SPORTS

International swimming back with a splash

Monday,  November 14, 2005

The Mike Lockwood Memorial Meet, which took place from 4 to 6 November, proved once again that Cayman can host international standard events. Organised by the Stingray Swim Club, the event was the biggest swim meet held in Cayman in Years, and featured over 70 visiting swimmers from three Jamaican clubs. 

These swimmers were joined by local athletes for a total of more than 120 swimmers who competed over the three days of the event. Long-time supporters of Cayman swimming, Foster Brothers, again provided very generous sponsorship, with Woody Foster opening the meet on Saturday morning.

The first challenge was preparing the pool for the evening session on Friday, as the floodlights were still not running after Ivan. Fortunately Cable & Wireless, a staunch supporter of Cayman swimming through the years, provided a bucket truck to the Club, which enabled the electricians from Cayman Electrical Services (who provided their expertise and materials) to get the floodlights working for the first time since they were damaged by Ivan more than a year ago.

Andrea Fa’amoe, C&W Corporate Communications Manager, commented, “We just learned that the overhead lights at the swimming pool were still not functioning after Ivan, and as a major sponsor of Cayman Swimming, we were more than willing to provide one of our bucket trucks to allow them to be repaired. 

“We are thrilled that the Stingray Swim Club will be now able to stage their Friday evening session of their swim meet with the many visiting swimmers from Jamaica.”

The meet is named after the late Mike Lockwood, an avid supporter of both swimming and Pirates Week. His son Michael gave the opening prayer before his widow, Ella Kay, spoke movingly in thanking the club for remembering him in this way. 

Owing to the large number of swimmers, and in an effort to get the local swimmers ready for overseas trips, the club used ‘over-the-top’ starts on Saturday and Sunday, where starting swimmers dive from the blocks while the competitors from the previous event are still in the pool. 

It is a credit to the volunteer officials and the adaptability of the swimmers that this was accomplished for the first time without a problem.

The competition was fierce but friendly, not least among the Jamaican clubs, and there were also some great individual battles. Robert Marshall of Y Speedos and Kevaughn Campbell of Dolphins shared the first two places in all their races and both swam inside the old pool record for the 8 and under 50 metre breaststroke, while Asher van Zanten set a new Stingray Swim Club record in the same event.

Marshall edged that race and also took the high points award. Y Speedos’ David Bromfield capped a wonderful three days’ swimming by taking the pool record in the 11-12 100 metre breaststroke. Bromfield and Tornadoes swimmer Dominic Walter shared all the wins in that age category between them, and also took part in the 1500 metres freestyle, an event that usually only draws the most experienced swimmers from the higher age groups.

Local swimmer Amanda Shum dominated her age group after a year spent swimming in Calgary; while Brett Fraser, who took a break from swimming recently, stormed back into CARIFTA contention by winning seven races.

As a thank you to the visiting teams for coming, Stingray Swim Club treated them to a meal at the Lone Star Restaurant, who generously agreed to host the event, and made a presentation of a t-shirt to one swimmer from each team and SSC swim caps to two from each team. Dolphins Swim Club reciprocated the gesture by giving t-shirts to two lucky SSC swimmers. 

After a traumatic year following Ivan, the meet showed that Cayman swimming and the Stingray Swim Club are alive and well. 

The event also re-established the close ties that the club has always had with Jamaican swimming. The visiting swimmers did not only bring competition and enthusiastic supporters to Cayman, but also quite a lot of business, as most of the visitors flew in on Cayman Airways, and stayed at Comfort Suites, which meant that not only the swimmers, but Cayman as a whole, benefited from the meet.

The meet ended as it began with Mr. Woody Foster, Managing Director of Foster’s Food Fair, sharing the stage with Ella Kay Lockwood as they handed out the awards.

“You could feel and see the high energy level that was present in the swimmers, coaches, volunteers, parents and spectators.

The event was easily one of the most enjoyable events I have ever had the pleasure of attending. Foster’s Food Fair is very proud of our sponsorship of the meet and congratulate all that made it a tremendous success,” commented Mr. Foster.

Full results for the meet are available on the SSC website, www.caymanswimming.com.

Team Competition
1) Stingray Swim Club 
(Grand Cayman) 1,614 points
2) Y Speedos Swim Club 
(Jamaica) 957 points
3) Tornadoes Swim Club 
(Jamaica) 593 points
4) Dolphins Swim Club 
(Jamaica) 108 points

High Points winners:
Age-Group Girls Boys
6 & under Katie Klein Joseph Black 
(SSC) (TOR)
8 & under Bethany Cleaver Robert Marshall
(SSC) (SPE)
9-10 Amanda Shum Daniel Harris
(SSC) (SPE) 
11-12 Raynae Hall David Bromfield
(SPE) (SPE)
13-14 Nicole Chin André Marcel Smith 
(TOR) (TOR)
15 & over Lisa Rombough Joel Rombough
(SSC)` (SSC)

    Back...