New Provincial Record!
New Provincial Record! Big congrats to Leilani Fack of LOSC for breaking two provincial records! She is the new provincial record holder for the Women 13-14 SCM 50m Free with a time of 25.56 beating the previous record set in 2017 by Jessica Luo of UVPCS. She also broke the Women 13-14 SCM 100m Free record with a time of 55.96 which had previously been set by Alexandra Gabor of Whitehorse in 2007! Both records were set on May 22nd during the Spartan CSI Pacific Athletes Meet. Sincere congratulations on your hard-earned success.THE BC GOVERNMENT RESTART PLAN – ITS IMPACT ON SWIMMING WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
As I’m sure you’re aware, BC received some very good news yesterday as the Provincial Government announced a 4-step plan focused on safely getting life in BC back to normal – BC’S RESTART: A PLAN TO BRING US BACK TOGETHER. Club Boards, coaches, parents, and swimmers are likely wondering how this will impact your swimming world immediately, and into the near future. After yesterday’s announcements by Premier Horgan and Dr. Henry, viaSport called a meeting for all sports to relate what they were aware of, and what their next steps look like. Here’s what we know: Step 1- Between May 26 and June 14 there is NO change to the way we’ve been conducting our sport INDOORS.
- Effective immediately outdoor sport can remove physical distancing requirements and conduct training as normal. For swimming, this means full, “normal” practices can occur in outdoor pools. This is within your club only, no club collaboration. There is no cohort limitation.
- Time trials can be held in outdoor pools, with no spectators. If you have access to an outdoor pool, you can host a sanctioned time-trial with minimal officials and no spectators. Again, this is for in-club activity only, no external clubs.
- Adult sport (Masters) is permitted to train outdoors, as described above. There is no change for indoor-pool training, it is limited to two persons maximum; 3m physical distancing; individuals 22 years of age and over.
- Travel is permitted within the current ‘merged’ health region only. CSI-Pacific / Swim BC designated High Performance swimmers are permitted to train and compete within their current ‘merged’ health region. Swimming Canada carded swimmers are permitted to travel for competition and training throughout the province – they are considered “employed” and are permitted to travel for work.
- Indoor masks requirements have not changed
- Earliest start date June 15 pending case counts, hospitalization, and vaccination rates.
- Current information suggests a progressive return to standard training for both youth sport and adult sport (Masters)
- We expect viaSport will release guidance in the next week or so on how we will be able to progress indoor training opportunities and begin to sanction intra-club time trials again.
- Earliest start date July 1 pending case counts, hospitalization, and vaccination rates.
- According to information currently available, we anticipate a return to inter-club competition with limited spectators.
- Earliest start date September 7 pending case counts, hospitalization, and vaccination rates.
- According to information currently available, we anticipate a return to normal competition with updated COVID Safety Plans in place.
- Swim BC is now anticipating we will be able to host an in-person BC Swimming Congress Sept 30, Oct 1, 2 in Whistler. The Congress will feature the Team Aquatic Supplies BC Swim Coaches Conference; Club Development Series; Officials Symposium; Swim BC Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet; and the Swim BC AGM. Clearly a lot must happen between now and then, we will keep the membership updated regularly.
Masters Swimming FINA Top 10 for 2020
FINA has released their rankings for the Top 10 Masters performances from 2020. More than 30 BC Masters Swimmers made the Top 10 Rankings for 2020. They will each receive a letter of congratulations from Swimming Canada and a crest from FINA. Big congratulations from Swim BC on this tremendous achievement and we can’t wait to see Masters back in the water soon. You can find the list of the athletes recognized below, and you can find the full FINA Top 10 rankings here (SCM | LCM).| Katie McEvoy (VICM) |
| Kelly Geisheimer (HYACK) |
| Alexandra Dimitrescu |
| Serena Brendaglia (HBSC) |
| Lauren Westmacott (VICM) |
| Cindy Mabee (VICM) |
| Sam Goski (VICM) |
| Sarah MacDonald (VICM) |
| Linda Wilson (WRW) |
| Pauline Lotbinière Joly (WIN) |
| Theo Manley (WRW) |
| Hella Versfeld (VERN) |
| Nancy Ryan (NEBB) |
| Yvonne Cattrall (VICM) |
| Anne Fabre (VICM) |
| Conny Stamhuis (OKAN) |
| Craig Brazier (HBSC) |
| Gabrio Mannucci (HBSC) |
| Vlad Shirokov (HBSC/DYNA) |
| Rob Charland (DOGW) |
| Scott Cosper (VICM) |
| Peter Van Dyke (HBSC) |
| Glenn Carlsen (PENT) |
| Rod Carmicheal (VICM) |
| Daniel Brimm (WIN) |
| Steve Rasmussen (WIN) |
| Alan Morris (NSM) |
| Arthur Ray (WRW) |
| Jack Kelso (DOGW) |
| Karl Donoghue (PENT) |
| Erika Korbely (HYDE) |
| Carl Waterer (LOCO) |
| Aldert Dykstra (HYDE) |
SUMMER SWIMMING REGISTRATION
“Grow our sport” and “build our capacity” are two integral goals of Swim BC’s Strategic Blueprint. To achieve these goals, we’ve been working to envision opportunities for clubs that may help to expand their programming. While not yet fully developed and delayed by COVID, Swim BC is looking to establish summer programming, ideally aimed at new participants who may want a shorter introductory opportunity to your club and our sport. We also envision summer programming may grow into an opportunity for swimmer retention, where a less intense sprint-oriented program may bridge a swimmer’s experience in the sport. As a first step in trying to navigate our encumbered COVID world, we are going to open up a “Summer Swimmer” registration category in the Registration system. The category will be open for new registrants, May 1 – Aug 31 each year – the fee this year is $20.00 per participant, regardless of age. Clubs are encouraged to envision an entry level swim camp or swim league type programming for this inaugural year (where COVID restrictions may permit). In the future, as restrictions ease and we trend back to normal, we will work on developing “Summer League” programming with mini-meet formats, officiating strategies, and other supporting mechanisms to encourage a new opportunity for clubs to grow and expand their programming. A few elements we’re looking at to shape the program into the future are:- Age groups 6 & U; 7-8; 9-10; 11-12; 13-14; 15 & O
- Competition categories: “S” – summer only / “Y” – year-round registered swimmers
- Sanctioned meets: times eligible for summer category only
- Competition: short weeknight dual meets, one day meets for regions where travel is an issue