BASA AWARDS 2012 FOR THE YEAR 2011
The swimming fraternity converged on the Barbados Hilton for the celebration of yet another year of outstanding achievements. And what a joyous and memorable occasion it was! Awards were made within the categories of the competitions at which national teams participated in the year 2011: The 26TH LIME Carifta Swimming Championships, The 27TH Central American & Caribbean Swimming Championships (CCCAN), The 18th Goodwill Swim Meet, The 14th FINA World Swimming Championship, The 4TH Youth Commonwealth Games, The 16TH Panamerican Games and to the top Junior and Senior male and female swimmers.
Mr Alex McDonald, Managing Director of LIME-Title sponsor of the Carifta Swimming Championship- in his brief remarks noted that the swimmers had conquered fear in order to have produced such excellent results at the Championship; he stressed that LIME was pleased to be associated with the team and wished them continued success. Mr Erskine King, Director of Sports, National Sports Council lauded the sponsors for their endorsement of the Championship and reminded them that it was their corporate duty to help with the positive shaping of the society around them as the Government could not do everything. He reminded that the year was predicted to be one where economic and financial woes would continue and ask the Corporate Barbados to give generously to the Youth.
Mr Erskine Simmons of the Barbados Olympic Association commended the Barbados Amateur Swimming Association for its dedication to high ideals and its work in organising a successful LIME Carifta Swimming Championship. He also stated that BASA must be acknowledged and congratulated for its management of the Aquatic Centre being one of the few sports owning a facility. Other partners of the Sport-Mr Hugh Durant, Manager, Corporate Relations- Cave Shepherd & Co Limited Sponsor of the Cave Shepherd & Co Limited Short Course National Swimming Championship, Mr Clifford Gooding Edghill, Brand Manager, Powerade and Sponsor of The Powerade Aquatic Centre International Invitational, The Powerade Secondary Schools’ Swimming Championships and the Powerade Learn to Swim Fun Fiesta were also in attendance.
The gathering for the awards in addition to the invited guests comprised Swimmers, Parents, Coaches, Technical Officials, Water Polo Executive members, family and friends.
AWARDEES
TOP OVERALL JUNIOR FEMALE OF THE YEAR 2011: DANIELLE TITUS
Division Champion at both the Scotia Bank Long Course and the Cave Shepherd & Co Ltd Short Course National Swimming Championship, The Powerade Aquatic Centre International Invitational, the Goodwill Swim Meet and the Asatt Invitational. She established 23 age group records for the year 2011. As an emerging swimmer this was noted as a fantastic achievement.
TOP OVERALL JUNIOR MALE SWIMMER OF THE YEAR 2011: DAMON ST PRIX
Damon established 23 new national marks overall for the year inclusive of 2 relay marks. He was the most outstanding junior male swimmer at the Scotiabank Long course and at the Cave Shepherd & Co Ltd Short Course national swimming championship as well as Division Champion, an accolade which he also secured at the Goodwill Swim meet. He was 2nd placed Division Champion at the Aquatic Centre International Invitational and also at the Powerade Secondary Schools’ Championship. He garnered a basket full of medals at every meet at which he participated and also went under the Carifta qualifying time.
TOP OVERALL SENIOR FEMALE OF THE YEAR 2011: ZABRINA HOLDER
Zabrina finished the year with 30 new national records to her credit, 9 of which were open national records. Adjudged the best performer in her age group and overall at the LIME Carifta Swimming Championship, Zabrina Holder raked in 13 medals of which 8 were gold and 1 silver. She again moved the bar for swimming in the region by establishing a new regional Carifta record in the 50 M butterfly. Holder also represented Barbados at The Central American and Caribbean Swimming Championships held in Puerto Rico. Her time in the 50 M butterfly of 29.06 went under the old regional record of 29:46. She was placed 3rd in the age group with 38 points on this occasion. At the Commonwealth Youth Games Zabrina etched a good performance on the sands of time; a finalist at this prestigious event held in the Isle of Man she established three new age group records and a new women’s open record in the three events swum. She was adjudged the most outstanding swimmer at the Cave Shepherd & Co ltd Short Course National Swimming Championship at which she also posted 5 new age group records and 3 women’s open national records.
TOP OVEALL SENIOR MALE OF THE YEAR 2011: CHRISTIAN SELBY
He was the most outstanding senior male swimmer at the Scotia Bank Long Course National Championship an award also won at the Cave Shepherd & Co Ltd Short Course version. His medal count was 16 & 17 gold medals respectively. Participating in the LIME Carifta Swimming Championship he won gold and bronze contributing to his Country’s medal pot. He also represented Barbados at the Central American & Caribbean Swimming Championships. Division Champion at the Aquatic Centre International Invitational where he achieved 13 medals, 11 of which were gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze he also competed at The Powerade Secondary Schools’ swimming Championships where he established 3 new meet records and 1 national age group mark. At the Chefette Stingrays Swim Meet he garnered 8 gold medals.
