Bishop Bavin Seals

The 2008/2009 swimming season has undoubtedly been the best for Bishop Bavin Seals Academy since its inception five years ago. It started off in August with Craig Groenewald winning ten medals at the INAD FID champs in Poland. Craig later went on to set a number of new South African records during the season. He represented South Africa at the Global Games in July where he won 5 gold medals, 2 bronze medals and he was voted top male swimmer at the event, as well as Top Athlete of the Global Games Olympics for mentally challenged. September was Paralympic month, and who can forget Shireen Sapiro’s gold medal and world record in the 100m backstroke event.  This was the first of many world records.  Shireen now holds world records in 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke events.  She will be representing South Africa at the Maccabi Games in Israel in June.

Tadgh Slattery also won a bronze medal at the Paralympics.  Bishop Bavin School learners and teachers were at O.R Tambo airport to welcome Shireen, Tadgh and Theo Verster (paralympics coach), as well as the other victorious Paralympians back from Beijing.

A number of our swimmers represented South Africa this season.  Tyrone Rademeyer went to the World Down Syndrome Championships.  Kris Matulovich went to the Junior Commonwealth Games in India, and Clarissa Enslin represented South Africa at the Zonal Games in Potchefstroom. 

At national level, Bishop Bavin Seals also triumphed; we won a total of 38 medals (level 1, 2 and 3 combined).  At S.A.B Nationals in Pretoria, Dylan Da Silva won 3 medals and Tyrone Rademeyer 6 medals.  Kayla Shortt was the first swimmer from the club to be selected for Open Water Nationals in Bloemfontein, where she was the first 13 year old home in the 3km event.  Megan Gomes and Kayla Shortt have dominated the CGA Open Water scene since being placed in the top 3 places for all their events.  For the third year in succession they have been awarded the Elite Senior and Junior Open Water trophies respectively.  Midmar Mile 2009 was also a huge success.  Craig Groenewald won the Men’s Disabled event, Shireen Sapiro, the Women’s Disabled event, and the team of Kayla Shortt, Megan Gomes and Shireen Sapiro came sixth out of a total of 650 teams!

The season ended in April with Shireen and Kayla swimming the Cadiz Freedom Swim – 7.5km from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand for charity.

Our annual awards brunch was held in the school dining hall in May.  Father Ellis graciously handed out awards to the following swimmers: Top Male Swimmer                                 Craig Groenewald Top Female Swimmer                              Shireen Sapiro  Most Improved Male Swimmer                Etienne Van Den Berg Most Improved Female Swimmer             Regan Saunders / Dani Van Veijeren Top Junior Open Water Swimmer            Kayla Shortt Senior Open Water Swimmer                   Megan Gomes Top Level 3 Swimmer                              Kris Matulovich Top Level 2 Swimmer                              Ruan Van Den Berg / Donovan McAntagart Top Level 1 Swimmer                              Casey Pullen

Nine of our swimmers received their National Colours in June, among them Sibusiso Mogale, Shireen Sapiro and Kayla Shortt (Open Water). We also received two of the five prestigious trophies – Top Gauteng Disabled Swimmer- Shireen Sapiro, and Top Gauteng  Open Water Swimmer all ages – Kayla Shortt.

Congratulations to all our swimmers on their achievements.  Thanks must go to coaches Theo Verster and Richard Wade.  Wishing all the swimmers a very successful 2009/2010 season.

Mrs R Velleman

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