Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DEFENDING champions Spartans Swimming Club are looking at stretching their dominance when they take to the pool tomorrow for the Ecocash National Sprint Gala in Bulawayo.
The two-day swimming inter-club competition runs until Saturday at Bulawayo City Pool.
It is promising to be a highly competitive event with over 400 swimmers having confirmed participation.
The Harare-based club claimed the top spot last year in Mutare, and coach Lindsy Tudor-Cole is confident they can repeat the same feat in Bulawayo.
“We are taking 43 swimmers this year with us. “My youngest is nine (years-old) and my oldest is 16,’’ Tudor-Cole said.
“Unfortunately, I can’t take any of my seniors because they are writing O-levels, A-levels and Cambridge AS. This is just that time of year.
“Obviously we won the gala last year, so we hope to do well. I mean, we have got new little ones competing for the first time in a National Sprint Gala, so they are very excited.”
Some of the club’s top swimmers that made the team for the gala include Alexis Johnsen and Neema Bhulabhai.
Johnsen was part of Team Zimbabwe at the Africa Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Egypt.
She went on to represent the country at the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games in Namibia, in July and last month she attended the Africa Aquatics Zone IV Championships in Eswatini.
She picked several medals at the regional competitions in both individual and relay events.
Johnsen also featured at the Namibia Aquatics Sports Federation National Short Course Championships in Swakopmund, where she picked five gold medals and one silver.
Bhulabhai was in Namibia for the Region 5 Games.
“I am taking Alexis Johnsen . . . she’s been performing.
“She is probably our most experienced swimmer that we are taking. She’s also been working hard.
“And Neema Bhulabhai, she is a really good breaststroker,” said Tudor-Cole.
They will be joined by the likes of Dominic Bowl, Kaylea Rogers and Bohan Guo, who have shown some great potential in the pool.
“But I have a number of juniors . . . up and coming as well, Dominic Bowl, one of my little boys, he’s just broken a short course record. He is only 11.
“I have got Kaylea Rogers. She is 12 years old. She is coming up; she did very well at South African Nationals.
“I think talking from Spartans’ side, we have obviously had a couple of galas already this season.
“We have had three seeded galas, and we have had two junior league galas already. So, I am expecting some good swimming.
“Bulawayo pool is always a great pool to swim in. The children love it because they love travelling. We stay together and it’s exciting for them.
“We tend to get some good swimmers out of Bulawayo. I mean, certainly from Spartans, we are very prepared,” added Tudor-Cole.
Hwange Dolphins Club are also set to be part of the gala.
They are fielding seven swimmers, and coach Joseph Chikovore said for them, it’s more about exposure and gaining experience as they are reviving the club.
“The youngest is nine years old; the oldest is 13.
“For now, everything is now in order. We are ready to be travelling to Bulawayo on Friday (tomorrow).
“This club has got only four months revived back . . . We are expecting our boys to see the national plat-form since it’s also their first time and also gain some experience for the future,” said Chikovore.
Other clubs expected in Bulawayo include Dorados East, Harare Otters, Highlands, Sharks, Vikings, Wild Orcas, Crusaders, Penguins, School of Swimming, Stingrays Swimming Academy, Dashing Dolphins, Chiredzi Swimming Club, Crocs, Dorados West, Maple Leaf, McGs, Pirates Zimbabwe, St James, The Falcons and Zambezi Tigers.
