St Andrew’s College pupil, Simon Pheasant, recently qualified to take part in the Eastern Province swimming championships, in four different events.
St Andrew’s College pupil, Simon Pheasant, recently qualified to take part in the Eastern Province swimming championships, in four different events.
Pheasant will take part in the 50 metre and 100 metre backstroke as well as the 50 metre and 100 metre freestyle at the Eastern Province swimming championships which take place in Uitenhage from 5 to 6 December.
Pheasant is the St Andrew’s swimming captain and was also part of the 1st waterpolo side until concentrating on swimming from March this year.
He has been coached by DSG swimming coach Tudor Lacey since March this year. Lacey is a former St Andrew’s pupil who matriculated in 1959 and went on to represent South Africa in 1962 and 1964.
In the St Andrew’s interhouse gala in February this year, Pheasant set a new record of 1 minute 04.9 seconds in the 100 metre backstroke, breaking the old record of 1.05.99 set in 2002.
In a gala at DSG in July he went on to swim a 1.00.5. His time for the 100 metre freestyle was 56.1 seconds at the inter-house gala and he swam a 52.9 in July.
The school record, which can only be broken at the inter house gala, stands at 55.9. Lacey trained Pheasant throughout the winter season and “this was the first dedicated training he had ever done as he also played waterpolo at St Andrews,” said Lacey.
After the school exams and after the EP champs, Pheasant will continue his swimming training during the December holidays. He will attend Rhodes University next year and his intention is to continue his training at the DSG Aquatic Centre next year.
“Simon has tremendous potential and if he keeps working hard he can go a long way,” said Lacey, who added that swimming is a sport that takes time to build stamina and takes dedicated commitment.
Pheasant is one of five St Andrew’s pupils who qualified for the EP champs. The other pupils are Matthew Danckwerts (200 metre and 100 metre freestyle), Dylan Ramsay (50 metre and 100 metre freestyle), Rupert Kieser (50 metre and 100 metre breaststroke) and Michael Houghton (100 metre freestyle).
