Swimmer of the Season Award (Spud Mashford Trophy)

Swimmer of the Year 2015-16

The Leigh “SPUD” Mashford Trophy

Spud Mashford was a long-time dedicated coach at the club and was presented with life membership in 1995. On his passing in 2005 this trophy was donated by Nathan Symonds, Lucy Netherwood and Mathew Webb. Swimmers that Spud had coached throughout their swimming life and who held him in great regard.

The award is presented to the highest achieving swimmer of the season that also shows great sportsmanship.

Past winners of this prestigious award are;

Zofia Zayons – 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09

Amber Grose – 2009/10, 2010-11, 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14

Savannah Morris – 2014/15

This year’s winner is Sienna Speechley

Sienna represented the club at four major swimming carnivals in the past 12 months. The State Short Course Championships, Broken Hill 2 day carnival, Port Augusta and the Country Championships.

At the state short course championships, Sienna competed as the youngest swimmer in her age group as she celebrated her birthday the day before the championships but that didn’t stop her from giving it to the older swimmers in her age group. Sienna is a swimmer that loves the sport and always gives 110% effort in her training and when she competes. Sienna came away from the championships with what can only be described as “outstanding” results. On day one she competed in the 200m breaststroke taking a huge 9.64 seconds of her previous best time finishing with a silver medal. On day two the great times continued taking 1.42 seconds of her 50m breaststroke placing 4th and 3.13 seconds of her 200IM. Day three, her favourite event the 100m breaststroke. Another outstanding swim dropping her time by a huge 3.77 seconds finishing 4^th just 0.21 seconds from a bronze medal. Then came the 50m butterfly and again she broke her time taking 1.16 seconds off. In the evening session she swam in the 400m individual medley which is a very difficult event. Sienna cut a huge 32.74 seconds of her personal best time finishing in 6^th place in the 12 and under age group. These results are something to be really proud of, congratulations Sienna.

At the Broken Hill carnival Sienna competed in 14 events over the two days, winning 5 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze medal. She also set 12 personal best times.

At the Port Augusta Carnival, Sienna also competed in 8 events and swam her way to an impressive 7 gold and one silver medal. She achieved two PB’s, one where she took an incredible 45 seconds off her previous best 200m butterfly time.

In the open water swim on the Sunday Sienna finished in second place overall, only three seconds behind the winner.

At the Country Championships, Sienna won 14 medals after making her Country Championship debut with the Broken Hill Aquatic team. Sienna was one of the team’s standout swimmers competing in 15 individual and five relay events winning six gold, three silver and five bronze medals. Sienna also swam 12 personal best times claiming three Country Championship records, in the 200m and 400m individual medley and the 50m breaststroke. Sienna also won gold in the open 200m breaststroke. A great achievement as a 12 year old. Sienna was the highest point scorer in the 12-13 years age group winning the 12-13 years Female Age Championship and she also received the Swimming South Australia trophy for the Female Swimmer of the Meet.