Beacon puts $40,000 into youth swimming

Beacon Insurance Company has thrown its support behind the development of youth swimming by investing some $40,000 into the Secondary Schools Swim Meet which is being hosted by Tidal Wave Aquatics Swim Club. The 11th annual meet will be held at the Centre of Excellence Swimming Pool, Macoya, on Sunday. Hazel Haynes, manager and head coach of Tidal Wave Aquatics stated, “For the past two years Beacon has been assisting tidal wave aquatics in funding and developing amateur swimmers at the secondary swim meet.” 

She also added, “The meet is expected to have over 500 students participating from different zones across the region including Tobago. Defending champions Fatima and St Joseph Convent are keen to defend their titles and maintain their bragging rights.” The meet will consist of two categories competitive and non-competitive. Students will be classified into different age-groups consisting of 12-and-under, 13-14 and 15-and-over. Secretary of the amateur swimming association Gary Morales commended Haynes and Tidal Wave aquatics for their involvement in secondary school swimming.

He said, “Most development for young swimmers begins at the club level where as in a secondary school swim meet, students get the opportunity to compete against all different swimmers.” Rawl Padmore of Tidal Wave stated that students get the opportunity to develop to be top national swimmers from competing in secondary school swim meets. Treasurer of Tidal Wave Aquatics, Natalie O’Brien, thanked Beacon for coming on board and stated that there was “no support from the Ministry of Sport”. She expressed to have a swim meet with over 500 students is very expensive, stating that the finances given from Beacon will be used for renting the facility and purchasing medals and trophies.