adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
MASHONALAND Swimming Board chairperson, Niroshia Abdulla, says they are looking forward to an explosive weekend when they hold the Mashonaland Senior Championships starting today at Les Brown pool. The event takes off this evening with participants from six clubs — Sharks, Harare Otters, Dorado, Spartans, Highlands and Pirates — taking part.
Sharks are the defending champions having finished on top last year after dominating in both the men and women’s sections.
Abdulla said they were expecting the usual clubs to take part although most of the Under-10s will not be competing.
“We have got all of the clubs attending. There are five clubs within Harare, then there is Dorado so it’s going to be the usual six clubs.
“I would not expect more than 200 swimmers because most of our juniors, the Under-10s will not swim.
There will be very few because of the distance, they normally don’t do the 50m and 100m so a few stronger ones will participate but the majority will not do it.
“Entries are due only tomorrow morning (today) that’s when I will have the actual numbers,” said Abdulla.
Abdulla said they were looking forward to a tough competition among the swimmers who have continued to improve as the season progressed.
“For Mashonaland it’s obviously the biggest event although the national championships are the big event but at club level this is a big event for us and there is always very stiff competition.
“There are two big clubs, Sharks and Otters, they usually provide more swimmers.
“Sharks dominate mostly because of the size but look the swimmers have been really competing well and a lot of them have already achieved the times for next year’s tours.
“And that’s very encouraging,” said Abdulla. The championships will be held over two weekends with the first competition starting today and will run until Sunday when they take a break for a few days.
The championships will then resume on December 6 to 8.
Online Reporter