By Nathan Kanter

N.B. Water Doves wrap up season with year-end water show

May 2, 2018 | 12:00 PM

Although there is technically still one more competition on the schedule for the North Battleford Water Doves, the club held its end-of-year water show at the Co-op Aquatic Centre this past weekend.

“We probably had about 130 spectators come and watch. The girls all performed their routines and had a lot of fun doing it,” Water Doves head coach Sheila Parker said. “The reason we put on the end of the year water show is for all the family and friends of the swimmers, so they can come out and see what they’ve worked on all year and [the swimmers] can show off their routines to them.”

It’s been a whirlwind season for the Water Doves, who not only took part in provincials in April and are gearing up for the Canadian Prairie Championships in 10 days, but also competed for the Rivers West district at the Saskatchewan Winter Games in February, which were held in the Battlefords.

“The highlight would have to be Winter Games…but everyone just did so amazing for the whole year,” Parker said. “Everyone has improved so much and had a lot fun…It’s so much fun working with these amazing athletes.”

Rivers West just missed the podium in synchro, finishing in fourth, which Parker said was a solid accomplishment.

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While only five swimmers got to represent the area at the Winter Games because they split the district between the Battlefords and Lloydminster, many more took part in provincials in Regina last month. The club placed fourth overall, the same as last year, with a total of 13 athletes competing.

In total, the club grabbed two gold medals and one silver, plus had three fourth-place finishes and three fifth-placed finishes.

Vicki Machniak, the club’s only special olympic swimmer, finished in first place and won her trophy back in the level two solo finals. Malora Brunough and Haden Bugler won gold in the novice duet finals, and Emma Briant and Hannah Moritz won silver in the 10-and-under duet finals. Meanwhile, Emma Russell finished fourth in the 12-and-under solo finals, Delaini Bast and Ella Durand-Pratt finished fourth in the 12-and-under duet finals, and Jordan Elder, Mackenzie Gidych, Tara Parker, Katelyn Payne, and Courtney Roberts finished fourth in the 13-15 stream team finals.

Parker added she is really looking forward to the last competition of the season: the Canadian Prairie Championships, which are set for May 10-13 in Saskatoon.

“We’ll be competing against athletes basically from B.C. right through to Newfoundland,” she said. “I just want them to have the best time they can and have fun at it. It’s always exciting to be competing against people from out of province and from across Canada.”

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NathanKanter11