by Carol Ann Gollop | Mar 1, 2018 | Blog, News
The BASA Awards Ceremony for the 2017 aquatics season took place on Sunday February 25th at the Radisson Aquatica Resort. The event kicked off with a Welcome Address by Mr. Tony Selby (BASA President) and an inspirational speech by one of the founders of the Aquatic Centre, Mr. Maurice Foster. The Aquatic Centre celebrated its 70th Anniversary in 2017, and Mr. Foster shared the stories and experiences that led to the development of the facility.
The evening also included a presentation by Guest Speaker Mr. Erskine Simmons (Secretary General of the Barbados Olympic Association).
The Awardees for the 2017 aquatics season are as follows:
CARIFTA SWIMMING
The Leah Martindale Trophy for Most Valuable Swimmer: Danielle Titus
The Victor Norville Memorial Trophy for Best Overall Swim: Jack Kirby
Best Female Open Water Performance: Danielle Clarke
Best Male Open Water Performance: Eric Lashley
WATER POLO
Women’s 18 & Under
The Most Improved Player: Suann Spencer
The Most Committed Player: Thea Beckles
Men 18 & Under
The Most Improved Player: Tyrese Beckles
The Most Committed Player: Nathan James
MEN 16 & Under
The Most Improved Player: Darien Maynard
The Most Committed Player: Anij Brewster
14 & Under Mixed Team
The Most Improved Player: Rihanna Philips
The Most Committed Player: Fozlo Brewster
The Coach of the Year: Ryan Forde
CCCAN SWIMMING
Best Overall Female Performance: Lani Cabrera
Best Overall Male Performance: Alex Sobers
Most Valuable Swimmer: Nkosi Dunwoody
Best Female Open Water Performance: Amelie Baker
Best Male Open Water Performance: Nathaniel Roach
SYNCHRONIZED / ARTISTIC SWIMMING
Most Improved Swimmer: Samaiyah Forde
Best Performance of the Year: Erica Loustric
Coach of the Year: Kiera Bloom
4th COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES
Best Overall Female Performance: Danielle Titus
Best Overall Male Performance: Jack Kirby
6th FINA WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Best Overall Female Performance: Danielle Titus
Best Overall Male Performance: Jack Kirby
17th FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Best Overall Female Performance: Lani Cabrera
Best Overall Male Performance: Alex Sobers
GOODWILL SWIM MEET
Most Valuable Female Swimmer: Rebecca Lashley
Most Valuable Male Swimmer: Niel Skinner
Most Motivated Swimmer: Xian Trotman
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Matthew Lashley
This award is given to an individual who selflessly made a significant contribution to the sport, their Association and Clubs for 2017. The individual receiving this award for 2017 is a constant presence at all local swim meets as either a timer or chief timer and is always willing to go where help is needed. He has also been instrumental in the development of open water swimming in Barbados over the past few years. He accompanies our swimmers on every practice to ensure their safety and keeping them on course. He served as part of the management team for the 2017 CCCAN championships and was brought in by Trinidad to assist as part of the open water safety crew for the 5KM event.
OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR: Sonia O’Neal
SONIA O’NEAL made her official debut in officiating when she attended an officials’ course held at the Gymnasium in support of the 1998 Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships hosted by Barbados to develop officials for that occasion. She continued her development as a swimming Referee and Judge, officiating at all local competitions, travelling to officiate at the Carifta Swimming Championships, Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships and the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Championships annually. During that time she attended several clinics and was accredited as a FINA International Body Official from the year 2000. She officiated at several FINA sanctioned events, including the World Championships and World Junior Championships.
Sonia continues to assist the Barbados Amateur Swimming Association with the development of officials and management of locally held swimming competitions. She also travels to sister islands to assist with the management and organization of their events.
Sonia is currently the Chair of the UANA Swimming Technical Committee, and has recently been selected as a member of the International Body – FINA Technical Swimming Committee.
To add to all of this, Sonia has also served local aquatics in an administrative capacity, having been President of the Barbados Amateur Swimming Association for 12 years – (2000-2012); and President of Alpha Sharks Swim Club for 2 years (1998-2000). She is currently the Treasurer of the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Federation
SWIMMING COACH OF THE YEAR: Antonio Martinez-Petrolanda
Coach Tony has been committed to and involved with the development of swimming in Barbados for over 20 years. He has travelled as the National Coach with swim teams to numerous events around the globe, and in 2017 was the Head Coach for the teams travelling to Carifta in the Bahamas, CCCAN in Trinidad and the FINA World Championships in Budapest. He also successfully led his local team to another victory at the Aquatic Centre Invitational in May 2017.
