Open-water swim floats 18 teams
Swimmers head to the water at the start of the relay
(CNS Local Life): The Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association (CIASA) hosted the Massive Open Water Relay Saturday, 25 March, with 18 teams of four competitors each swimming either 400m per leg (12 and under) or 600m (over 12). Also attending the event was Brazilian Olympian Nicolas Nilo Oliveira, who was on island for a Stingray Swim Club clinic and motivational talk.
CIASA president Michael Lockwood said of the relay, “This event is so different than our other sea swims and encompasses team building in a fun environment.” He thanked sponsor, Massive, and added, “Proceeds from this event will go towards representative team events which includes sending our biggest swim team ever to the 2017 CARIFTA Championships in Bahamas.”
David Kirkaldy of Massive said his company was proud to support Cayman swimming and particularly the relay. “This event is like no other on the CIASA calendar and, while having a competitive element, is also a fun and approachable way to bring others to the sport,” he said. “With funds raised each year going to help support the CARIFTA team we are doing our small part to advance swimming in Cayman.”
He noted the discipline involved in competitive swimming, pointing to the daily early-morning and after-school training of the athletes, along with maintaining good grades. “Thus it trains participants in effective planning and time management, skills key to future success in life,” Kirkaldy said. “For the elite swimmers heading to CARIFTA and other international meets they join the storied history of Cayman swimming which has brought back more medals from international competition than any other sport.
“The fact that we do not have a 50m pool in Cayman in order to train and also to host these events locally says much about the reality of what the sport has accomplished vs the top level resource focus it has been given to capitalise on that accomplishment and the talent available locally in our water-centric community.”
Finishing first in their categories at the relay were the following teams:
Corporate – Maples (Paul Peat, Ivan Jones, Tim Dawson, Thomas Lynch)
40 & Over – Team Jon (Jon Roney)
18-39 – Overrated (Elana Sinclair, Sam Bailey, Neil Hemp, Jake Bailey)
15-17 – For Migos (John Bodden, Liam Henry, Zachary Moore, Jonathon Key)
13-14 – CISC (Corey Westerborg, Stephanie Royston, Isabella Watler, Carmella Ylagan)
12 & Under –Pink Rainbow Fluffy Unicorns (Finn Bishop, Sophie Ellison, Jackson Haywood, Stefano Bonati)
