Swimmers scramble for space at Zenith Bank/Ikoyi Club 1938 inter-school festival

All is set for the 3rd edition of the Zenith bank/Ikoyi Club 1938 inter-school swimming festival in Lagos. The competition, which is in two folds, will commence on Saturday April 21 with over 16 primary schools, while students from eight secondary schools will take their turn on Sunday, April 28.

For the past four years, the Zenith bank/Ikoyi Club 1938 inter-school swimming festival has become a talent- hunting ground for swimming coaches from across the country.

Last year, Grange School emerged champions at the end of the Inter-school Swimming Gala for Secondary Schools, toping with 240 points after amassing 12 gold, 11 silver and eight bronze medals. British International School finished second.

This time around, more schools are said to have indicated interest to join the competition, which usually provides an opportunity for the children to exhibit their skills in different categories of swimming, ranging from the frog-style-kick commonly known as breaststroke, freestyle, backstroke and the butterfly.

Last year, Chukwudi Kanu (7-8 yr category) of St. Saviours School, Ebute Metta, topped in the male category with 25 points, beating Obehi Emefo (9-10 yr) of St. Saviours, Ikoyi, (25 points) and Adewole Adekoya of Grange School (11-12 yr) with 23 points, to the second and third place respectively.

In the female category, it was Imam Adama (7-8 yr category) of Corona School, who gathered 30 points to come top ahead of
Maria Penner (9-10 yr) of Lagoon School (30 points) and Feechi Odinkalu (11-12 yr) of British International School (30 points).

Four years ago, the Swimming Section of Ikoyi Club 1938 took 23 young swimmers to the annual Swimfest International swimming competition in Germany, where its squad put up a remarkable performance.

Last year, the young swimmers from Ikoyi Club finished first overall in Germany ahead of 35 swimming clubs from seven countries, winning 42 gold, 39 silver and 35 bronze medals, with several certificates and trophies for outstanding performances in different categories.

The Chairman of the Swimming Section, Ikoyi Club 1938, Mr. Abayomi Ogundipe, as well as the Vice Chairman/Games Captain of the Swimming Section, Oloyede Obatoyinbo said yesterday that the 3rd Zenith bank/Ikoyi Club 1938 inter-school swimming festival would be more successful.