SPONSOR OF THE YEAR: Purity Bakeries
MOST OUTSTANDING JUNIOR FEMALE SWIMMER: Aza Dunwoody
MOST OUTSTANDING JUNIOR MALE SWIMMER: Zachary Taylor
MOST OUTSTANDING SENIOR FEMALE SWIMMER: Danielle Titus
MOST OUTSTANDING SENIOR MALE SWIMMER: Alex Sobers
by Carol Ann Gollop | Feb 28, 2018 | Blog, News
The Barbados Amateur Swimming Association is pleased to announce that the 2018 BASA LC National Swimming Championships (Feb 27 – Mar 4) as well as the 27th Aquatic Centre International (May 25 – 27) have both been approved by FINA as official qualifying events for the Youth Olympic Games, taking place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October.
by Carol Ann Gollop | Dec 11, 2017 | Blog, Featured, News
Aunty Mads, Swim Coach to Countless – December 10th, 2017 – by Nicki Hunte.
Yesterday, Saturday 9th of December 2017, the swimming fraternity lost a long-standing and beloved member of the family. We are sorry to share the news that our dear friend Madelaine Mercure is no longer with us. In addition to being a swim coach, Madelaine was also part of the Aquatic Centre’s first management team in the early 1990s.
For over 27 years, Madeline and Nicki Hunte together ran the Pirates Learn to Swim Club. This fit with her love of water as she was also a huge sailing enthusiast. Her approach to running the club was always very professional, feeling a real sense of responsibility for the task parents were entrusting the club with. Her dedication showed by her unwillingness to ever cancel a class, so on several occasions classes were taught through heavy showers, and storms, even if only one child attended. Her generous and compassionate nature was reflected when any parent had financial difficulty, the child was never turned away. She really loved children and genuinely wanted to see them succeed and be equipped with the vital skill of knowing how to swim.
Madeline found she had a special place in her heart for the youngest children. In 1999 this led to her beginning an innovative new Parent-Toddler swim class that allowed little ones to become water safe. Every Saturday morning she could be seen heading into the Aquatic Center, a huge bag of noodles on her a shoulder, a smile on her face and an eagerness to get the classes started. Because of her drive to teach, countless Barbadians are now well equipped to take on the water, whether in a competitive or recreational capacity.
Madeline was forced into retirement because of her illness, she knew that she had to put every ounce of energy into trying to get well. She knew she would not be able to keep up the level of commitment and passion needed to run the club through this difficult time. It is on this very sad day that we announce that she has lost that battle, and has now sailed on.
by Carol Ann Gollop | Jul 25, 2017 | Blog, Featured, News
The Barbados team for the 2017 Goodwill Swim Meet has been ratified, and final preparations are underway for the event which will be held from August 18 to 21, at the National Aquatic Centre in Liliendaal, Guyana.
8 & Under Age Group
GIRLS: Rylan Marville, Jaiya Simmons, Allysa Roachford, Xian Trotman
BOYS: Matthew DaCosta-Hinds, Chaddain Sandiford, Jun Mikami, Tariq Greenidge
9 – 10 Age Group
GIRLS: Kenyah Deane, Heidi Baker, Chelsie Deane, Toni Walrond
BOYS: Khaleb Gaskin, Amani Millar, Charlie, Williams, Joshua Ross
11-12 Age Group
GIRLS: Amelie Baker, Kyla Beckles, Takiyah Weekes, Adara Stoddard
BOYS: Cian Hickey
13-14 Age Group
GIRLS: Shirkeitha Hunte, Chara Hinds, Zoe Taylor, Nyomi Boxhill
BOYS: Eric Lashley, Niel Skinner, Jack Kelshall, Nathaniel Roach
15-17 Age Group
GIRLS: Rebecca Lashley
BOYS: Keon Jessamy, Matthew Mayers, Kyron Richards, Xavier Straughn
MANAGEMENT TEAM
HEAD COACH: Darny Olalde Hernandez
ASSISTANT COACHES: Ancille Inniss, Russell Walton
TEAM MANAGER: Trisha Millar
CHAPERONES: Kathleen Beckles, Anthony Walrond, Gail-Ann Weekes
by Carol Ann Gollop | Jul 3, 2017 | Blog, News, Uncategorized
Barbados’ aquatic fraternity can be proud of the stellar performance of our swim team at CCCAN 2017 in Trinidad! The team brought home a total haul of 31 medals (Individual: 9 gold, 8 silver, 10 bronze. Relay: 4 bronze), 1 new CCCAN Record, 1 new National Bdos Record, and 8 new Bdos Age Group Records. Collectively our swim team placed 5th overall, out of a total of 23 Caribbean and Central American countries.
