[dropcap]R[/dropcap]odney Heights Aquatic Centre (RHAC) was a blaze from April 5 – 10 as they hosted the 19th Annual RHAC Invitational under the theme “Friendship through Competition”.
This annual event brings together not only local swim clubs, but teams from all over the region including Carriacou, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Vincent and Antiqua. This year there were 22 teams with 300 registered swimmers.
With Carifta Swimming Championships, Commonwealths Games and some regional countries still building after the hurricane season, Meet Director, Dr Diane Worrell was impressed with the turnout and camaraderie.
Final results placed Sea Jays Swim Club (St Lucia) in first place with a total of 824 points. Marlins Swim Club (Trinidad and Tobago) followed with 574 points and Sharks Swim Club (St Lucia) rounded out the top three with 515 points.
This year there were 88 meet event records set. The most in the last few years! Also Jayhan Odlum Smith, coming back from Carifta, set three National Records in 800 Metre Free in a time of 9:15.91, 200 Metre Fly (2:19.24) and 400 Individual Medley (5:05.61). All impressive considering the amount of swimming he accomplished in the days before!
For the second year, RHAC Invitational included an Open Water portion held at the St Lucia Yacht Club on Monday, April 9. Participants took to the sea for 500 M, 1,000 M, 3,000 M and 5,000 M events.
With a total of 60 swimmers registered, the most popular event was the 1,000 M (1K) which had approximately 25 swimmers entered. The most astonishing finish was Zachary Anthony (10) from Marlins Swim Club who completed the 3 K first in a time of 45:10.50.
Special recognition must go out to the Champion’s Sponsor TOGS the acronym for The Oliver Gobat Sports Fund. TOGS came on as an early sponsor and helped raise the level of the meet. Silver Sponsors include FLOW and Winners TV. Bronze Sponsors: M & C Group of Companies, Baywalk Mall, Diamonds International, St Lucia Yacht Club, Harry Edwards Jewelers, Massy Group.
Other sponsors included Barbay Ltd, Bay Gardens Resorts, Caribbean Awnings, BOSL, Beachcomber Ltd, West Indies Shipping, Domino’s Pizza, FDL Consultants Ltd, Felly Belly, Cream & Bean, Fleva, IGY Rodney BNay Marina, JE Bergasse and La Place Salaizon.
Also recognized were the officials and timers who came out to assist especially referees Edith Clashing (Antigua) and Francis Sampson (Trinidad and Tobago), Antoinette Desrivieres, Sue Dyson, Lily Bergasse and John Bruce along with RHAC staff and support staff including Lennox Alexander Joseph, Junior Francis and Jonah Robinson.
