The Barbados Aquatic Sports Association (BASA) and the National Sports Council have agreed on a proposal that will teach more persons within the community how to swim, says first vice-president of BASA, Madame Justice Cicely Chase-Harding.
Delivering the address during the association’s Awards and Dinner ceremony held last night at the Radisson Aquatica Hotel on behalf of BASA president Tony Selby, Chase-Harding said following a meeting on January 2, 2020, with NSC director Neil Murrell, the decision was taken to not only teach individuals how to swim but introduce them to aquatic sports like water polo and artistic swimming.
BASA already has a learn to swim program in collaboration with the Ministry of Education for 40 of the island’s 83 primary schools. However, the decision to create more swimming programs for Barbadians has intensified following an appeal made last year by Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
The Prime Minister’s call came following the drowning of a mother and child in Christ Church, and the rescue of two young boys on the West Coast.
“Clubs associated with BASA have learn to swim programs as part of their development programs and one or two clubs also have adult learn to swim programs.
“This year a meeting was held with Mr. Murrell of the NSC, members of the Barbados water polo club and myself, to review the development of aquatics in Barbados, particularly at the primary and secondary school level,” Chase-Harding noted.
“Coming out of that meeting, Wayne Beckles proposed that one day every two weeks or once a month, be designated toward the teaching of swimming to members of the community, where individuals in the sport give of their time and experience to teach community members how to swim and introduce them to the aquatic sports of water polo and artistic swimming as their skills improve.”
During the awards ceremony, Danielle Titus and Olympian Alex Sobers were named Most Outstanding Senior Female and Male swimmers for 2019 respectively.
From left, Most Outstanding Senior Female Swimmer of the Year Danielle Titus received one of several prizes from first vice-president of Barbados Aquatic Swimming Association Cicely Chase- Harding. (Picture by Morissa Lindsay).
The Most Outstanding Junior Female swimmer went to Toni Walrond and Jaden Lavine captured the male equivalent.
The Barbados Olympic Association’s (BOA) Secretary-General, Erskine Simmons was the featured speaker and revealed that BASA will receive a grant of $130, 000 this year, a significant increase from the $72, 000 paid in 2019. It is among the highest-paid to a national federation.
Simmons also praised BASA for being one of the most efficiently run sports organisations in Barbados.
“You are viewed by my board as one of our very important members and we hope that BASA will be a major player in helping us to achieve the strategic objectives we have developed in our recently approved strategic plan which focuses on five strategic pillars.
“These pillars are excellence and passion, transforming lives through sports, building capacity, sustaining our legacy and being a leader among leaders,” he said.
Simmons explained that the BOA is hoping to take approximately 16 athletes to the Tokyo Olympics Games and plans are still on stream despite the global epidemic coronavirus.
After a phenomenal year in the pool, Titus and Sobers repeatedly visited the stage after their names were announced for numerous awards.
The 17-year-old Titus broke several records and is one of the most talented backstrokers in Barbados. She appears destined to ensure her name is written among the list of Barbadian swimming greats which include the likes of three-time Olympian Nicholas Neckles who received special recognition for his three world masters records set last year in Gwangju, Korea, where he won three gold medals at the World Master Swimming Championships.
Among the list of prizes received for her accomplishments last year, Titus captured the trophy for the Most Outstanding Swimmer at CARIFTA Games named after another Barbadian Olympian great, Leah Martindale.
The Victor Norville Memorial trophy for Most Outstanding Swim in the 100m backstroke and top performer at the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Federation (CCCAN) also went to Titus.
The St. Michael School student was not finished as she collected an award for Best Overall Female performance at the Pan American Games and FINA World Championship held in Korea.
Sobers was adjudged Top Male Performer for Pan American and CCCAN, while Jack Kirby stood out at the FINA World Championship.
Other outstanding swimmers were recognised for their achievements, including Kaiel Johnson who was named the Most Motivated Swimmer for Goodwill 2019, along with Amiya Harrison and Nikolai Sisnett – both eight and under competitors – who were named Most Valuable Female and Male swimmers respectively for Goodwill.
The award for Best Overall Female and Male performances at the FINA World Junior Championships went to Danielle Treasure and Tristan Pragnell respectively.
Olivia Treasure had the Best Performance for artistic swimming and Samaiyah Forde was the Most Improved.
For water polo, in the 18 and Under division, Luke Kelshall was the Most Dedicated and Lamar Mayers named Most Improved, while In the 16 and Under, Nathan Walker was Most Dedicated and Marcus Whittington won the award for Most Improved.
FINA’s Sonia O’Neal was named Official of the Year while Coach of the Year went to Akeem Nurse (water polo); Fiona Bethell (artistic swimming) and Darny Hernandez Olade of swimming.
morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb
