Region One regains swimming Heritage title
– Spectators and athletes enjoy the games
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, September 22, 2018
Swimmers from the Barima-Waini Region once again dominated the Indigenous Heritage Games swim meet This event was held today at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal. The team ended 158 points ahead of second place finishers Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five) and miles ahead of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three) who finished third with 102 points.
Region Two finished fourth with 43 points while Regions Four and Nine tied for the fifth position with 24 points each. Region One came prepared to defend their title, arriving with a full team and participating in every swim event and dominating the other regions in both the male and female category.
Some races saw swimmers from Region One claiming first, second, third and sometimes fourth and fifth position. In the boys 13-14 25-metre freestyle, Region One dominated the rest of the swimmers with Travis Smith finishing first with 13.44s, Nelson Lucas in second clocking 13.62s and Kemol Williams finished third in 14.81s, all from Region One.
It was a repeat performance in girls 13-14 girls 25-metre freestyle. Allianna Charles finished first clocking 17.13s, Jenel Braithwaite came in second with 18.81s and Madonna Lucas finished third in 20.21s, all from Region One as well.
On the other side of the Indigenous games at the Everest Sports Ground, archery, volleyball and cricket took centre stage with some exciting action and stiff competition from both the men and the women.
Last year’s title holder for archery Aliyah Gordon representing Region Four was dethroned by her mother in this year’s event. Nevertheless, Gordon said that she is having fun and was amazed by the some of the talent displayed especially in that of volleyball.
“I really like the culture games, have you ever seen them play volleyball? They are very good at volleyball and football so I like coming out to see them play” Gordon stated.
Lily Williams-Edmonson who hails all the way from Campbelltown in Region Eight, said that she was there for both the excitement of the Heritage Games and to enjoy the indigenous foods.
Williams-Edmonson said, “I am enjoying it because it is a time when we get to see all of our Indigenous brothers and sisters, it is also a time where it gives us the opportunity to sample all of our dishes.”
Tomorrow is the final day for the Indigenous Heritage Games where all the winners from the events today and the football finals tomorrow will be crowned.
Isaiah Braithwaite
Image: Leon Leung