Bermuda Validus National Swim Championships
The Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association [BASA] has announced that the Long Course National Championships, sponsored by Validus, will take place from May 28 through 31 at the National Sports Centre [NSC].
The championship meet has been sanctioned by FINA, the world governing body of aquatics, allowing results at the meet to be recognized for qualification purposes for both 2015 FINA World Championships and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Ben Smith, Bermuda National Coach, said, “The major international swimming competitions require qualifying standards to be achieved at a very limited number of meets that satisfy all requirements to ensure the accuracy of the times swum.
“As a result of the FINA sanction, and the limited number of such recognized meets each year, we are receiving interest from overseas swimmers to participate, which will provide added competition to our local swimmers seeking to continue their impressive performances from Carifta 2015.”
The Bermuda National Championships represent the last opportunity for several Bermudians to attain a qualifying time for the 2015 FINA World Championships to be held in Kazan, Russia later this summer.
Mr. Smith explained, “There are two local swimmers, Julian Fletcher and Lisa Blackburn, who have already qualified for the Pan American Games in Toronto later in July and we are hopeful that they and others make a FINA World Championships qualification time at this meet.”
Bernie Asbell [Interim CEO of the NSC] added, “This meet represents the second competition at the NSC using a 50 metre format, and we anticipate having this meet replicate the success of last year.
“The timing equipment has been thoroughly tested, the facility is in great shape and we are delighted that BASA are partnering with us to host their National Championships.”
Nick Strong [President of BASA] said, “The FINA sanction is a testament to the hard work put in by Ben structuring the meet and coordinating with FINA. In partnership with the NSC and Validus, our meet sponsor, we are excited to hold our second long course Championships.
“We appreciate the vote of confidence from Validus and we hope that we can make our partnership one that is both long and mutually beneficial.”
