Open-water swim attracts 25 teams
Swimmers competing at the open-water relay
(CNS): Breaking away from the normal sea swims, CIASA hosted the second annual Massive Open Water Relay, followed by a BBQ, with 25 teams comprising four swimmers each taking to the waters to cover either 400m per leg (12 and under) or 600m (over 12). Sandy Hew, CIASA director who organised the relay, spoke of the benfits of the race format.
“This event is so different than our other sea swims and encompasses team building in a fun environment. I love seeing all of our competitive swimmers swimming with younger swimmers or with swimmers from different clubs,” she said.
“I was also pleased to see more corporate teams participating this year. A big thank you to Massive for sponsoring this event. Proceeds from this event will go towards representative team events including sending 22 of our wonderful committed swimmers to the 2016 CARIFTA Championships in Martinique.”
Penny McDowall, Special Olympics swim coach, cheered on a team consisting of two Special Olympic swimmers (Katherine and Keanu) and two CARIFTA team members (Lauren Hew and Zack Moore).
Commenting on the event, McDowall said, “A huge thank you to CIASA for organising and running a fun afternoon as well as a huge thank you to Lauren and Zack for swimming with Kat and Keanu – it was a huge confidence builder for both of them.”
Massive president David Kirkaldy added that his company “was pleased to support the Open Water Relay for the second year. The event is a fun team activity, a great family day, and excellently run by the hard working volunteers of CIASA. Massive looks forward to supporting the relay again next year”.
Finishing first in their categories were the following teams:
Corporate: KPMG – Roman Dagesh, Matthew Seegelaar, Jessica Achtstatter and Tim Achtstatter
40 & Over: Michael Lockwood, Wayne Hannum, Adrien Royston and Alex Harling
18-39: The Untouchables – David Pursley, Jake Bailey, Olivia Plunkett and Stephanie Royston
15-17: Rory Barrett, Matthew Somerville, John Bodden and Eddie Weber
13-14: Elite Orcas – Sabine Ellison, Ben Somerville, Beth Walton and Holly Stradling
12 & Under: Swim Sisterz – Allyson Belfonte, Gabriella Royston, Katrina Williams and Raya Embury Brown
