipper, Weeks, and Cooper, Rampaging” Scoles, in a joint statement announced that they didn’t know if they’d make it to the Nationals but what they do know is that their times are getting faster and faster; that they are training hard and they will do their very best for the Ridge.

Madam Butterfly, Carly Kennedy, who is making her second visit to Homebush, says it is all a stepping stone in her goal to be the first indigenous local swimmer to be represented at the Nationals.

“I wasn’t expecting to make it two years in a row but I’m really excited and proud to represent the Ridge,” Carly said.