It is with heartfelt national pride and a great degree of pleasure that I pen this letter to congratulate Kevinia, Elvira, Samara, and Christal, the Island Girls, on their heroic accomplishment of being the first all-female Antiguan team, and the first all Afro-Caribbean team to complete the Talisker Whisky challenge by rowing from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands, across the Atlantic to return safely home to our sunny shores.
We, the Antigua and Barbuda Swimming Federation (ABSF) executive members and the swimming fraternity in general, applaud your accomplishments. Your perseverance and courage is an inspiration to us all.
As President of the swimming fraternity, I would like to extend special hearty congratulations to Christal Clashing, who is a past National swimmer. Christal is also an active member of the War Swim Club and maintains a very active presence as a technical official adjudicating in ABSF sanctioned events.
Christal Clashing is the daughter of Edith Clashing, who has made outstanding contributions to the sport of swimming in our twin island state and continues to serve on the Technical Committee.
In an appeal to our members, the ABSF strongly urges you to take time from your busy schedules and celebrate this moment in history with the Clashing family and our daughters of the soil, the Island Girls, as they return home.
Sincerely yours,
Derek Marshall
President ABSF