Amakhosi to hit the water flying

EAST London’s premier masters swimming club Amakhosi Masters are gearing up for the 34th annual National Masters swimming championships being held in Pretoria from next Wednesday to Sunday.

Amakhosi hosted a very successful national champs last year at the Joan Harrison, and finished second overall, with many of their swimmers picking up plenty of medals.

This year will, however, be very different as, due to various constraints such as work and funds, only 18 swimmers will be making the trip to the nationals from Border, down from the well over a hundred that were able to take part in their home event last year.

“It is always a challenge when the event is held far away, but next year the nationals have been moved from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, so that is exciting, and we will have a lot more participants from Amakhosi taking part,” said Amakhosi Masters president Kerry Skidmore.

The swimmers taking part in Pretoria are Ronald Wallace, Catrina Mackenzie, Megan Betchoo, Susan Skidmore, Kerry Skidmore, Joe Hillstrom, Huib van der Zee, Anthony Barson, Maria Potts, Gail Geraty, Florence Burbridge, Jody Westphal, Michelle Alexander, Bryn Jevon, Natasha Gale, Simon Kay, Yona Balindlela and Michael Townsend.

“Our top medal contenders will be Megan Betchoo, Ron Wallace – who is also our oldest competitor at 77 years old – Anthony Barson, Joe Hillstrom and, hopefully, myself,” said Skidmore.

“We also have three long service awards this year – myself for 10 years, Anthony Barson for 20 years and Joe Hillstrom for 30 years.

“Joe is the first and longest serving Amakhosi Master swimmer, with 30 nationals under his belt.”

Also held over the past weekend was the Amakhosi Masters 1km Challenge at the Joan Harrison.

Sixty-four swimmers registered and swam the 29th annual event at the Joan Harrison on Saturday.

The overall winner was 16-year-old Josh Reeves, who swam the 1km in 13 minutes, 16 seconds and 44 splits, while the overall female winner was 14-year-old Pippa Sparg, who swam it in 15 minutes and one second.

“The oldest swimmer on the day was Mr Ron Wallace, who is 77 and swam the 1km in a time of 23 minutes, 56 seconds and four splits,” said Skidmore.

“The total proceeds of R3 701 were donated to Therese Dickson towards medical expenses.”