Meet has worldwide appeal

CURRENT and former world-record holders will be among those competing at the OCS 16th Open International Guernsey Meet at the weekend. More than 180 swimmers representing about 50 clubs are participating in this year's event, with visitors again coming from as far away as Raleigh in USA, southern Spain and Switzerland as well as the Netherlands, France, Scotland, Wales, England and Jersey.

A large number of the entrants are either current or former world, European or national record holders and/or world and European champions, ,with a number of them former Olympians.

About 45 non-swimming spouses are also coming and several visitors are staying in the island for up to a week.

'Over the 16 years this very popular competition has attracted more than 2,600 competitors in 16,500 swims, bringing with them over 600 spectators,' said event organiser John Eyre.

'Nearly 3,000 have had Sunday lunch at The Duke of Richmond Hotel and have stayed an estimated 11,500 bed-nights.'

Some new world records may be set during the meet, which starts tomorrow at 6pm.

The swimmers are aged from 19 to 84 and will be competing in over 1,000 individual races plus relays.

Swimmers compete in five-year age groups from 25 upwards, but in recent times those from 19 have been included to allow them to continue swimming after club and university competition has come to an end.

'It is a very competitive sport and although many are of advancing years, most will not have lost the will to win,' Eyre said.

There is a record number of 32 Guernsey Swimming Club members taking part and 14 from the Beau Sejour Barracudas.

There will be more aged 65 and over than competed in the ASA National Championships in Sheffield last October.