Governor’s Beach. Grand Cayman, 15 March 2015: The Massive Open Water Relay, a fundraiser for the Cayman Islands National Swim Teams, saw 26 teams across 5 age groups take to the water to raise funds for Cayman’s national swim teams: and immediately after there was a BBQ to raise funds for the 2015 CARIFTA Team which travels to Barbados on Thursday April 2nd.

The event – which took place last year as a fun, untimed, fundraising event was the brainchild of Andy Copley, former Head Coach at Stingray Swim Club. This year, CIASA Director Sandy Hew; along with sponsor representatives David and Christina Kirkaldy of Massive Equipment Rental and Sales took the event to a whole new level.

“Massive Equipment Rental and Sales Ltd. was proud to sponsor the recent Open Water Relay. Swimming is a natural sport for us in Cayman,” said David Kirkaldy. “It teaches the value of hard work, perseverance and teamwork. It unifies our community. Massive Equipment Rental was pleased to lend our support to CIASA for this relay, and to provide a fun environment for the 26 teams (104 swimmers) who participated. We look forward to supporting this event for many years to come.”

The relay was 4 x 400m for 12 & Under Teams, and 4 x 800m for all other swimmers including the Corporate Teams that took part. Swimmers received a “swag bag” filled with loot which included a goggle bungee cord and a great T-Shirt to commemorate the event.

All swimmers taking part had a great time, sprinting down the beach; diving in from the shore and taking off in to what is perhaps the most perfect open water venue in the world – the Caribbean Sea off Seven Mile Beach.

CIASA President Michael Lockwood also took part, swimming with Team Gillian. “This is a great new addition to the CIASA Open Water Calendar,” he said. “It is a fun event – which all swimmers can take part in; increasing their open water experience and raising funds for our national swimmers who represent the Cayman Islands in a number of international competitions every year.”

The first three teams in all age groups, as well as the first place corporate team, received awards – a plaque for the first place team; and medals for the second and third place teams – which were presented by Massive’s Michael Godfrey and Christina Kirkaldy.

The winning teams were: 12 & Under – Rainbow Freaks (Corey Westerbourg, Olivia Plunkett, Stephanie Royston and Liam Sinclair); 13-14 – The Dolphins (Audrey Weber, Sabine Ellison, Sammie Rowland and Holly Stradling); 15-17 – Senior Frogs (Cole Morgan, Iain McCallum, Jonathan Key and Catriona MacRae); 18-39 – Excel-erators (Jessica Achstatter, Tim Achstatter, Ben Creasey and Matt Seegelar); 40 & Over – Dunkin Dave’s Donuts (Jon Roney, Lee Anne Corin, Andrea Killam-Higgo and Dave Bott); and the Corporate Division – Flash Nation (Jamie, Anthony Lyons, DJ Juice and William Balderamos).

CARIFTA Swimming 2015 takes place in Barbados this year and companies or individuals interested in supporting CIASA or the Junior National Team which will be competing at CARIFTA should contact Michael Lockwood [email protected] or the Technical Director Bailey Weathers [email protected] for more information on how they can be a part of the Cayman Swimming Family.

The Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association (CIASA) is a volunteer, not for profit association dedicated to furthering the interests of all aquatic sports in the Cayman Islands. CIASA is the recognized Governing Body of aquatic sports in the Cayman Islands and is a member of FINA, UANA, CCCAN and the CIOC. For more information on CIASA www.ciasa.ky .