Coach and sponsor boost hopes for local swimming

(CNS): With the arrival of the new technical director of swimming and confirmation that Maples and Calder will sponsor for the Cayman National Development Programme, officials said Cayman Swimming is poised to buildon the sport and make the island a serious international contender. CIASA’s President Tom McCallum saidMaples was joining the government with the investment in the sport. In Cayman for a week, with three of the swimmers Ian Armiger has coached to positions on the UK Olympic Team, the new director has been spending time on the pool deck at the Lions Aquatic Centre (LAC), meeting with representatives of CIASA, Camana Bay Aquatic Club (CBAC) and Stingray Swim Club (SSC).

The visiting Olympic swimmers are Caitlin McClatchey, who qualified for the Olympics in 200m Freestyle; Amy Smith, who qualified for the Olympics in 50m + 100m Freestyle and Joe Roebuck, who qualified for the Olympics in 200m Butterfly, 200m and 400m IM. The three, along with Coach Ian, conducted clinics at the LAC and CBAC.

Earlier this year, Minister Scotland said he was delighted that someone who is internationally renowned and recognised in the sport of swimming is Cayman’s new Technical Director for Swimming.

“With the recent successes of Shaune and Brett Fraser bringing swimming to the forefront of sporting successes in Cayman we look forward to seeing Coach Armiger’s innovation and dedication elevating both the sport of swimming domestically and the success of Cayman swimming internationally,” Scotland stated. “CIASA has worked closely with the Ministry to achieve this milestone hiring and we look forward to a continued, close working relationship with CIASA in the coming year.”

Meanwhile, Dale Crowley a partner with Maples and Calder Partner welcomed the new coach whose primary focus will be developing a world class swim programme in Cayman. His colleague Paul Lumsden said the sponsorship represented an exciting development and the firm was looking forward to “seeing Ian make his trademark ‘fast swimming’ a part of Cayman swimming’s mantra."