Last updated: 23 November 2011

 

Okanagan Masters Swimmers receive top honours for 2011

Kelowna, BC, November 21, 2011 – Okanagan Masters Swim Club recognized seven of its members for their inspirational achievements and demonstration of the spirit of Masters swimming at its 2011 AGM in Kelowna on Sunday.  The philosophy of Masters swimming is to promote fun, fitness, health, fellowship and participation amongst adult swimmers.

Conny Stamhuis (79) walked away with the “Swimmer of the Year” floating trophy while her friend and swim colleague Gladys Hambrook (80) was voted “Most Inspirational Swimmer”. Both turned in stellar performances at the Canadian Masters Swimming Championships in Montreal in May 2011.  Conny Stamhuis achieved podium positions in the 75-79 age group: 200 Back (1^st place), 50 Breast (1^st), 50 Free (3^rd), 50 Back (3^rd), 100 Back (2^nd) and three 2^nd places in relays. Gladys Hambrook, logging some of her personal best times at age 80, make her mark in Montreal by achieving podium positions in the 80-84 age group: 100 Free (3^rd place), 200 Free (2^nd), 400 Free (3^rd), 800 Free (2^nd), 1500 Free (2^nd), 100 Back (2^nd), 200 Back (2^nd) and two second places in relays.

In a younger age group and against tough competition, the “Funtastic Four” training buddies Leora Dahl and Paul Duffield earned “Most Improved Female Swimmer” and “Most Improved Male Swimmer” respectively. Both swimmers improved their times dramatically this year while badgering each other to do better. Leora swam her first competitive 100m Fly at OMSC’s sanctioned Fright-Fest meet in October. Making a life changing decision in 2006, when Paul weighed 140 kilograms, he has lost an astounding 35 kilograms.

The “Elena Dimitrov Award for Courage and Determination” went to Jennifer Leach-Trask and Rhonda Renning-Talbot for a relay swim in challenging conditions across the Georgia Strait in August.  Leach-Trask and Renning-Talbot, covered the 34-kilometre Salish Sea Swim from Davis Inlet in Sechelt to Piper‘s Lagoon in Nanaimo together with Susan Simmons and Karen Tannas of Victoria, in nine hours 33 minutes. They improved the time of the previous top relay team by two minutes. Eli Dimitrov, after whom the award is named, remains an inspiration to all of her swimmers while battling cancer for the third time.

Last but by no means least, top ranked FINA Swim official, Mike Stamhuis earned the “Volunteer of the Year” award for his outstanding contribution to the sport and to OMSC in particular. Part of the Stamhuis dynasty, Mike has trained most of the age group swimming and masters officials in the Okanagan.  An inspirational Canadian record holder and outstanding supporter of swimming in the Okanagan, he has been forced to take a year off competitive swimming to nurse a shoulder injury.  Notwithstanding, Mike can be found officiating at most weekend swim meets in the valley. 

 

L-R: Okanagan Masters Swimmers Jennifer Leach-Trask (co-recipient of the Elena Dimitrov Award for Courage and Determination), Paul Duffield (Most Improved Male Swimmer), Leora Dahl (Most Improved Female Swimmer), Conny Stamhuis (Swimmer of the Year) and Mike Stamhuis (Volunteer of the Year) at the Awards Ceremony. Gladys Hambrook (Most Inspirational Swimmer) and Rhonda Rhenning-Talbot (co-recipient of theElena Dimitrov Award for Courage and Determination) was unfortunately out of country when the awards were made.

For more information on Masters Swimming visit the OMSC website at http://www.okmasters.com.