The ladder relay is one of the last events at the annual Seagulls swim meet. Monica is very privileged as she swims the ladder relay at the annual Seagulls SC championships ever year for the past three years.

There is just nothing like a relay as it builds excitement and the swimmers feel part of a team.  Sadly, every year this event is the last event at the swim meet.  Crowds normally disperse during lunch time as most have quite a distance to travel home.

What is a ladder relay?

At Seagulls Short Course Winter swimming champs, the ladder relay consists of 1 swimmer in each age group.  8 & under swims a 25 meter, 10 & U 50-meter, 11 & U 50-meter etc up to Open category with a total of 5 swimmers.  As a result, the total distance is 275-meter, which is a bit of an odd distance to swim.

2014 relay:

Mica is the youngest in 2014 and swims a 25-meter followed by the other swimmers including Erin Gallagher and Rene Warnes.  The team consists of Monica Botha (7), Mikaela de Oliviera (10), Kirsten de Goede (11), Celine Theveneau (14), Erin Gallagher (15) and Renee Warnes (22).

2015 Relay:

Seagulls team place second to Mandeville Dolphins this year.  MDol Swim club complete the 275-meter race in 2:46:09 with Seagulls team second in 2:50:02.

2016 team:

In 2016, the Seagulls relay team breaks the 2000 Seals meet record (2:44:26) in a time of 2:42:19.  2016 Ladder relay team: Jessica Carmody (8), Monica Botha (9), Mikhaela de Oliviera (12), Kirsten de Goede 13, (unknown swimmer) and Erin Gallagher (Open).

At the end of the day all swimmer have great fun and do their best – to win is one thing and to break the meet record another.  So proud of these girls as we see how their swimming times improve as they grow into elite swimmers.