. February 2016 .
Hello reader,
Here we are at the end of February. It
seems that we have spent most of the month at the pool or at the beach (for a
change!)...although the weather hasn't been all that flash. Still, we
cant complain and it's nice to be on a beach without sweating your bum off for
a change!
Cayman Swim Nationals
February's big swim meet was the Cayman Nationals.
This was the last chance for any swimmers hoping to make the trip to
Martinique, to qualify. The Carifta games (Caribbean Champs) are being
held in Martinique the week leading up to Easter.
Sam and Jake had both qualified for a number of
events, but this didn't guarantee selection. The team number would be
limited due to funding limitations so the kids needed to perform well at this
meet and try and improve on what times they had already clocked to move
themselves up the list a little.
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| Jake heads off in the Fly. |
Jake put in a few good races and improved on some
of his times while also claiming a few medals and National titles. He
also made a fashion statement (see further down).
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| Well done! |
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| Pre-race build up activity... |
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| Sam n Ella n Ali |
Sam also had some good races, claiming a title or two and improving on some times.
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| Sam off the blocks |
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| Sam and her mate Taylor |
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Jake rocked up to the podium in a Pink Onsie....
The National Coach wasn't happy, and made him put a jacket over it. |
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| The fashion statement himself |
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| Sam claims the Gold |
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| Jake's pre-race routine - shadow boxing |
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| Sam's pre-race-routine - focus |
Overall it was a good event for both kids.
Four days with morning and evening sessions each day. They were
pretty tired come Sunday night (as was Michelle who did quite a lot of
officiating)!
The following week they both did the 5k sea swim,
which was also a qualifier for Carifta but only the 13 and older age groups.
Despite some previous bad weather, the sea on the day wasn't too bad, although
there was quite a strong current to battle.
Now they had the agonising wait until the team
selections were announced the following week.
Nobody knew exactly when the team would be
announced. In previous years, the selected swimmers were invited to attend a
press conference, which was a bit of a give away really. In an effort to
make it more personal, this year the kids got told when they turned up for
training one night. Jake came home with a big smile on - his first time
in the National Team. Sam made the team as well. So well done to
both!
Lets see how they go in Martinique! "Allez
allez!!!"
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The 2016 Carifta Swim Team
(three Kiwis this year!) |
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| These are the Carifta swimmers from Sam and Jake's school |
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National
Team training session - Jake's rocking the speedo.
His fellow 'rookies' are clearly in awe.... |
Randoms
Our mate Russ from Vancouver was down for a week
for work, so we managed to catch up and have a quiet beer or two, which is
always good!
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| Russ
pops into the Rugby Club to help with the commentary...and the Heineken
supplies |
The Off the Beaten Track relay race was on the next
day. Michelle was in one team, Russ managed to get onto a team at the
last minute.
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| Not a good look the night before the event! |
Michelle decided to check out the route for her leg
in the relay. As it is off the beaten track you are led all over the place -
down little dirt tracks, through bush, between houses - all places you'd not
normally venture. She'd had three goes at various parts of the 5.5 mile route -
she had trouble with the first part as the map and instructions said that if
you followed the fence you'd get through to the next road. She looked and
looked for the fence that she was supposed to follow - jumped fences, went
through back yards, around swimming pools and other private property but still
couldn't figure it out and went home very frustrated.
Three days later they put out an updated map - that
now included an additional road to go down, in a different direction, before
coming to the aforementioned fence! This time it did actually lead through the
bush to the next road - phew! The day before the race, there was still one part
she had not managed to do - again it wasn't very clear and she tried to
approach it from different ends. After asking some locals, she was directed
into the bush where she came to an ugly looking creek of swampy water with no
apparent way around....spotting a fallen branch that crossed it, she thought
that must be the way and started to gingerly cross it...unfortunately that
wasn't the right way and oops, the branch gave way and she fell in up to her
waist! She couldn't get out of there fast enough - it was so disgusting! With
her mind solely on getting out, she hadn't realised that she had twisted her
knee during the fall, which became apparent later in the day, when she found
she couldn't walk!
Dave and Russ came home to her hobbling around the
kitchen - what's going on?! As this late stage it's impossible to get a
replacement runner that would know where to run so, since it didn't feel as bad
in the morning (with a bit of help from ice and drugs) Michelle told her
teammates she'd do her best but to met her at various spots along the way to
check if she could keep going. The leg ended up feeling fine and she managed to
complete her entire leg, ensuring she didn't make the same mistake in the swamp
again! She was pretty happy with that, and her team ended up coming 2nd women's
team.
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| Russ prepares for the race with some vitamin C...and a wee rumbo |
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| Sam and Dave count chins.... |
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A Pelicans have turned up here and made 7 Mile Beach their new home.
They are common in the BVI but not so much around here. |
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| Michelle and Russ - opposing teams at the start of Leg 4 in the Off the Beaten Track Relay |
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Russ gets a good lead as his runner came in before Michelle's.
That Rum helped. |
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She's off in hot pursuit!
Knee is looking ok! |
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| Made it! 2nd Womens team! |
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Jake
had a few of his mates over for his very belated 13th Birthday party (there's
always so much going on, it's almost impossible to find a free weekend to fit
it in!) - and sleepover,
although it should probably just be called an 'over' as there wasn't much sleep
happening! Michelle took the boys to the movies, and sat on her own as they
didn't want her sitting with them! Then pizza, ice cream cake, Xbox shooting
games, other electronic games, and lots of running about and shooting each
other inside kept them busy for a while...we think they eventually they went to
sleep, although some were up at 5.30am so not really sure about that. They
seemed to have fun though! |
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| Not a bad effort with the Nerf gun |
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| Some more high seas at the beach. Great fun for the kids - the beach is usually pretty flat. |
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| A jacket??!!!! |
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| Locals are feeling the cold! |
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| If you look close, you can see Jake's feet sticking out as he is dumped and pummeled in the surf. |
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| Jake and his sandman buddy |
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| Russ enjoys a bit of warm weather! |
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| Home time |
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| Sam finally got her braces off last week. This is her normal facial expression now... |
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| Some rain out there... |
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| Liv & Jake....Chillin.... |
Click here to see more pics from February
So, that's about it for February. We now look forward to what
March will bring.
Coming up in March:
Michelle does a little trip
Martinique - Carifta swim
champs. Hopefully we (M & D) can do a little bit of touristy stuff between
pool sessions (the kids are staying at the team hotel - freedom!)
Easter - no plans, but we'll just see where we end up! Although we only get back
from Martinique on Easter Sunday! Also a secret visitor arrives...
Touch - winter touch starts.
Au revoir!
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