Paul Jobber

PORT Macquarie will be represented by 35 swimmers at this weekend's North Coast Long Course Championships at Coffs Harbour.

Swimming North Coast publicity officer Faye Rowles said despite having a comparatively small team to other areas they always performed well.

"They're not the biggest team, but they always seem to win by miles," she said.

"Every long course championships they seem to win."

She said it was largely due to the ability of coach Michael Mullens and his ability to get the team performing at their best.

"They have a really good coach and we like to see as many kids in swimming as possible. Michael deserves some of the kudos for what he's done with them."

Entries this year are up dramatically on last year with a total of 2910 individual events and relays.

Swimmers are also up to 381 from 341 last year with swimmers representing 30 different clubs between the Queensland border and Bulahdelah.

Ashlyn Dures, Mekayla Everingham, Jessica Grant, Samuel Harris, Bianca Jamison, Lachlan Kirkland and Harrison Northey will all form part of the 35-strong contingent in a variety of events.

The Port Macquarie team will aim to make it 13 on the trot after winning the overall point score for the last twelve years which can be put down to the influence of coach Mullens.

"We've got a good coaching program and a good bunch of kids," he said.

"It's the quality of swimmers you have and there's no doubt we have always had good quality swimmers.

"We've also always had a good number of national swimmers and if you stick to the program you keep making champions out of them."

Mullens will aim for a 16th consecutive pointscore success which flows on from his time at Bellingen.

"I've been dedicated over the years and was fortunate enough the three years before I came here I won the championships up there," he said.

"But in this day and age when there's so many distractions it's good to have the kids here.

"There's not too many that want to participate like these kids do and train like they do. We're talking five o'clock in the water each morning - a couple of hours in the morning and a couple more in the afternoon."

Mullens was confident without being overconfident about the chances of the Port Macquarie team.

"I'm always confident and they've got to rise to the occasion, but I can motivate them on the day so let's see how we go," he said.