Local swimmers begin fight for CARIFTA team spot

(Stingray Swim Club): The upcoming Pete Ribbins Memorial Consolidated Water Meet, hosted at the Lions Aquatic Centre by the Stingray Swim Club from 29 Feb – 4 March will see eligible swimmers between the ages of 11-17 years old focussing on making qualifying times for the Cayman Islands 2012 CARIFTA Swim Team. This meet take place over four days, offers an array of events from the traditional sprints to the longer 400m, 200m and 100m events and is the final meet in which qualifying CARIFTA times can be attained. In the week following the conclusion of the meet, theCayman Islands Junior Swim Team will be selected and final training for CARIFTA – which takes place in the Bahamas from April 12-15 – will begin.

Gregory S. McTaggart, VP (Cayman) Operations offered the following – a poignant tribute to a colleague and an athlete who understood that swimming could make a meaningful difference to Cayman’s youth,.

“Consolidated Water's commitment to swimming in the Cayman Islands was started many years ago by the late Pete Ribbins, himself a former Ironman triathlete,” he said. “Pete understood the value of physical activities, participation in organized sports and competition to the proper development of young people — these things helping to instil the principles of dedication, perseverance, fair play and accomplishment.

“It seemed natural for a water company to champion swimming and Consolidated Water is proud to continue Pete's legacy in supporting the Stingray Swim Club and its mission to help develop young bodies and minds into outstanding young people," McTaggart added.
Stingray Swim Club is proud to continue Pete Ribbins’ legacy of sporting achievements and is grateful, once again, to Consolidated Water for their sponsorship of the meet.

“This four day meet provides swimmers with the opportunity to test themselves in the longer distance events which are not part of the faster sprint meets,” said Brenda McGrath, President of Stingray Swim Club. “For the younger swimmers it can be a daunting but challenging experience to embark on a 100m race for the first time; and for the senior swimmers it is the opportunity to turn months and sometimes years of training in to the fulfilment of a dream: to reach a standard worthy of gaining entry into CARIFTA, the Caribbean region’s most prestigious swimming competition.”

A great turn out is expected with 140+ swimmers from Stingray Swim Club (SSC), Camana Bay Aquatic Club (CBAC) and TI Team (AAP Coaching) signed up. Members of the public who have never attended a swim meet are encouraged to make time to visit the Lions Aquatic Centre during the meet. Admission is free and with four sessions there are four opportunities for you to come out and support Cayman’s youth. Meet sessions are on Wednesday from 5:30-6pm; Friday 2nd from 5:30-8:30pm; Saturday 3rd from 8:30am-12:30pm and Sunday 4th from 9:00am-12 Noon.