When the time came to go like the clappers, Goulburn Valley Crocs said ‘see you later, alligator’, to the rest of the competition.

The aquatic troupe carved up the waters at the Masters Swimming Victoria Long Course Relay Championships on October 12, emerging victorious in their respective class after a red-hot showing at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

From Shepparton to the big smoke, the result was a defining moment for the group.

The Crocs, led by coach and member Nicole Dainton, rounded out division three in pole position for the first time ever after their women came fifth and the men sidled up in eighth.

“We had one person pull out due to illness during that week, so some people had to step up into some more relays which was really good,” Dainton said.

“Most people swam five or six races over the course of the day, so that was an amazing effort to do all those races.

“Everyone swam really well, encouraged each other, and it was just really positive about swimming and trying to get everyone to swim each event.”

The Goulburn Valley team clinched top spot with 306 points in the all-relay competition, with championship divisions graded on each team’s combined age.

For the Crocs, the age gap spans 43 years.

It’s not something you’d find common in most sporting codes, but at the Crocs, all members share one key component: a serious penchant for swimming - and fast, at that.

“Our youngest was 30 years of age and our eldest was 73,” Dainton said.

“It’s really awesome that we’ve got a huge gap of different ages from 30 to 73, and we can all get along and enjoy swimming together.

“We all get on really well despite all our different ages, it’s good.”

Dainton took over from legendary Shepparton swimming figure Willy O’Callaghan, one of the group’s founding members, four years ago.

The Crocs train three times a week at Aquamoves, and with the change of seasons, are ditching the indoor digs for outdoor swims in preparation for the next volley of open water competitions.

Dainton said December’s Lake Boga Bank 2 Bank and Lorne’s Pier to Pub are popular among the group’s members, but for now, the Crocs can bask in the glory of what they achieved in Melbourne.

Although, as Dainton pointed out, they made sure to celebrate at a different type of watering hole on the way home.

“We ended the day at the pub on the way home - we got a minibus - so it was a really good social day as well,” she said.

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Sunday, 26th December 2027

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