A group of intrepid swimmers is aiming to make it across the Irish Sea at the start of TT Week, all in the name of a good cause. The ten plan on swimming the 47 miles between Barrow and Laxey as a relay to raise funds for the local Balla Africa charity, with £50,000 the target.

For more information see the Balla Africa website or the Manx Radio article.

There are three nominees from Island swimming at this years sports awards. Following her recent retirement Olivia Rawlinson has been nominated for the under 21 sportswoman of the year award. Grant Halsall has been nominated for the under 21 sportsman of the year and Sacha Djerski has been nominated for coach of the year.

The winners will be announced at a gala evening ceremony at the Villa Marina on Thursday 8th April in the presence of the guest of honour, