Gunnedah Swimming Carnival
Thursday, 30 April 2026
Thank you to everyone who attended our 22nd Annual Gunnedah Swimming Carnival on Thursday, 30 April 2026.
We hope you all had as much fun as we did!
Thank you to our Sponsors
We would like to thank Whitehaven Coal for their ongoing support as our Major Sponsor for the 2026 Gunnedah Swimming Carnival.
We would also like to thank our Gold Sponsor, Austbrokers and our BBQ Lunch sponsor, Petrie’s Mitre 10 Gunnedah, for their generous contributions towards our 2026 Gunnedah Swimming Carnival!
Check out our 2026 event highlights!
2026 Gunnedah Swimming Carnival Winners
Novelty
Race 1 – Men’s Egg and Spoon
1. Shane Moore – Independent supports
2. Kyle Bradley – Sunnyfield Tamworth
3. Ethan Rumbel – We Care Disability Services
Race 3 – Men’s 25m Walk the Length
1. Kyle Bradley – Sunnyfield Tamworth
2. Shane Moore – Independent supports
3. Alex Rodstrom – Challenge Community Services – Gunnedah
Race 5 – Women’s Floating Treasure
1. Ivy Swab – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
2. Caitlin Rayner – Woodies
3. Christine McDonald – Northcott
Race 2 – Men’s Floating Treasure
Shane Moore – Independent supports
Alex Rodstrom – Challenge Community Services – Gunnedah
Kyle Bradley – Sunnyfield Tamworth
Race 4 – Women’s Egg and Spoon
1. Ivy Swab – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
2. Christine McDonald – Northcott
3. Emma Plowman – Silver Linings Disability Services
Race 6 – Women’s 25m Walk the Length
1. Christine McDonald – Northcott
2. Ivy Swab – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
3. Tania Leong – Sunnyfield Gunnedah
Race 7 – Men’s Egg and Spoon
1. Jock Jarman – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
2. James Coutman – Sunnyfield Tamworth
3. Michael Octigan – Challenge Community Services – Narrabri
Race 9 – Men’s 25m Walk the Length
1. Jock Jarman – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
2. James Coutman – Sunnyfield Tamworth
3. Michael Octigan – Challenge Community Services – Narrabri
Race 11 – Women’s Floating Treasure
1. Bella-Rose Follington – Tanya Froud
2. Alysha Clarke – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
3. Cass Bartlett – Adina Community Services
Race 8 – Men’s Floating Treasure
1. James Coutman – Sunnyfield Tamworth
2. Michael Octigan – Challenge Community Services – Narrabri
3. Malcolm Lee – Challenge Community Services – Moree
Race 10 – Women’s Egg and Spoon
1. Cass Bartlett – Adina Community Services
2. Bella-Rose Follington – Tanya Froud
3. Alysha Clarke – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
Race 12 – Women’s 25m Walk the Length
1. Bella-Rose Follington – Tanya Froud
2. Cass Bartlett – Adina Community Services
3. Alysha Clarke – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
Race 13 – Men’s Egg and Spoon
1. Nick Howland – Challenge Community Services – Muswellbrook
2. Rhys Daley – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
3. Joshua Williams – Sunnyfield Tamworth
Race 15 – Men’s 25m Walk the Length
1. Nick Howland – Challenge Community Services – Muswellbrook
2. Rhys Daley – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
3. Michael White – Breakthru
Race 17 – Women’s Floating Treasure
1. Nicole Murray – Woodies
2. Jodie Matheson – We Care Disability Services
3. Shenean Quinlan – Challenge Community Services – Armidale
Race 14 – Men’s Floating Treasure
1. Nick Howland – Challenge Community Services – Muswellbrook
2. Michael White – Breakthru
3. Rhys Daley – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
Race 16 – Women’s Egg and Spoon
1. Nicole Murray – Woodies
2. Kaitlyn Bell – Challenge Community Services – Armidale
3. Sophie Duncombe – Challenge Community Services – Narrabri
Race 18 – Women’s 25m Walk the Length
1. Nicole Murray – Woodies
2. Kaitlyn Bell – Challenge Community Services – Armidale
3. Sophie Duncombe – Challenge Community Services – Narrabri
Race 19 – Men’s Egg and Spoon
1. Sam Sheridan – Disability Consulting Support
2. Matthew Warden – Disability Consulting Support
3. Nathen Ellison – We Care Disability Services
Race 21 – Men’s 25m Walk the Length
1. Sam Sheridan – Disability Consulting Support
