Stingray Swim Club dives into 20th year
(L-R) Stingray Swim Club president Kathy Jackson, Jennifer Ebanks of Digicel and swimmer Andrew Smilley with his gift basket
(CNS): Stingray Swim Club (SSC) voted in a new president and vice president as well as other board members at its recent annual general meeting, installing Kathy Jackson and Jo Sinclair, respectively, at the top two positions. The meeting was also an opportunity to thank outgoing president Amanda Roberts who stepped down from the board after 16 years of service.
The new board of directors will guide the club into 2016 and its celebration of 20 years of swimming in the Cayman Islands. After thanking Roberts and Vicki Girling, who also stepped down from the board, elections took place for the vacant positions. In addition to Jackson and Sinclair, the board now comprises Derek Westerborg (Fixtures), Alex Adapa, Brenda McGrath, Kirsty Gunn, Gillian Evans-Belfonte, Michelle Bailey (Secretary), Helen Dakers (Treasurer), Adrien Royston (public relations), Peter Plunkett and Nigel Boothe.
Stingray’s head coach, David Pursley, reported on the programmes he introduced during his first full year, including the High School Development swim group; underwater filming with immediate playback capabilities for training purposes; enhanced onsite dry land training; and a new streamlined approach to growing the club and working with swimmers of all levels.
Days before the short Christmas break, swimmers took part in the traditional “Reds vs Greens” event, in which club members split into two teams, one led by Pursley and one by coach Tim Leonhart. The races proved an opportunity for the coaches to test members’ speed and technique against the returning college and university swimmers. Leonhart’s red team pulled out the win and then the swimmers and their families all took part in a pot luck Christmas dinner.
In addition, Special Olympic Cayman Islands (SOCI) swimmer Andrew Smilley was recognised as a lifetime Stingray member. Smilley, who was also celebrating his birthday, was presented with a new iPhone from SOCI supporter Digicel.
The older swimmers have resumed training, with attention turning to the upcoming sprint meet on 16 January and the longstanding Pete Ribbins Memorial swim, set for 29-31 January.
