WHEN Toby Partridge first dived into the pool at an Assumption School swimming carnival last year, he had no idea how he would perform or even if he would be able to complete the 50 metre freestyle race he had entered.
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But by the time he finished that 50 metres, eight-year-old Partridge had decided that he enjoyed swimming. He got out of the pool with the junior boys (eight to 10 years) record for that event.
Since then Partridge has improved even further and clocked more record swims, his efforts enough to see him attend the recent NSW Primary Schools Sports Association finals as a Polding representative.
“It was pretty exciting to go. I got all the [Polding] clothes,” now nine-year-old Partridge said.
“There was a heat and a final. I won my heat and was fifth overall.
“It was close, only milliseconds. If I did my best time I would have been fourth, but I was a bit slower. “I was just happy I got there.”
While he missed out on a podium at his first state event, given what the Year 4 student has accomplished in such a short time, it may not be far off.
As an eight-year-old, his personal best for the 50 metre freestyle was 34.77 seconds, but he has lowered that mark since turning nine.
He set a junior boys record for the 50m freestyle at the 2015 Assumption swimming carnival as he clocked 34.75 seconds. It lowered the old mark by almost nine seconds.
The same day, Partridge set a 50m butterfly record (42.45), as well as going on to be named the junior boy age champion.
“When I first started I didn’t know if I was good. I didn’t know if I could swim 50 metres, but I set a record at school,” he said.
“I think I won by 15 or something metres.
“I didn’t win the champion that year because I didn’t go in many events. I got the age champion at school this year, though. I got first in everything.”
After his success at school level, Partridge went on to the Eastern Region Carnival where he finished the 50m freestyle in 35.77 seconds.
It was a record for that event, bettering the mark which had stood since 1989.
That performance qualified him for the Polding carnival and again Partridge impressed.
He lowered his personal best time for the freestyle to 34.25 seconds, an effort which earned him a silver medal and a place in the Polding team for the state titles.
At the same carnival he clocked another personal best in the 50m butterfly, shaving more than two seconds off his mark with a 40.32 swim that earned him fourth place.
Those events encompassed the same eight-10 years age bracket, one Partridge can compete in again next year.
“Butterfly and freestyle are my favourites,” he said. “I swim nearly three times a week in training, sometimes four. I swim in the mornings and at night.
“I am going to keep doing it. I like swimming.”