The Swimming South Africa Level 3 Regional Championships gala took place in Cape Town from 3 to 6 April. Port Elizabeth based Aquabear swimming club was well represented by Grahamstown with nine local swimmers participating. Shaelyn Walker, Cally Still, Cara Meldrum and Wendy-Mae Turner (DSG); Craig Macpherson, Joshua Orsmond, Scott Ritchie and Oliva Lange (St Andrew’s College) and Catherine Williamson (Kingswood College) all went through to the mother city to compete.
The total medal tally was five gold 10 silver and three Bronze medals for the Grahamstown swimmers. Gold individual medals were won by Oliva Lange in the 200m breaststroke (Junior Nationals Qualification time) and Catherine Williamson in the 200m breaststroke. The 13 and Under Medley relay was well represented by Grahamstown girls Still (butterfly) Turner (freestyle) and Williamson (breaststroke) taking a convincing gold.
Silver individual medals were won by Lange in the 100m breaststroke (Junior Nationals Qualification time) and the 50m breaststroke; Williamson in the 100m and 50m breaststroke, Walker in the 200m backstroke and Ritchie in the 50m freestyle. Silver medals were also won in two relay groups again by the same trio of girls in the 4x50m freestyle and the 14 to 18-year boys in the medley relay with Joshua Orsmond swimming the freestyle and Craig Macpherson the breaststroke.
The remaining medal tally was earned by Shaelyn Walker in the 50m and 100m backstroke and the 400m freestyle where she won deserved bronze medals. Four new College records were set with Oliva Lange breaking the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke event and Craig Macpherson breaking his own 200m breaststroke record.
Grahamstown’s swimmers continue to do well in these galas and look to continue to improve in each gala in which they participate.
Photo: Supplied
Photo: Supplied
Photo: Supplied