2. Matthew Warden – Disability Consulting Support
3. Ashley Menzies – Challenge Community Services – Armidale
Race 23 – Women’s Floating Treasure
1. Kerri Turner – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
2. Megan Gledhill – Breakthru
3. Treasa Carter – Disability Consulting Support
Race 20 – Men’s Floating Treasure
1. Nathen Ellison – We Care Disability Services
2. Matthew Warden – Disability Consulting Support
3. Ashley Menzies – Challenge Community Services – Armidale
Race 22 – Women’s Egg and Spoon
1. Megan Gledhill – Breakthru
2. Kerri Turner – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
3. Treasa Carter – Disability Consulting Support
Race 24 – Women’s 25m Walk the Length
1. Megan Gledhill – Breakthru
2. Kerri Turner – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
3. Treasa Carter – Disability Consulting Support
Swimming
Race 25 – Women’s 25m Kickboard
1. Sarah Trindall – Challenge Community Services – Gunnedah
2. Sarah-Jane Schulze – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
3. Emily Annis-Brown – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
Race 27 – Women’s 25m Kickboard
1. Alison Row – Breakthru
2. Amy Gilbert – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
3. Laura Hughes – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
Race 29 – Women’s 25m Kickboard
1. Tabitha Alker – Sonya Pym
2. Deborah Melhuish – Butterfly Community Care, Nikki Bridge
Race 26 – Men’s 25m Kickboard
1. Bill Martin – Breakthru
2. Bradleigh Kelly – Sarah Woods
3. Alan Smith – Sunnyfield Tamworth
Race 28 – Men’s 25m Kickboard
1. Daniel Ayton – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
2. Curtis Elliott – Disability Consulting Support
3. Aaron Hemmings – Independent Supports
Race 30 – Men’s 25m Kickboard
1. Mitchell Brookes – Disability Consulting Support
2. Dominic Paris – We Care Disability Services
3. Jayden Bradbery – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
Race 31 – Women’s 25m Kickboard
1. Itesha Finlay – Heart Worx
2. Isabella Crutcher – Self managed
3. Jess Lloyd – My Support
Race 33 – Women’s 25m Kickboard
1. Shayne Williams – Sunnyfield Gunnedah
2. Kaitlyn Davy-Darlington – Sunnyfield Tamworth
3. Kelly Usher – Kirinari
Race 35 – Women’s 25m Kickboard
1. Taylor Donadel – Sonya Pym
2. Alexandra Wilkes – Adam Mears Independant
3. Katy Blundell – Independent support
Race 37 – Men’s 25m Any Stroke
1. Thomas Warren – Ohana Place
2. Dominic Paris – We Care Disability Services
3. Christopher Schmutter – Challenge Community Services – Armidale
Race 39 – Men’s 25m Any Stroke
1. Charlie Hall – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
2. Curtis Elliott – Disability Consulting Support
3. Ra-ule Standing – Challenge Community Services – Muswellbrook
Race 41 – Men’s 25m Any Stroke
1. Tyler Classen – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
2. Aaron Hemmings – Independent
3. Conor Roberts – Gunnedah Workshop Enterprises
Race 43 – Men’s 25m Any Stroke
1. Bill Martin – Breakthru
2. Daniel Crosland – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
3. Mitchell Brookes – Disability Consulting Support
Race 45 – Men’s 25m Any Stroke
1. Daniel Ayton – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
2. Wayne Bassett – Gunnedah Workshop Enterprises
3. Richard Anderson – Northcott
Race 32 – Men’s 25m Kickboard
1. Daniel Crosland – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
2. Charlie Hall – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
3. Wade Anderson – Woodies
Race 34 – Men’s 25m Kickboard
1. Tyler Classen – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
2. Wayne Bassett – Gunnedah Workshop Enterprises
3. Richard Anderson – Northcott
Race 36 – Women’s 25m Any Stroke
1. Tabitha Alker – Sonya Pym
2. Isabella Crutcher – Self managed
3. Jess Lloyd – My Support
Race 38 – Women’s 25m Any Stroke
1. Itesha Finlay – Heart Worx
2. Deborah Melhuish – Butterfly Community Care, Nikki Bridge
3. Hailey Olyve – Selena Ferguson
Race 40 – Women’s 25m Any Stroke
1. Kaitlyn Davy-Darlington – Sunnyfield Tamworth
2. Emily Annis-Brown – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
3. Kelly Usher – Kirinari
Race 42 – Women’s 25m Any Stroke
