Swimming group hosts time trial tomorrow

The Shrewsbury pool facility at Ratho Mill will see a big splash from 9 a.m. tomorrow — Saturday — when the St Vincent and the Grenadines Amateur Swimming Association {{more}} hosts a time trial for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States championships, set for Antigua and Barbuda in November.

President of the SVGASA Andre Cadogan told SEARCHLIGHT on Tuesday that it is the first time such an event will be held to select a team for a regional competition.

Cadogan said tomorrow’s event will be very competitive.

“We are going to see very competitive races, as these swimmers will be swimming die-hard … not only to get their best times for entries into the competition, but also to secure a place in the team,,” he said.

Tomorrow’s time trial will see competition in the eight and under to over 18 age groups.

Cadogan said he believes the Vincentian team to this year’s sub-regional championships will be the best prepared.

“It is the best prepared team we have had so far, and that has come because we have had training at this facility for an entire year,” he said.

Cadogan said preparations in the recent weeks have been intense.

“Training actually takes place from 5 a.m. with one group, with some swimmers training twice per day,” he said.

In outlining the rise in the sport over the past four years, Cadogan said: “Over the last four years, we have moved from strength to strength, where we had nine swimmers one year, 14 swimmers the following year, 22 swimmers last year and this year and now we are hoping to field a team of 34 swimmers.”

The Vincentians team to the 22nd OECS championships has Kyle Dougan as the head coach and Rickydene Alexander as the assistant coach.

Nicole Sylvester is the team’s manager.

Grenada, St Lucia, the British Virgin Islands and host Antigua and Barbuda will contest the championships, from November 9 to 11. (RT)