Aquabear gala 2017 yields impressive results
The annual Port Elizabethbased Aquabear swimming club's four-day gala took place recently, with clubs throughout South Africa travelling to the event. Local swimmers, from Diocesan School for Girls (DSG), St Andrew’s College, St Andrew’s Preparatory School and Kingswood College, shone, taking home a total of 20 medals.
Of the 20 medals, three were gold, five silver and six bronze. A number of swimmers also achieved school and meeting record times, Eastern Province times, Level 2 and Level 3 times, as well as Junior Nationals and Youth Nationals qualifying times.
A record and golds for Toni
The swimmers this year from DSG were: Toni Rafferty, Emma Podesta, Shaelyn Walker, Tayla Kapp, Sage Cawse, Riley Cawse and Courtney Repinz.
Toni come out on top, winning a gold medal and posting a time of 58.96 in the 100m freestyle, breaking the girls 16 Eastern Province All Commers and Domestic record as well as the gala meet record. Toni also took home the gold in the 100m butterfly, and silvers in the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly. She also swam a Youth Nationals qualifying time in the 100m backstroke.
Emma won two bronze medals, in the 50m backstroke and the 200m backstroke, missing a Junior qualification time by .13 seconds. Emma and Sage won sliver and bronze relay medals, in the 4x50m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay race. Although Tayla was unlucky to not bring home medals, she made finals in four events and placed 4th in the 50m backstroke race. Sage made the final in the 100m breaststroke.
Courtney, having already swum a Youth Nationals qualification time, had to withdraw after the first day due to illness, but swam the 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly final race. Shaelyn, who is an Eastern Province open water swimmer, shaved an impressive 9.75 seconds off the 800m freestyle race and 4.37 seconds off the 200m freestyle race.
Qualifying times for Prep swimmers
Swimmers from St Andrew’s Prep included Scott Ritchie and Oliver Lange, members of the Port Alfred swimming club. Scott placed 8th in the final race of the 50m breaststroke, while in the 100m freestyle Ritchie swam a time of 1.08.06, shaving 3.10 off his time and achieving a Level 3 qualification time. Oliver placed 7th in the 50m breaststroke final and 6th in the 100m breaststroke, taking 10.31 seconds off his previous time and achieving a Level 3 qualification time.
DSG junior swimmers achieve qualifying times
DSG Juniors in attendance at the gala were: Cally Still, Catherine Williamson, WendyMae Turner, Cara Meldrum, Jenna Foster, Jodi Hobson and Elsje Griesel. Catherine, Cally and Wendy-Mae all achieved Level 3 qualification times. Catherine brought home gold in a time of 37.30 for the 50m breaststroke and silver in the 100m breaststroke. Cally won silver in the girls 13-14 4x100 freestyle relay. Cara and Jenna qualified for Level 2. Elsje took part in her first club gala with great determination.
Record, medals, colours and qualifying times for Martin
St Andrew’s College swimmers were Davoren Swales, Josh Orsmond, Craig Macpherson, Martin Wolmarans and Haydn John. Davoren placed 5th in the 100m breaststroke final with a time of 1.15.96, 6th in the 200m breaststroke final and the 50m breaststroke final and 8th in the 50m freestyle final and 100m freestyle final. He won team golds for the 400m freestyle relay race, the 400m medley relay and the 200m freestyle relay. Martin achieved superb results, winning bronze and set- ting a St Andrew's U16 record in the 50m freestyle race with a time of 25.75 seconds. He placed 5th in the 50m backstroke final race with a time 30.19 seconds, 4th in the 100m backstroke final and achieved a time of 2.28.17 in the 200m backstroke final.
He completed the 200m freestyle with a time of 2.12.17 and swam colours times for both the freestyle races. He finished 4th in the 100m freestyle race with a time of 57.08, bettering a gala record and achieving a Junior National qualifying time.
Josh finished with some good times; 4.56.94 in the 400m freestyle, 1.04.96 in the 100m butterfly race and a time of 2.13.39 in the 200m freestyle. He brought home a silver medal in the 1500m freestyle race with a time of 19.05.16, and a gold medal in the 400m freestyle relay race.
Haydn placed 6th in the 200m breaststroke final and 8th in the 100m breaststroke final, while Craig placed 4th in the 200m breaststroke race, 8th in the 50m breaststroke final and placed 6th in the 100m breaststroke.
Kingswood swimmer Amy Hobson achieved Level 2 qualifying times for the 200m individual medley, 200m breaststroke and 100m backstroke.
Rhodes swimmer Khanya Jack swam in the open age group, and brought home three medals, silver for the 200m butterfly, and bronze for both the 50m breaststroke race and 100m butterfly race.