FORMIDABLE DETHRONE ALTONA TO TOP MASTERS SWIMMING TOURNEY

By Jolly Gwari

Nob View Hotel based Formidable have established themselves as the team to beat at Masters Swimming Championships. In August last year, the Nob View Hotel based Formidable outfit finished in the second position just three points behind the Centenary based Altona club to win the 2018 title, but there was a feeling they still had to prove their worth in the fraternity.

That opportunity presented itself on Saturday at the National Masters Gala held at Gems Cambridge International School where they had to beat Altona team that had 12 more entries than them. A better assembled Dolphins side than what competed in August 2018 also lay in wait too – with three more entries than Formidable.

Coach Louie’s side clearly had their work cut out. The side relied on Aya Nakitanda (212 points), George Mukasa (192 Points), Donald Rukare (180 points) and Peter Sebanakita (120 points) to muster most of the points but Joseph Kabogoza (34), William Mulopa (33), Moses Mwase (43) and Henry Kakooza (35)-Men while Catherine Nakimuli (25), Jinny Kaitesi (28) and Aliyo Galinda (28) – Women did their part too.

Notably, Sherita Busingye did only one event but it was arguably the one they needed most. The new swimmer led Nob View hotel based Formidable to second in the women’s 25m freestyle relay. Those points probably swung the gala Formidable’s way as they finished with 918 points, just more than Altona with 595 points to finish third.

With the strong-willed Uganda Swimming Federation (USF) leaders; Dr. Donald Rukare, George Mukasa, Moses Mwase, and Nana Nakiddu, Formidable certainly missed Peter Mugisha and Ronald Daisuke Ssegwanyi.

Meanwhile, Dolphin topped the women category with 1,052 points, Formidable with 918 points, Altona (595 points) and Silver (532 points) to finish second, third and fourth positions respectively while in Men category Formidable collected 2,227 points top to win, Altona with 1,554 points, Dolphin 899 points, and Malta 492 points to finish second, third and fourth positions also respectively.

This year’s 2019 championship had a record entry of 380 with 100 swimmers both men and women than last year’s 2018 with 200 entries and only 80 swimmers.

Overall Top four results

Formidable- 3, 225 points

Altona-2,223.50 points

Dolphin-2,011 points

Malta-947 points

Last-three

Blue-Marines- 101 points

Mak Sharks -71 points

Gliders- 28 points