Ambrosoli Sailfish won their own Sailfish Masters Swimming Gala for a third consecutive time on Saturday.
Sailfish topped the gala held at their base at Ambrosoli International School, Bugolobi with 2,166 points, ahead of rivals Formidables Swim Club on 1,923.
Malta Swimming Club was third with 712 points, followed by Makerere University
Swim Team (488) and Gators Swim Club Kampala (296) at the gala that attracted over 240 swimmers from 14 clubs.
The hosts dominated the women’s
table with 1,177 points, more than double what second-placed Malta managed (527), and won four of the six relays.
Formidables ruled the men’s side with 1,476 to Sailfish’s 925, backed by the depth of its squad across the age groups.
In the relays, Ambrosoli won the mixed medley (1:08.37), mixed freestyle
(1:01.32), men’s medley (1:02.51), and women’s freestyle (1:09.73). Makerere
took the women’s medley in 1:21.93 while Formidables won the men’s freestyle in
52.93 seconds.
Individual honours at the gala organized to preach safety in water, push for fun, and advocate for fitness for swimmers aged 25 and above were settled at age group level starting with 25-29 although Formidables had 23 year old Joel Sekamate ranked alone on 48 points.
Formidables supplied seven other age group champions as did Sailfish. Otters Swim Club had two while Flash, Dolphins, and Silverfin produced one each at the gala sponsored by Ambrosoli International School, 7 Hills International School, Kawowo Sports, ROKO, Utano Health Solutions, and Yako Bank among others.
Top performers
In the 25-29 women’s group, Flash’s Resty Kiwuka collected 96 points after winning
three of her eight events (50m breaststroke, 25m breaststroke, and 50m
butterfly), was second in both freestyle races and never finished lower than
fifth. That consistency decided the group as Natalie Nantume of Sailfish also
won three events but entered only five.
“From an organisation point of view, the gala was flowing. That made it easy to compete,” Kiwuka said.
In the 25-29 men’s category, Formidables’ Joel Mayengo got 112 points after winning five of eight events.
For the 30-34 women, Sandra Arinaitwe bagged 99 points from eight events in which she won three. Her Sailfish teammate Trinity Biywaga also won
three events but swam only six.
Sailfish also topped the 30-34 men through Benon Wamala who got 110 points after making the podium in all of his eight events.
Rachael Amito also kept the 35-39 women’s title in Bugolobi with 88 points after winning the 25m butterfly and 50m backstroke, and finishing second in four more events.
William Muloopa brought Sailfish’s fourth individual crown with 92 points in the 35-39 men’s group.
Muloopa took 50m butterfly gold but was second four times and in the top three in seven of his eight events.
Otters’ Abisagi Mugenyi won all of her eight events (128 points) to top the 40-44 women. Otters 192 points came from her and Sarah Nalumansi who topped the 70-74 women’s group with 64 points.
In the 40-44 men’s group, Sailfish head coach Joseph Kabogoza showed he can offer as much as he demands from his athletes with 118 points.
Dolphins’ Mbabazi Emejeit topped the 45-49 women with 77 points while Patrick Oghittu added to Sailfish’s collection with the maximum 128 points for the men.
Patricia Ejalu also amassed 128 points in the 50-54 women’s age group to bring Sailfish a seventh individual acccolade.
Dunstan Rukare 119 points for Formidables got him the 50-54 men’s title.
In the 55-59 women’s group, Laura Walusimbi managed 100 points to get Silverfin Academy rolling. The male winner in the group was Formidables’ Patrick Magezi with 125 points from seven gold medals.
The Formidable Peter Mugisha was unchallenged in the 60-64 men’s group and collected his cool 128 points. His teammate Charles Obwana collected 112 points for the 65-69 men’s accolade.
Ninety three points were enough for Formidables captain Peter Ssebanakitta to top the 70-74 men but the club also had the oldest competitor in Joe Nuwamanya, 79, who topped the 75-79 age group with 40 points.