Caption: From left, Trent Bethel, Marena Martinez, TMSC President Gordon Borde, Tyrrel Celestine and Dinora Gil of ASATT. AZP News/Prior Beharry
By Prior Beharry
TEENAGED swimmers Tyrrel Celestine and Marena Martinez took the top spots in the Trinity Masters Swim Club (TMSC) 5 to 5 Kia Open Water Swim Challenge last Saturday in Chaguaramas.
Celestine, of Seahawks Swim Club, defended his title in 42 minutes and 18 seconds. Martinez, of Marlins Aquatics Swim Club, finished first in the female category and second overall in 42:52.
Eighty-five swimmers took part in the race, which started at Caledonia Island and finished along the Chaguaramas coastline at the Five Islands Amusement Park, a distance of 3,100 metres.
Roger Watts, of TMSC, was the fastest adult swimmer with fins, finishing in 57:54, while in the female category, Maryam Durham won in 1:18:17.
Among the Special Olympic swimmers, Trent Bethel was first in 48:14 and Donavan Garib second in 59 minutes.
Watts was one of four swimmers who in 2022, attempted to swim from Tobago to Trinidad.
Trophies were presented to the winners by President of TMSC Gordon Borde who at 87 years finished the race. THis was his 120th competitive open water swim.
Special mention was given to organisers Teheli Sealey, Richard Borde and William Carr.
Swimmers were taken in boats to Caledonia Island where they started in three groups of swimmers, 15 minutes apart.
Coast Guard officers were on hand to supervise and kayakers ensured the swimmers stayed within the four buoy makers placed 600 metres apart from the start.
The last swimmer finished in 2:25:30, while three who started did not complete the course.
Coach and motorcyclist Ronnie Ragoonanan, who completed the race in 1:56:30 was killed in an accident on Saturday evening. The 50-year-old of Local Road, Mc Bean, in Couva, was riding a motorcycle that collided with a car in Couva.
Borde offered condolences to his family.
Speaking to AZP News about the race club president Borde said that 85 people took part in the event in its third year.
He said, “Next year we expect to have over 100 swimmers.”
Borde praised swimming as one of the best disciplines to lead a healthy lifestyle.
He said, “Of all the different disciplines of exercise, swimming is the best it doesn’t put any pressure on your joints and when people get injured they are advised to get into aqua aerobics.
“Swimming is very good for your lungs. When you swim, you put your head down and exhale, and you do that over and over again for 3,000 metres; it means you would have done that for about 1,500 times if you took part in that event on Saturday…”
That race was Borde’s 120th open water one. He won the Aquatics Sports Association of Trinidad and Tobago (now called the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad & Tobago) cross harbor races from Five Islands to the Carenage Jetty in 1962, 1963 and 1964.
That race was discontinued in 1997 and has now transformed into the Maracas Open Water event.
