CATEGORY:SPORTS(SWIMMING)
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By Trevor Thwaites
Inside Grenada Correspondent
Friday November 17,2006


ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada - It was all smiles, joy and good feelings as the Grenada Swimming team returned home last week with the OECS Swimming Champions.

The 34-member contingent produced a sensational performance to win the event and dethrone defending champions and hosts St Lucia at the meeting in Castries. Swimmers and officials were exceptionally delighted, because it was the country’s first hold of the championship in six years.

Grenada first dominated the OECS event that was staged here in the 1990’s in the 25 yard pool at Hope in South East St George’s. However, St Lucia have been staging the event in a bigger and more appropriate 25m pool, towards the end of the millennium, which saw then gain the ascendancy in recent years. The local team totaled a commanding 1, 74950 points, which was 89 more than its closest rivals St Lucia on 1, 66050, in the two-day
competition. Grenada finished with 53 gold, 73 silver and 79 bronze medals.

Local swimmers were above the rest, prevailing in the four divisional events. Emily Noel won the girls eight and over section, Amanda Gordon the girls’ 9-10 category, Tuesday Watts the girls’ 13-14 section and captain of the team Daryl Harford the boys’ 18 and over division. Noel won 4 gold medals and 1silver capturing the 25m butterfly, the 25m and 50m freestyle and 100 individual medley. Gordon also collected 4 gold medals winning the 50m breast stroke 100m and 200m freestyle and 100 individual medley.

Tuesday Watts continued her good showing in regional swimming grabbing 7 individual gold medals: 2 gold medals in the relays, 5 silver and a bronze.
She prevailed in the 400m, 200m, 100m and 50m freestyle, the 200m individual medley, 50m and 100m backstroke. The other winner Harford copped 5 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze medals. He won the 400m, 200m and 100m freestyle. St Vincent and the Grenadines and Antigua/Barbuda were mere participants totaling 206 and 30 points respectively.


Manager of the team and President of the Grenada Amateur Swimming Association, Graham Williams, hailed the performance of the team as fantastic. He said that the efforts of the swimmers were superb. Sports Minister the Hon. Roland Bhola also praised the swimmers for what he said was a truly sterling performance. “I am elated. After six years, we need to show appreciation to the swimmers, coaches and parents”, the minister said, as he warmly welcomed the team back home during a short ceremony at the Ministerial Complex.

Grenada is scheduled to host the 2007 OECS Championship and from all indications the event could be held in top class conditions. “We are working to ensure that the event is staged in a brand new facility, as a show of respect and appreciation for your performance”, the Sports Minister said. He indicated that the government over the years, have been trying to locate land suitable for the construction of a 25m pool, as has been requested by the swimming association.