Students making a splash

Continuing in the build up to the St Christopher's Open Swimming Championships the school's swimming team played host to the Speedo Swimming Squad from Dubai at the weekend.

A team of 48 swimmers ranging from under nines to 15 years made the trek across the sea to compete against a 56-strong St Christopher's School squad.

The scores were close from the beginning with the Speedo youngsters taking the lead early on.

St Christopher's, however, took up the challenge and its swimmers, who have been training hard for the coming championships, started notching some extraordinary times. Many managed to beat their personal best times, some by more than 10seconds.

In spite of the heat parents and friends cheered on the children and Bahrain's swimmers managed to pull away and notch a memorable victory by 1,098 points to 915.

"The swimming staff at St Christopher's would like to say a huge thank you to all the parents who hosted the visiting children and all who had to suffer through a very hot day," a school spokesman said.

"We had a lot of help from our main sponsor, Bahrain Air, who flew the squad over from Dubai and provided them with uniforms to wear while travelling. We also had a lovely lunch for both teams provided by Manos restaurant, based at the Bahrain Rugby Football Club."

Next year St. Christopher's School swimming team will travel to Dubai to compete in a return fixture.

The organisers of the St Christopher's Open Swimming Championships are still accepting entry forms, with a BD2 late entry fee. Heats will be held on June 9 and 11 and the final on June 21.

RESULTS

25m backstroke: Girls U-9 - Marya Manna (Speedo); Boys U-9 - Frazer Hanson (Speedo).

50m backstroke: Girls 10/11 - Sandra Rico (Speedo); Boys 10/11 - Seb Licence (St Chris). Girls 12/13 - Chrstina Tadros (Speedo); Boys 12/13 - Kayan Bharucha (Speedo). Girls 14/15 - Bejal Lewis (Speedo); Boys 14/15 - James Brand (Speedo).

100m backstroke: Girls open - Orla McCarthy (St Chris); Boys open - Dominic Hudson (St Chris).

25m breaststroke: Girls U-9 - Dominique Walls (St Chris); Boys U-9 - Shane McCarthy (St Chris).

50m breaststroke: Girls 10/11 - Kira Mukerji (Speedo); Boys 10/11 - Laith Al Hindi (St Chris). Girls 12/13 - Megan Cox (St Chris); Boys 12/13 - Dominic Hudson (St Chris). Girls 14/15 - Orla McCarthy (St Chris); Boys 14/15 - Andrew Scopes (St Chris).

100m breaststroke: Girls open - Gina Steel (Speedo); Boys open - Laith Al Hindi (St Chris).

25m butterfly: Girls U-9 - Dominique Walls (St Chris); Boys U-9 - Frazer Hanson (Speedo); Girls 10/11 - Enya Ferreira (St Chris); Boys 10/11 - Khalid Omar (St Chris).

50m butterfly: Girls 12/13 - Aleena Fazli (St Chris); Boys 12/13 - Kayan Bharucha (Speedo). Girls 14/15 - Orla McCarthy (St Chris); Boys 14/15 - Ben Schuler (St Chris)

100m butterfly: Girls open - Aleena Fazli (St Chris); Boys open - Dominic Hudson (St Chris).

25m freestyle: Girls U-9 - Dominique Walls (St Chris); Boys U-9 - Tommaso Manethi (Speedo).

50m freestyle: Girls 10/11 - Sandra Rico (Speedo); Boys 10/11 - Seb Licence (St Chris); Girls 12/13 - Aleena Fazli (St Chris); Boys 12/13 - Christophe Ang (Speedo); Girls 14/15 - Gabi Wilson (St Chris); Boys 14/15 - Alex Gowens (Speedo) & Wojcech Rezplinski (Speedo).

100m freestyle: Girls open - Orla McCarthy (St Chris); Boys open - Dominic Hudson (St Chris).

100m individual medley (IM): Girls 12/13 - Chloe Walls (St Chris); Boys 12/13 - Konah Gourly (Speedo); Girls 14/15 - Orla McCarthy (St Chris); Boys 14/15 - Wojcech Rezplinski (Speedo).

200m IM: Girls open - Aleena Fazli (St Chris); Boys open - Dominic Hudson (St Chris).