Club coach Josh Sobey said more than 50 under 14s were headed to Barwon South West Association trials at Geelong’s Kardinia Park Aquatic Centre. 

Sobey said the club had been slowly building its junior ranks over the past few years. 

“It’s been a goal over the past three or four years to build the club’s junior ranks. It’s been a gradual process,” he said. 

“By the end of 2016 we are expecting to have about 70 juniors signed up, based on what’s happening with the learn-to-swim programs.” 

The fastest 15 from today’s event will qualify for the semi-finals at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on March 22, with finals to be held on March 23. 

Sobey said because of changes to Swimming Victoria’s Country Districts, where the Geelong, Western and Far Western Districts have been merged to create the Barwon South West Association, there were changes to the finals qualification. 

“They are all 50-metre events and this year because the associations have merged, the top 15 swimmers from each event will go through to the next round in Melbourne,” he said. 

“We are hopeful that we will have a lot of kids making it through to the semi-finals, but there will be some tough competition from clubs in the Geelong region.

“Outside the country and state championships, the All Juniors is the biggest event on the calendar.”

jwoolley@fairfaxmedia.com.au