The CARIFTA Swimming Championships are in Nassau, Bahamas this year and a group of Cayman Islands swimmers took to the seas over the weekend to raise funds for the team’s trip. And while the swim has been completed, members of the community can still sponsor them up until 4 February.
Although focused and training hard for upcoming qualifying swim meets, the swimmers come together for this fundraiser to achieve a common goal – raise funds for the trip but also to begin the bonding process which will see them leave club affiliations behind as they become the Cayman Islands CARIFTA Team for the championships which run from 12-15 April.
At 8am the beach just north of The Wharf was buzzing with excitement as swimmers prepped, applied sun screen, greased up and made sure their goggles and caps were in good order. The group of over 30 made their way to the old Pageant Beach Sea Pool and the first leg of the five and a half mile relay began.
Coach Dominic Ross joked: “This is an easy swim, after all we all know that Seven Mile Beach is really only five and a half miles long!” However, the swimmers, some only 11 years old – put in a mammoth effort and swam the entire length in relay teams while a couple of the older, more seasoned swimmers such as Geoffrey Butler and Andrew Smilley swam the whole distance solo.
Dr. Sook Yin, a longstanding Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association Director and one of the swim team’s professional care, said: “On behalf of CIASA I want to thank all of the potential CARIFTA swimmers for being such good sports and swimming the long open water course from George Town to West Bay. There were some grumbles along the way, but they all pitched in and did it – and the kids were all smiles at the end.
“I want to thank the parents too who walked the course, loaded down with water, Gatorade, towels suntan lotion and hats – while walking barefoot on the mostly white sand but also negotiating iron shore and slippery rocks for three and a half hours!”
While the swimmers are integral in such an event, it could not happen without the volunteer support team. Open Water Safety veteran Dagmar Wojcicki organised and managed the water safety team, Michelle and Jake Bailey kayaked – keeping the pod of swimmers safely together and pulling out the younger ones when they couldn’t keep up or the swells became a little too much.
Kathy Jackson who helped organised the event said: “CIASA also extends thanks to Red Sails Sports for the kayaks and jet ski, swim parents and club executives who organised the sandwiches, baked the goodies and made sure there was water and Gatorade along the way for swimmers, parents and the safety team.”
Coaches Dom, Katie and Paula who between them organized the event also got props.
Swimmers are reminded to hand in all outstanding sponsorship money by 3 February, along with their sponsorship form, to their coach; and members of the community are reminded to find a swimmer and sponsor them.
Next on the swim calendar is the Stingray Swim Club trip to Jamaica for the Water Rodgers Age Group Swimming National Championships, 16-19 February.
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