TEAM Lawyers emerged champions of the 1st Inter Commercial House Swimming Championships held on Sunday 13th October 2018; the event was a bold step by the Saint Lucia Amateur Swimming Association to open up the sport of swimming and to test the waters for comprehensive Master’s swimming programme on the island as it continues to unveil its developmental plans.
Dubbed “The Big Little Meet” was the brainchild of SLASA’s Fundraising Officer, Diane Mauricette and was wholeheartedly embraced by the Saint Lucia Amateur Swimming Association executive.
According to Sue Monplaisir, Sea Island Cotton Shop and Team Lawyers jumped on the idea from inception after the summons was released by SLASA. NIC Kawangs, Tropical Shipping, and Team Coaches were welcome additions and took the leap of faith with the Association. The comradery and entertainment was truly electrifying.
Again the concern of a National facility was brought to the fore by Developmental Officer Yasmin Tyson as she believes persons would need pool time to compete at a higher level. She noted our beach programme will work in the initial phases but once the strokes are mastered there must be some transition to the pool.
Notable performances came from Team Lawyer’s Sharon Gardner-Hippolyte, NIC Kawang’s Ezra ‘D’funmachine’ Augustin, McNaughton Mc Clean, Tropical Shipping’s Lily and Gerald Bergasse, Sea Island Cotton Wilkie Henry and Eldon Matyr.
“Oh! How can we forget the courage and never say die attitude of Team Lawyers’ Jeannot Walters Snr, who literally rolled out of the pool after every race” noted Tyson.
The commitment of all participants was nothing short of amazing, as one would truly appreciate the complexity in the swimming strokes.
SLASA thanked its coaches and instructors who filled in nicely to add a bit more flavor to the competition. Regular swimmers were embraced by the various business houses and immediately became family. Gratitude is also extended to the officials who held the Meet together, ensuring that everything was on point and the afternoon was a successful one.
SLASA is indeed humbled and very appreciative of the efforts of all persons who were involved in their 1st Inter Commercial House Swimming Championships. The Association continues to work towards building the sport of swimming not only with our youth but adults as well.
In the women’s 50 metres Short Course Kickboard (SC) 1st Sharon Gardner – Hippolyte 51.47 seconds (Team Lawyers); men’s 50 metres SC Kickboard, 1st Jean Paul Vitalis 1 minute 11.91 seconds(National Insurance Corporation, women’s 50 metres SC backstroke, MikaeliCharlemange 35.67 seconds (NIC), men’s 50 metres backstroke, Omar Alexander 32.22 seconds (Team Lawyers), women’s 50 meters breaststroke, 1st Naekeisha Louis 38.63 seconds (NIC), men’s 50 metres breaststroke, 1st Omar Alexander 35.10 seconds (Team Lawyers), women’s 50 metres butterfly, 1st MikaeliCharlemange 32.31 seconds(NIC), men’s 50 butterfly, 1st Omar Alexander 29.41 seconds (Team Lawyers).
Women’s 50 metres T Shirt, 1st Sharon Gardner- Hippolyte 44.74 seconds (Team Lawyers), 2nd Lily Bergasse 45.43 seconds (Tropical Shipping). Men’s 50 metres T shirts – 1st Gerard Bergasse 40.16 seconds (Tropical Shipping), 2nd Ezra Augustin 40.40 seconds (NIC), 3rd Mc Naughton McLean 41.70 seconds.
Women’s 100 metres T Shirt relay – 1st Tropical Shipping 2 minutes 17.53 seconds, 2nd Team Lawyers 2 minutes 32.53 seconds, 3rd Sea Island Cotton 2 minutes 34.56 seconds.
Women’s 25 metre breaststroke Head Up, 1st Karen Sylvester 24.41 (Sea Island Cotton), 2nd Sharon Gardner – Hippolyte 25.81 seconds (Team Lawyers), 3rd Lily Bergasse 26.12 seconds (Tropical Shipping), men’s 25 metre breaststroke Head Up, 1st Peter James 17.00 seconds (SLASA Coaches),2nd Marlon James 17.17 seconds (SLASA Coaches). Men’s 25 metre Doggie Paddle, 1st Roosevelt Romain 19.08 seconds (SLASA Coaches), 2nd Jeannot Walters Jr, 20.01 seconds (team Lawyers).
The above are just some of the top performers on the day.
Overall placing, 1st Place – Team Lawyers with 276.50 points, 2nd Place – NIC Kawangs with 229 points and 3rd Place – Tropical Shipping with 182 points.
In the men’s division Team score – 1st – Team Lawyers 139 points, 2nd-Tropical Shipping 134 points, 3rd National Insurance Corporation 130 points, 4th Sea Island Cotton Shop 79 points and SLASA Coaches 9 points.
In the women’s division Team score – 1st Team Lawyers 137. 50, 2nd National Insurance Corporation 99 points, 3rd SLASA Coaches 88, 4th Sea Island Cotton Shop 83.50 points, 5th Tropical Shipping Saint Lucia 4 points.
In other awards presented – Best Dressed Team – NIC Kawangs, Best Supporting Team – Sea Island Cotton Shop.
A post mortem will be conducted as persons are already calling for a rematch possibly in April of next year.
Next on the agenda for SLASA is the continued preparation for competition at the 28th edition of the OECS Swim Championship in Antigua and Barbuda next month.