Local swimmers gather medals, set new records at galas
Swimmers at Riverview Prep and Laerskool Malelane broke records and won medals at galas in Barberton, Mbombela and Malalane the last two weeks.
Riverview Prep School’s swimmers concluded their league competitions with a sterling home gala against Laerskool Bergland in Mbombela last Thursday.
Although several learners won their items and set up new best times on Thursday, each gala is structured differently and no records are kept.
The short C-league season includes two galas in the first term and another two in the last term.
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The aim of the league is to give learners in smaller schools more chances to compete and gain experience in a competitive environment. Once all of the schools have competed in the various league galas, the performances will be tallied and the schools ranked.
As their final mass sports event for the year, Riverview’s swimmers competed in their interhouse gala last Tuesday. Unfortunately, only half of the event could be hosted before severe weather and possible thunder chased swimmers out of the pool.
Two records were broken on the day. Milan van der Nest bettered David Thomson’s time of 24,47 in the u/8 25m butterfly with a time of 22,19s.
Danny Snyman set up a new record of 39,15s for the u/13 or open 50m butterfly, bettering record holder Willie Engelbrecht’s time of 42,88s.
The rest of the items were completed on Wednesday afternoon, ending Riverview’s competitive swimming season for the year.
Jaime Maritz set up a new record for the girls u/9 25m backstroke, with a time of 23,5s. The previous record time of 24,29 was set up by Selanna Biggs.
The Rollers in blue defeated the Hornbills 575 to 482.
Laerskool Malelane’s swimmers have also done well over the past two weeks.
During the Barberton Daisy Gala on November 1, the u/8 and u/10 mixed relay teams won bronze medals. Janca Hattingh won a bronze, silver and gold medal and Henning Radley won a bronze and a gold, setting a new record in freestyle.
Bronze medals also went to Mieke van der Merwe, Minette Swartz and De La Rey Radley, silver to Anna Cloete and gold to Lara Jansen van Rensburg and Rossouw Janson.
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During the Top Schools Gala in Mbombela on November 3, Rossouw Janson won another gold medal, Janca Hattingh won a silver and bronze, Henning Radley won three bronze and Cloete, one bronze.
The boys, aged 10 to 14, also came third in their medley relay and won a bronze medal.
The team was one of Laerskool Malelane’s biggest to date and several development swimmers were included. Despite the tough competition, many of the swimmers ended in the top ten of their item. The school’s junior and senior teams came tenth overall out of 17 schools from across the province.
Galas such as these have helped learners set up qualifying times for levels, which is scheduled for March and April next year.
