Pointe Claire swim meet high on spirit and intensity

BY MICHAEL PIASETZKI

The temperature inside the Malcolm Knox Aquatic Centre pool was hot last weekend, but the atmosphere was sizzling as the 40th annual Pointe Claire Swim Club (PCSC) Christmas Invitational unfolded.

As traditional this time of year as Yuletide lights and a little holiday cheer, the four-day provincial 1-2 meet, which began on Thursday evening and wrapped up on Sunday night, featured over 500 under-12 through senior provincial 1-2 swimmers representing 16 Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland clubs.

Several area elite swimmers, including ironically enough those from PCSC, skipped the meet to attend the Paul Bergen Junior International Invitational in Portland, Ore. Meanwhile, as has been the case over the past several years, the Dollard des Ormeaux Swim Club bypassed the meet. It chose to compete at the CAMO Swim Club meet, held Dec. 1-3 at the Claude Robillard Centre.

“Despite that, the calibre of the racing at the meet was very high,� said PCSC division manager Bill Gate, a former PCSC head coach. “Particularly compared to the CAMO meet, which may have been big in numbers, but the kids simply get more excited at this meet. When you’re in a tighter atmosphere with less space on deck, that tends to happen.�

Although the meet accentuated individual honours, its most important aspect was team results, and on that front, it was a clean sweep for PSCS. In the higher P2 category, the hosts finished first with 667 points while for the second consecutive year, the Beaconsfield Bluefins finished an impressive third with 337 points. PCSC also captured the P1 crown with 622 points while the Bluefins slotted in fifth with 292 points.

“We’re satisfied,� said PCSC assistant coach Jason Chugh, who was filling in for head coach Peter Carpenter, who was in Portland. “That being said, we would like to develop a program of excellence here at Pointe Claire. I believe that will happen through developing our younger swimmers but also by keeping our older swimmers on board for as long as possible.�

One of those, 19-year-old Alex Davidson, captured six medals, including gold in the 200-metre backstroke, 400-metre freestyle and individual medley races to capture the men’s open High Point Trophy. Meanwhile, PCSC’s Alexia Zevnik also took home six medals, including gold in the 50- and 200-metre backstroke and 50- and 200-metre individual medley to earn the High Point Trophy in the girls’ u-12 category.

“I’m very satisfied,� Davidson said. “Two personal best times. I wanted to go out strong in the 200-metre backstroke and just hold on to whatever I had. I was able to do that.�

Leading the way for the Bluefins was Gabrielle Soucisse, who captured six gold medals, including the 200- and 400-metre IM, 50- 100- and 200-metre backstroke as well as the 800-metre freestyle in the girls’ 15-16 age category.

“I swam my own races out there,� said Soucisse, who along with Stephanie Horner and Karah Stanworth-Belleville form Bluefins head coach Russ Franklin’s Olympic hopeful female troika. “I gave everything I had for each one.�

If you would like to see full individual results of the meet, go to www.ville.pointe-claire.qc.ca.">www.ville.pointe-claire.qc.ca.">www.ville.pointe-claire.qc.ca.

Splashers note: At last weekend’s Paul Bergen Junior International Invitational in Portland, PCSC’s Steven Bielby won silver in the 400-metre IM and bronze in the 1500-metre freestyle while Beaconsfield’s Horner was simply outstanding, winning gold in the 100-metre backstroke, 200- and 400-metre IM and 400-metre freestyle. She also captured silver in the 200-metre backstroke and bronze in the 200-metre freestyle.