Another Saturday in Toodyay and what a day it was

The ‘Worst Pace Scenario’ team. Front row: Tony and Rose Murfit, Dani Xuereb. Back row: Kelly-Anne Murray and Emma Thompson.
Saturday February 22 saw three teams swim 788 laps at the Toodyay public swimming pool. Elsewhere in town more than 30 participants
completed the Newcastle Park parkrun. Stirling Terrace was busy with visitors and locals alike. Photo: P.Thompson.

 

Sean Hefferon
FOR MANY locals a great start on a Saturday morning means dropping into the award-winning Toodyay Bakery.

Bang on opening time there is typically a small regular gathering (they know who they are) and a knowing head nod means the coffee is on its way.

But if you know you know.

Other tasty meal options can also be found at Café Clair’s, the Cola Café and Early Mist Café.
All good.
All filling.
And then some.

Let’s not forget Dolly Foxgloves as well just a bit further up Stirling Terrace and so handy to the B2B Fitness for a post-gym refill.

This particular Saturday saw a bunch of local swimming enthusiasts smash out some laps at the shire swimming pool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some laps meaning and precisely so, 788 laps.

Try doing that distance on a bakery jalapeno pie (best left as a reward after completing what is in effect a swim from Cottesloe to Rottnest).

In fact, the Rottnest Channel Swim was on but for this group of Toodyay-ites and friends the Virtual Rottnest Channel Swim was the go to option (minus the sea sickness).

Sharing 788 laps between friends?

Priceless.

Just like that credit card perhaps placed on the bar (The Vic, Toodyay Hotel or the Club), post-swim, off course.

Three teams took part literally in the virtual swim – the Odd Bunch, Worst Pace Scenario and The 6566 Swimming team.

As Dani Xuereb said, “It was a long day, but we got through the 788 laps on a perfect day for the event.”

A bit earlier in the day a group of locals and visitors ticked off a lazy 5-kilometres at the weekly Newcastle Park parkrun.

The run’s second anniversary saw 33 people run, jog or walk the course (many doing all three gaits).

Seven were first timers and three recorded new personal bests.

 

The event was made possible by six volunteers being Shuba Johns, Kerry Stacey, Derek and Kayla Ringrose and Colette and John Gibbons.

Since the Newcastle Park parkrun started back in 2023 more than 1,138 participants have completed 4,040 parkruns covering a total distance of 20,200 km, including 560 new personal bests.

 

A total of 119 individuals have also volunteered 632 times.

The parkrun was celebrated by a slap down barbecue and lashings of cake.

Just another Saturday in Toodyay.