Below is a breakdown of the team’s accomplishments:
11-12 Age Group
Zachary Taylor
- SILVER in 200m Breast (2:39.54)
- BRONZE in 50m Breast (34.35)
- SILVER in 100m Breast (1:14.61)
Kai Trotman
- BRONZE & Bdos Age Group Record in 50m Free (26.65)
Aza Dunwoody
- Bdos Age Group Record in 50 Fly (30.80)
- SILVER in 200m Fly (2:34.84)
Keliani Talma
- BRONZE in 200m Fly (2:35.60)
13-14 Age Group
Nkosi Dunwoody
- GOLD & Bdos Age Group Record in 200m Breast (2:28.19)
- SILVER in 400m IM (4:50.97)
- SILVER in 200m IM (2:16.69
- GOLD & Bdos Age Group Record in 50m Breast (30.95)
- SILVER in 100m Breast (1:09.48)
Tristan Pragnell
- SILVER in 200m Back (2:15.80)
Danielle Titus
- BRONZE in 50m Back (31.45)
- GOLD in 100m Back (1:07.21)
- GOLD in 200m IM (2:28.95)
- GOLD, CCCAN Record & Bdos Open Record in 200m Back (2:22.39)
Ashley Weekes
- BRONZE in 100m Breast (1:19.21)
15-17 Age Group
Jack Kirby
- GOLD in 50m Back (27.23)
- GOLD in 100m Back (58.12)
- SILVER in 200m Back (2:08.22)
Luis-Sebastian Weekes
- BRONZE in 200m IM (2:10.93)
- BRONZE in 100m Breast (1:06.75)
18 & Over
Alex Sobers
- BRONZE & Bdos Age Group Record in 400m Free (4.00.17)
Christopher Courtis
- GOLD in 50m Back (26.48)
- GOLD in 100m Back (57.14)
- BRONZE in 200m Back (2:09.14)
Lani Cabrera
- BRONZE in 200m Free (2:10.75)
RELAYS
11-12 Mixed 200m Relay: Bdos Age Group Record (1:53.03) – Z. Taylor, A. Deane, A. Dunwoody, K. Trotman
13-14 Mixed Relays: Bdos Age Group Record (1:49.38) – M. Clarke, D. Titus, A. Weekes, N. Dunwoody
11-12 Girls 400m Freestyle Relay: BRONZE (4:19.38) – A. Deane, K. Talma, K. Renwick, A. Dunwoody)
11-12 Boys 400m Freestyle Relay: Bdos Age Group Record (4:08.66) -C. Pollard, K. Trotman, O.Sealy, Z. Taylor
12-14 Girls 400m Freestyl Relay: BRONZE (4:10.85) – A. Weekes, Z. Gaskin, D. Treasure, D. Titus
11-12 Boys 400m Medley Relay: BRONZE & Bdos Age Group Record (4:35.17) – C. Pollard, Z. Taylor, O. Sealy, K. Trotman
15-17 Boys 400m Medley Relay: BRONZE (4:02.60) – J. Kirby, J. Walrond, L-S. Weekes, D. St.Prix
by Carol Ann Gollop | Jun 6, 2017 | Blog, Featured, News
Despite the windy conditions, swimmers got to enjoy a bright and sunny morning of swimming in Carlisle Bay, for the 2017 BASA Open Water Classic 5K and 1.25K races.
17 competitors participated in the 5K race, including CCCAN open water swimmers Nathaniel Roach, Eric Lashley & Danielle Clarke. Young Nathaniel & Eric led the men the entire race, and were first to hit the board at the end with times of 1:10.17 and 1:10.23 respectively. Danielle was the first female to cross the finish line with a time of 1:18.15.
In the 1.25K race a total of 50 swimmers took to the crystal blue waters of Carlisle Bay. On the men’s side the pack was led the entire race by the foursome of Luis-Sebastian Weekes, Jack Kirby, Nkosi Dunoody and Karsten Marsten, who subsequently finished in that same order (15.56, 16.05, 16.08, & 16.22) . The ladies were brought home by Danielle Treasure in a time of 19.59, with Takiyah Weekes (20.08) & CCCAN open water swimmer Amelie Baker (20.09) taking second and third respectively.
Here are the complete age group results and times for the day’s events.
BASA OPEN WATER CLASSIC 2017 – RESULTS
View more images from the day on our Facebook page.
