Fourteen swimmers qualified to represent Buffalo City Aquatics (BCA) at the 2016 South African Aquatic Championship held in Durban last month.
The swimmers did very well as various personal bests were set, while five swimmers claimed 10 medals for Buffalo City Aquatics at the event.
“I thought we did very well, especially considering the size of our contingent compared to other provinces,” said BCA coach Tony Hadley.
The champs took place at Kings Park pool over seven days, and saw the country’s top swimmers going head-to-head against each other for glory.
The Buffalo City swimmers were selected from swim clubs around East London, with five swimmers each coming from Ultimate Swim Club (USC) and Aquanova, two from Harlequins and one each from Stingrays and Vikings.
USC swimmers delivered five medals, three went to Stingrays and two to Harlequins.
Impressive local talent Mark Roach from Harlequins managed two gold medals in the S15 disabled division as he triumphed in the freestyle and backstroke races.
USC’s Marne Erasmus, who is currently studying in the USA, was back and competing under her old club’s banner, claiming the win in her preferred 100m butterfly race.
Alex Nichols, 13, also from USC, claimed the gold medal in the youth 200m breaststroke final.
Stingray’s Kyle Holmes also claimed a gold medal in the youth 200m individual medley race to round out the gold medallists for Buffalo City Aquatics.
The next five medals were shared between Holmes and USC swimmer Jared Burger, as both brought home three medals each.
Holmes managed a silver in the youth 200m freestyle and a bronze in the youth 100m backstroke.
Burger, swimming in the S1 and 13 multi disability class, then claimed a silver medal in the 100m butterfly and bronze medals in the 50m butterfly and freestyle races.
In all it was a good championship for Buffalo City Aquatics, and the swimmers should be proud of their achievements.
“Many of these swimmers were here for the first time, so they did what was expected of them,” said Hadley.
“It was a really unified team and in general I think our swimming is in a good place at the moment and can go from strength to strength.”
Other local swimmers who competed at the champs were: Bathandwa Dyantyi, Khanya Jack, Dylan van Pletzen, Chloe Velde, Alexia Velde (all Aquanova), Lesley Blignaut, Hayden Worth (USC), Jarryd Hoole (Vikings) and Merisa Oelofse (Harlequins).
Buffalo squad makes waves at national champs
The swimmers did very well as various personal bests were set, while five swimmers claimed 10 medals for Buffalo City Aquatics at the event.
“I thought we did very well, especially considering the size of our contingent compared to other provinces,” said BCA coach Tony Hadley.
The champs took place at Kings Park pool over seven days, and saw the country’s top swimmers going head-to-head against each other for glory.
The Buffalo City swimmers were selected from swim clubs around East London, with five swimmers each coming from Ultimate Swim Club (USC) and Aquanova, two from Harlequins and one each from Stingrays and Vikings.
USC swimmers delivered five medals, three went to Stingrays and two to Harlequins.
Impressive local talent Mark Roach from Harlequins managed two gold medals in the S15 disabled division as he triumphed in the freestyle and backstroke races.
USC’s Marne Erasmus, who is currently studying in the USA, was back and competing under her old club’s banner, claiming the win in her preferred 100m butterfly race.
Alex Nichols, 13, also from USC, claimed the gold medal in the youth 200m breaststroke final.
Stingray’s Kyle Holmes also claimed a gold medal in the youth 200m individual medley race to round out the gold medallists for Buffalo City Aquatics.
The next five medals were shared between Holmes and USC swimmer Jared Burger, as both brought home three medals each.
Holmes managed a silver in the youth 200m freestyle and a bronze in the youth 100m backstroke.
Burger, swimming in the S1 and 13 multi disability class, then claimed a silver medal in the 100m butterfly and bronze medals in the 50m butterfly and freestyle races.
In all it was a good championship for Buffalo City Aquatics, and the swimmers should be proud of their achievements.
“Many of these swimmers were here for the first time, so they did what was expected of them,” said Hadley.
“It was a really unified team and in general I think our swimming is in a good place at the moment and can go from strength to strength.”
Other local swimmers who competed at the champs were: Bathandwa Dyantyi, Khanya Jack, Dylan van Pletzen, Chloe Velde, Alexia Velde (all Aquanova), Lesley Blignaut, Hayden Worth (USC), Jarryd Hoole (Vikings) and Merisa Oelofse (Harlequins).
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