The LEAH MARTINDALE TROPHY for the Award for the Most Valuable Swimmer of the 26th LIME Carifta Swimming Championships went to ZABRINA HOLDER who was the winner of this category for the 4th consecutive year. This year she swam 14 events-10 individual and 4 relays. Achieved 13 medals-12 gold, 1 silver; posted 13 new marks: 10 national records, 2 relay open records and 1 Carifta meet record. She was also Division Champion of the girls’ 13-14 age group.
THE VICTOR NORVILLE MEMORIAL TROPHY was awarded to LANI CARBREA who posted the best time overall for Barbados at the meet in the 800 M freestyle event 9:17.46 FINA ranked at 696 points. LANI swam four events for three silver medals, established 4 age group and 4 women’s open national records and also participated in the relays.
The Award for the Best Female and Male performance in an individual Swim at the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Championships (CCCAN) went to ZABRINA HOLDER & CHRISTIAN SELBY respectively. Holder’s swim in the 100 M butterfly of 1:04.48 earning 657 points earned the best FINA ranked time for Barbados at the Championship. She also achieved 5 medals-2gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze, established 4 new marks and swam under the CCCAN record time in the 50 M butterfly event. Christian Selby accomplished his feat in the 200 M freestyle event in which he posted 2:06.18 for a FINA ranked time achieving 528 points.
BRADLEY ALLY received the Award for the Best male swim for Barbados at the 14th FINA World Swimming Championship and was the lone representative for Barbados. He posted an Olympic ‘A’ time in the 200 M IM and a ‘B’ time in the 100 M backstroke which was also a new open mark in the national record books. He achieved a time of 2:00.03 ranked at the event as the 17th fastest time in the world and to which FINA attributed 858 points.
The Goodwill Swim Meet recorded the highlight of junior performance for 2011. KENDI BYNOE was the winner of the Most Valuable Female Swimmer Award at this meet. She was Division Champion in the 9-10 age group, achieved 10 medals overall: 6 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze and 2 meet records. Her counterpart in the male division was DAMON ST PRIX who also won his division in the 9-10 age group distinguishing himself by capturing the most points overall as a single individual at the meet, contributed a medal tally of 11 made up of 9 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, established 5 goodwill meet records, 1 relay meet record, 5 national age group records and 2 national age group relay records and emerging with the best profile overall for Barbados. He also carried off the award for the MOST MOTIVATED SWIMMER as was adjudged by his colleagues for his team spiritedness, discipline and leadership qualities among others.
ZABRINA HOLDER returned to the Awards podium once again to secure the Award for the Best Overall Swim in an individual Event for the 4th Commonwealth Youth Games. Her time in the 100 SCM butterfly of 1:02.51 FINA ranked at 683 points secured the best swim of the Youth Games for Barbados. She established five new records inclusive of 2 women’s open records. In the 50 SCM butterfly her time of 29.07 in addition to placing her as the 1st alternate in 9th position also erased the old national record of 30:21 established by her in 2010. In the 200 SCM IM she posted 2:25.12 lowering the old record from 2:26.09. In the 100 SCM butterfly she romped home 6th in the final to further shave a few splits off her prelim time to 1:02.51 for a new national age group and women’s open record.
MATTHEW COURTIS was awarded the trophy for the Best Male Swim at the Youth Commonwealth Games. He established a new age group 15-17 and men’s open national record in the 1500 SCM freestyle in 16:34.75 and finished his heat in this event in 1st position while scorching 18.15 seconds off his seed time. He was a finalist in the 400 SCM IM and in the 200 SCM butterfly placing 5th and 8th and securing best times in the process. His time in the 400 SCM IM was lowered to 4:42.22 a reduction of 4 seconds and in the final of the 200 SCM butterfly. He further shaved 2 seconds off his preliminary time to post 2:14.15. Courtis also improved his performance in the 200 SCM IM posting in on 2:15.22 and in the 200 SCM backstroke in a time of 2:13.78. Courtis had a successful meet.
The National Swim Team representing Barbados at the 16th Panamerican Games was made up of two female and two male swimmers. The Award for the Best female swim was presented to LANI CABRERA. Her best time for the Games was done in the 800 M event in a time of 9:20.83 FINA ranked at 683 points. SHAWN CLARKE was the recipient of the Award for the Best Male Swim of the Games for the time done in the 100 M freestyle event of 51:00 seconds ranked at 778 points.
Other Awardees contributing to the success of the sport were:
- VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: MR IAN STEWART, 2ND VICE PRESIDENT, BASA
- COACH OF THE YEAR: MR ANTONIO MARTINEZ PETROLANDA, HEAD COACH, ALPHA SWIM CLUB
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