Swimming: 27th Sacos-sponsored Schools Age Group Championship-ISS relinquish one shield, but finish first overall |11 October 2008
On Thursday, the Independent School took 63 points in the boys’ 14-15 years category to rob ISS of the title.
After making a clean sweep last year, ISS still won the other nine titles in the following age categories: boys’ 7-9 years with 51 points, girls’ 7-9 years with 49 points, boys’ 10-11 years with 44 points, girls’ 10-11 years with 67 points, boys’ 12-13 years with 61 points, girls’ 12-13 years with 105 points, girls’ 14-15 years with 91 points, girls’ 16 years and over with 70 points and boys’ 16 years and over with 72 points.
Swimmers from 27 private and state schools “competed in the spirit of fair play” as Seychelles Swimming Association (SSA) chairman Mervin Austin asked them to in his opening speech.
He added it would be “nice to see swimmers who competed in the championship represent 
Before thanking all sponsors, invited guests, swimmers, coaches and swimming pool staff, Mr Austin invited more Seychellois kids to take up swimming.
Young competitors in the 7-9 and 10-11 years categories swam in the six-lane 25m pool and were awarded points for their individual efforts: first place (8 points), second place (6), third place (4), fourth place (3), fifth place (2) and sixth place (1).
Swimmers in the 12-13, 14-15 and 16 years and over categories competed in the Olympic-size 50m pool. The eight finalists were awarded points as follows: first place (10 points), second place (8), third place (6), fourth place (5), fifth place (4), sixth place (3), seventh place (2) and eighth place (1).
The competitors were allowed to compete in a maximum of three of the four strokes – freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke. They also swam for their schools’ relay teams.
Another six swimmers – Peter Jung (boys’ 7-9 years), Elle Cafrine (girls’ 7-9 years), Dean Hoffman (boys’ 10-11 years), Ryan Govinden (boys’ 12-13 years), Adam Viktora (boys’ 12-13 years) and Adrian Nanty (boys 16 years and over) – each triumphed in two finals.
The winners
Boys’ 7-9 25m freestyle Peter Jung (ISS), girls’ 7-9 25m freestyle Elle Cafrine (Plaisance School), boys’ 7-9 25m breaststroke Julius Banane (La Rosière School), girls’ 7-9 25m breaststroke Emilie Latulippe (Independent School), boys’ 7-9 25m backstroke Anthony Gendron (Independent School), girls’ 7-9 25m backstroke Elle Cafrine (Plaisance School), boys’ 7-9 25m butterfly Peter Jung (ISS), girls’ 7-9 25m butterfly Felicity Passon (ISS), boys’ 7-9 4x25m freestyle relay (ISS), girls 7-9 4x25m freestyle (ISS)
Boys’ 10-11 50m freestyle Dean Hoffman (Mont Fleuri School), girls’ 10-11 50m freestyle Anisha Payet (ISS), boys’ 10-11 50m breaststroke Dean Hoffman (Mont Fleuri School), girls’ 10-11 50m breaststroke Clara Omath (Plaisance School), boys’ 10-11 50m backstroke Harry O’Brien (ISS), girls’ 10-11 50m backstroke Aurelie Fanchette (ISS), boys’ 10-11 50m butterfly Harry O’Brien (ISS), girls’ 10-11 50m butterfly Magdalena Flynn (ISS), boys’ 10-11 4x50m freestyle relay (ISS), girls 10-11 4x50m freestyle (ISS)
Boys’ 12-13 50m freestyle Ryan Govinden (Belonie School), girls’ 12-13 50m freestyle Amina Ward-Horner (ISS), boys’ 12-13 50m breaststroke Ryan Govinden (Belonie School), girls’ 12-13 50m breaststroke Ami Ward-Horner (ISS), boys’ 12-13 50m backstroke Adam Viktora (ISS), girls’ 12-13 50mm backstroke Florence Barios (ISS), boys’ 12-13 50m butterfly Adam Viktora (ISS), girls’ 12-13 50m butterfly Ami Ward-Horner (ISS), boys’ 12-13 4x50m freestyle relay (ISS), girls 10-11 4x50m freestyle (ISS)
Boys’ 14-15 50m freestyle Shane Mangroo (Belonie School), girls’ 14-15 50m freestyle Shannon Austin (ISS), boys’ 14-15 50m breaststroke Dwayne Didon (Independent School), girls’ 14-15 50m breaststroke Shannon Austin (ISS), boys’ 14-15 50m backstroke Shane Mangroo (Belonie School), girls’ 14-15 50mm backstroke Aurelie D’Offay (ISS), boys’ 14-15 50m butterfly Shane Mangroo (Belonie School), girls’ 14-15 50m butterfly Shannon Austin (ISS), boys’ 14-15 4x50m freestyle relay (ISS), girls 10-11 4x50m freestyle (ISS)
Boys’ 16 years+ 50m freestyle Adrian Nanty (SALS), girls’ 16 years+ 50m freestyle Liza Mangroo (Belonie School), boys’ 16 years+ 50m breaststroke Philip Michel (Independent School), girls’ 16 years+ 50m breaststroke Natasha Tallipan (Beau Vallon School), boys’ 16 years+ 50m backstroke Fabio Bastienne (ISS), girls’ 16 years+ 50mm backstroke Liza Mangroo (Belonie School), boys’ 16 years+ 50m butterfly Adrian Nanty (SALS), girls’ 16 years+ 50m butterfly Liza Mangroo (Belonie School), boys’ 16 years+ 4x50m freestyle relay (ISS), girls 16 years+ 4x50m freestyle (ISS)
G. G.