1. Shayne Williams – Sunnyfield Gunnedah
2. Sarah Trindall – Challenge Community Services – Gunnedah
3. Sarah-Jane Schulze – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
Race 44 – Women’s 25m Any Stroke
1. Taylor Donadel – Sonya Pym
2. Laura Hughes – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
3. Katy Blundell – Independent support
Race 46 – Women’s 25m Any Stroke
1. Amy Gilbert – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
2. Alysha Keast – Independent support
3. Alison Row – Breakthru
Race 47 – Women’s 50m Any Stroke
1. Shayne Williams – Sunnyfield Gunnedah
2. Isabella Crutcher – Self managed
3. Alyssa Ferguson – Challenge Community Services – Gunnedah
Race 49 – Women’s 50m Any Stroke
1. Emily Annis-Brown – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
2. Hailey Olyve – Selena Ferguson
Race 48 – Men’s 50m Any Stroke
1. Charlie Hall – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
2. BJ Bassett – Gunnedah Workshop Enterprises
3. Wayne Bassett – Gunnedah Workshop Enterprises
Race 50 – Men’s 50m Any Stroke
1. Daniel Crosland – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
2. Thomas Warren – Ohana Place
3. Phillip Parkes – Northcott
Race 51 – Women’s 50m Any Stroke
1. Itesha Finlay – Heart Worx
2. Sarah-Jane Schulze – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
3. Tabitha Alker – Sonya Pym
Race 53 – Women’s 50m Any Stroke
1. Sarah Trindall – Challenge Community Services – Gunnedah
2. Katy Blundell – Independent support
3. Alison Row – Breakthru
Race 55 – Women’s 50m Any Stroke
1. Alexandra Wilkes – Adam Mears Independant
2. Kelly Usher – Kirinari
3. Laura Hughes – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
Race 57 – Women’s 50m Any Stroke
1. Taylor Donadel – Sonya Pym
2. Amy Gilbert – Challenge Community Services – Warialda
3. Deborah Melhuish – Butterfly Community Care, Nikki Bridge
Race 52 – Men’s 50m Any Stroke
1. Jayden Bradbery – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
2. Mitchell Brookes – Disability Consulting Support
3. Bradleigh Kelly – Sarah Woods
Race 54 – Men’s 50m Any Stroke
1. Tyler Classen – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
2. Dominic Paris – We Care Disability Services
3. Alan Smith – Sunnyfield Tamworth
Race 56 – Men’s 50m Any Stroke
1. Bill Martin – Breakthru
2. Daniel Ayton – Challenge Community Services – Connexions
3. Curtis Elliott – Disability Consulting Support
Honorary awards
Women’s Novelty winner – Nicole Murray, Woodies
Men’s Novelty winner – Nick Howland, Challenge Community Services Muswellbrook
Women’s Swimming winners – Itesha Finlay, Heart Worx, Shayne Williams, Sunnyfield, Taylor Donadel, Sonya Pym
Men’s Swimming winners – Bill Martin, Breakthru, Tyler Classen, Challenge Community Services Connexions
Women’s Sportsmanship winner – Shenean Quinlan, Challenge Community Services Armidale
Men’s Sportsmanship winner – Neville Thorne, Northcott
Winning Service Provider – Challenge Community Services Connexions
How you can support the Gunnedah Swimming Carnival
The Gunnedah Swimming Carnival has always been free to enter and attend. At Challenge Community Services, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to participation, particularly for people with disability. Sport and community events play a vital role in building confidence, friendships and joy, and everyone deserves access to these experiences.
Rising costs and increasing financial pressures now place the future of this free, inclusive event at risk. We are seeking your donation to help ensure the Gunnedah Swimming Carnival can continue without introducing barriers for participants and families. Your support will help keep this inclusive event accessible, sustainable and open to everyone who wants the chance to swim.
Donate to support inclusive swimming for all
While there is no cost for participants to attend, the carnival costs around $18,000 to deliver. With the support of community donations and sponsorships, we aim to raise $8,000 to help us offset these costs. Every contribution, big or small, makes a meaningful difference to ensure the day remains accessible, enjoyable and memorable for everyone involved.
