I started playing AC (AquaChallenge - just trying to get myself used to saying that!) in Hobart, 2000. Simon Talbot and Gary Davidson convinced me to give it a go after I had travelled to Perth as a spectator/groupie to see the '99 Perth Nationals. It took a few viewings to get my head around the sport (coming from a background of athletics and field hockey), it was really different to anything I'd experienced before.
The moment that converted me was watching the Aussie Men's team beat France to win gold at the 2000 Worlds in Hobart - nail biting stuff and the place was going off!!! Oh and of course seeing the French men in white bathers assisted mildly in the conversion... :shock:
After playing a couple of years in Hobart (its an awesome pool which I think a lot of Hobartians take for granted), I moved to Melbourne for uni and continued my AC experiences at a number of pools across Melbourne. I suppose a few of the things in Melbourne that has assisted me in developing as a player is the variety of pool surfaces to play on - sports court, concrete, fast tiles... - also the really strong and supportive group of female players, from which I have developed some really strong friendships with.
Wher to next? Who knows!!!! But I definitely have itchy feet
