Swimming excitement is building in East London with the annual National Masters Swimming competition heading to the city next year.
Amakhosi Masters Swimming Club in conjunction with Buffalo City Aquatics will be hosting the 2017 National Swimming Masters Champs at the Joan Harrison Swimming Complex from March 15-19.
“It is a huge privilege for us to host this event. You always look forward to welcoming everyone to your hometown and we are really excited about having this opportunity,” said Amakhosi Masters chairman, Kerry Skidmore.
It will be the 33rd edition of the event and fifth time that East London will host it – the last time being in 2009. Over 700 master swimmers from all provinces as well as Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Botswana and Namibia are expected to take part.
“Clubs from overseas regularly attend our national championships and we are expecting visitors from Britain, Russia, Australia and America,” claimed Skidmore. “Apart from the 700 swimmers we anticipate another 1500 spectators and visitors to attend this five-day event.”
The city will also benefit from the revenue generated from the week-long event and this will give local retailers a nice boost
“Obviously the benefits to Buffalo City will extend to our hotels, B&Bs and self-catering establishments with spin-offs to our restaurants, take-away’s and coffee shops,” said Skidmore.
“This is a perfect opportunity to show off our city and local attractions to all these visitors and overseas guests and I have already started working very closely with the Border Chamber of Business as well as Buffalo City Tourism to get the ball rolling as far as the City being ready for this prestigious event.”
As well as delivering this exciting news last week, Amakhosi Masters also held its final end-of-year awards ceremony.
Various swimmers were awarded for their top performances over the season and recognised for their great improvements.
The highlight of the season will have been the 2016 National Championships that were held at Kings Park Aquatic centre in Durban in March.
“After sending 12 swimmers the year before to the Johannesburg nationals, we increased this by more than double to 27 swimmers, making us the eighth largest club to attend from all of South Africa,” noted Skidmore.
In total Amakhosi Masters picked up 39 medals of which 18 were gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze. The top three swimmers from the club were in the younger age groups of 19-25 and 26-30.
Tazlin Birch, who cleaned up at the awards and is the club’s best swimmer, picked up five gold and two silvers to be the top performer.
Megan Skidmore, at her first Masters and with five gold and one silver was close behind however and Michael Swartz with four gold and a silver also shone.
National Champs is a masterstroke for City
Amakhosi Masters Swimming Club in conjunction with Buffalo City Aquatics will be hosting the 2017 National Swimming Masters Champs at the Joan Harrison Swimming Complex from March 15-19.
“It is a huge privilege for us to host this event. You always look forward to welcoming everyone to your hometown and we are really excited about having this opportunity,” said Amakhosi Masters chairman, Kerry Skidmore.
It will be the 33rd edition of the event and fifth time that East London will host it – the last time being in 2009. Over 700 master swimmers from all provinces as well as Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Botswana and Namibia are expected to take part.
“Clubs from overseas regularly attend our national championships and we are expecting visitors from Britain, Russia, Australia and America,” claimed Skidmore. “Apart from the 700 swimmers we anticipate another 1500 spectators and visitors to attend this five-day event.”
The city will also benefit from the revenue generated from the week-long event and this will give local retailers a nice boost
“Obviously the benefits to Buffalo City will extend to our hotels, B&Bs and self-catering establishments with spin-offs to our restaurants, take-away’s and coffee shops,” said Skidmore.
“This is a perfect opportunity to show off our city and local attractions to all these visitors and overseas guests and I have already started working very closely with the Border Chamber of Business as well as Buffalo City Tourism to get the ball rolling as far as the City being ready for this prestigious event.”
As well as delivering this exciting news last week, Amakhosi Masters also held its final end-of-year awards ceremony.
Various swimmers were awarded for their top performances over the season and recognised for their great improvements.
The highlight of the season will have been the 2016 National Championships that were held at Kings Park Aquatic centre in Durban in March.
“After sending 12 swimmers the year before to the Johannesburg nationals, we increased this by more than double to 27 swimmers, making us the eighth largest club to attend from all of South Africa,” noted Skidmore.
In total Amakhosi Masters picked up 39 medals of which 18 were gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze. The top three swimmers from the club were in the younger age groups of 19-25 and 26-30.
Tazlin Birch, who cleaned up at the awards and is the club’s best swimmer, picked up five gold and two silvers to be the top performer.
Megan Skidmore, at her first Masters and with five gold and one silver was close behind however and Michael Swartz with four gold and a silver also shone.
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