Masters swimmers make a splash at SA champs
The overall winning club of the champs was Synergy Masters Swimming Club, a KZN-based club.
THE Rachel Finlayson Pool on Durban’s beachfront was a hive of activity recently when it hosted the 40th South African Masters Swimming Championships.
Incredibly, it was at this very site where the inaugural championships were held in 1985.
Umgeni Park residents, Carina Hambloch and her husband Richard, were part of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and said the championships produced some amazing results.
The overall winning club of the champs was Synergy Masters Swimming Club, a KZN-based club.
The club entered 88 swimmers for this championship, with 30 of these swimmers participating for the first time.
According to Richard, the championships marked four decades of dedication, camaraderie, and a lifelong love for swimming.
“Masters swimming caters to all levels of competitiveness, so it is as competitive as you make it. You set your own goals, whether you’re a top swimmer or just looking to stay fit. At the 40th SA Masters Swimming Championships there was one world masters record broken by Harald Ruck (60), Coelacanths Masters Swimming Club, in the men’s 60-64 years 50m backstroke. A few ex-Olympians participated, including Terence Parkin. The youngest swimmer was Tristan Few (19) from Synergy Masters Swimming Club and the oldest swimmer was Richard Hills (93) from Wahoo Masters,” he said.
Speaking to Northglen News, Carina explained the significance of the venue for this particular championships.
“We had a handful of internationals who entered but it was mainly competitors from around South Africa. In all, we had 380 swimmers who entered. We were hoping for more but the change of venue may have played a part. The initial plan was to host the event at Kings Park Swimming Pool, but because it is undergoing renovations we had to change to Rachel Finlayson. It’s incredibly special to be hosting the 40th edition of the championships at the same pool where it all began. This venue holds great historical significance for our swimming community, and it’s a privilege to celebrate this milestone in such a meaningful setting,” she said.
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