Upcoming: Masters Swim Champs
The Bermuda Masters Swimming Association [BMSA] will host the inaugural Bermuda Masters National Age Group Swimming Championships this Sunday at the BASA Pool.
Olympic swimmer Roy Allan Burch is set to touchdown here on Thursday in preparation for Christmas, and he has announced that he will compete in individual races.
“Are you kidding? I would not miss this for the world. I love the concept,” said Burch from his base in Charlotte.
“I fully support what the BMSA is doing in Bermuda and for Bermuda swimming and naturally for me, so I want to compete at this historic meet too. I feel I’m in good shape and it gives me the chance to have a crack at some national records during the meet.”
Swimming sensation Julian Fletcher, who came within a second of qualifying for the London Olympics when he smashed the Bermuda National 100m Breaststroke Record while competing as a guest at the US National Titles last week, has also decided to compete on Sunday in some individual races.
Fletcher has agreed to join the Bda Rep Relay Team to take on Roy in the featured Relay Race, but as his races of expertise are in breaststroke, he may not clash in an individual race with Allan-Burch.
Lisa Blackburn, who set a World Record in her age group at those same US Nationals last week, has contacted the organisers of the BMSA Meet on Sunday, and offered her best while, sadly, turning down an invitation to compete.
“I love what the BMSA is doing by creating this swim meet, but unfortunately my flight back to Bermuda doesn’t arrive until after Christmas so I have to miss it, sadly,” she said.
Nick Thompson, who trains in the US at university on a swimming scholarship, is also arriving home in time to compete in an individual event, as will recently crowned Bda National Triathlon Champions, Jonathan Herring and Cora Starzomski.
The stars are coming out to play, but the real feature of this meet is the format – it is open to every person aged 20 or over, irrespective of talent. All events are age group and there are several stars over 60 with international credits under their belts like Colleen Nelson who will be competing. Karen Smith, a perennial superstar in triathlon and who recently placed in the She Rox Duathlon in Bermuda, will also be swimming.
Corporate support has continued to stream in also. Along with Argus and Flanagan’s Irish Pub, the TV show SONGOPOLY, which returns to VSB TV in January, is a new corporate sponsor as is BEST Shipping, The Total Marketing & Communications Ltd. and Bermuda Imports and Exports.
The swim meet commences at 5pm on Sunday at the BASA Pool in Hamilton and all spectators are welcome to watch some world class athletes in action.
