Bishop Bavin Seals

The 2009/2010 swimming season was once again tremendously successful for Seals swimmers. A number of our swimmers broke records, and were also selected for National and International squads. Craig Groenewald once again did South Africa proud. After returning from the Global Games last year as Athlete of the Games, he set 7 new World records from September to December 2009. Paralympian  Shireen Sapiro set 3 new World records at S.A.Short Course Championships. She also participated at the IPC World Short Course Championships in Brazil, together with fellow Seals, Sibusiso Mogale and Adri Visser. Shireen won 2 silver medals at this event.

At CGA Open Champs in December, Brendend Crawford set a new meet record in 100m breaststroke event, whilst Roh-Anne Coetzee was awarded the Sub-Junior Victrix Ludorum. Bishop Bavin Seals were placed 3rd out of 20 clubs at this event, scooping a total of 36 medals.

Tyrone Rademeyer set new SA and Africa records in the Downs Syndrome category at Seagulls Champs in Durban.
Dylan Da Silva won 5 gold medals and broke 3  SA records at the Nedbank National Champs in Port Elizabeth.

2010 is a year to remember not only for soccer, but also for swimming.
Oneida Cooper has been selected for the Junior Olympic team to participate in Singapore in August.
Etienne Van Den Berg, Blair Neely and Sarah-Ann Bouwer have been selected to represent CGA in Ireland in July.
Craig Groenewald, Sibusiso Mogale and Adri Visser will be competing at the IPC World Champs in Eindhoven in August.

The Open Water Swimming scene was once again dominated by Megan Gomes and Kayla Shortt. Together with Craig, their relay team at Midmar was placed 6th out of 700 teams. Craig won the Mens Disabled event, whilst Shireen won the Ladies Disabled Event.
Kayla was re-awarded her Colours for Senior Nationals after winning gold in the 3km event. She also won the CGA Elite Trophy for the top female swimmer 14-30yrs of age in the province.

The Open Water season culminated with The Robben Island Freedom Swim , in which both Shireen and Kayla participated. Shireen had to withdraw due to hypothermia, but Kayla was the 7th female to finish, in so doing , she became  the youngest ever to have completed a solo crossing of this extreme 7.5km event.

Father Ellis once again handed out certificates and trophies to our top swimmers at an awards ceremony, held in the school dining hall. Trophies were awarded to:

Top Male Swimmer 2010- Craig Groenewald
Top Female Swimmer 2010- Sarah-Ann Bouwer
Most Improved Male Swimmer 2010- Dylan Da Silva
Most Improved Female Swimmer 2010- Roh-Anne Coetzee
Junior and Senior Open Water Swimmer 2010- Kayla Shortt
Top Level 3 Swimmer - Oneida Cooper
Top Level 2 Swimmer – Robin Raven
Top Level 1 Swimmer- Dylan Anderson

Special certificates to:
Excellence in Open Water Swimming-Megan Gomes
New CGA Meet Record- Brenden Crawford
New Africa Record- Tyrone Rademeyer

Congratulations to all our swimmers on their wonderful achievements. Thanks also to coach Theo Verster, for a very successful season, and good luck to all our swimmers who will be travelling overseas to compete in 2010.
Here’s hoping for an even better 2010/2011 season- if possible!

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