Splash Palace Welcomes Regional Junior Swimmers

More than 200 young swimmers and their supporters travelled to Invercargill last weekend as Splash Palace hosted a major regional swimming competition for the first time in seven years.

The city welcomed competitors from across the South Island for the Mako Division of Swimming New Zealand’s Junior Festival. The three-day event brought together developing swimmers from a wide range of clubs, giving them the opportunity to compete against some of the best athletes in their age groups.

It was the first time since 2019 that the festival had been held at Splash Palace, marking a significant moment for the local swimming community. For many young athletes from Southland, the competition offered a rare chance to compete at a regional level without travelling far from home.

Invercargill City Council Manager Aquatic Services Stephen Cook said hosting the event locally was an important opportunity for young swimmers.

“Having the Junior Festival at Splash Palace gives local children the chance to compete on the regional stage without having to travel far from home,” he said.

“For many of our local kids, this was the first time they were able to compete in such a major event in their home venue.”

The competition attracted strong interest from outside the region. Swimming Southland Regional Administrator Angela Biggar said the event drew swimmers and families from throughout the South Island.

“It’s not just the swimmers visiting our city, but their parents, coaches and supporters as well,” she said.

“The event was a chance for local swimmers to go up against some of the best athletes in their age in the South Island and test themselves in a high-performance environment.”

In total, about 200 swimmers entered the competition, with more than 150 travelling from outside Southland. Their presence brought energy and activity to the facility across the weekend as races took place throughout the programme.

More than 40 Southland swimmers competed at the festival, representing the Central Southland, Collegiate, Johnston Waters, Murihiku and Waverley clubs.

Cook said the event also allowed the city to showcase Splash Palace to visitors and demonstrate the quality of the facility.

“Our facility is right up there with anywhere else in the country,” he said.

“We’re proud to provide a quality environment where young athletes can compete, have fun and strive for their personal best.”

Swimming New Zealand’s Junior Festivals were staged in four zonal locations around the country between 27 February and 1 March, helping create competitive opportunities for emerging swimmers nationwide.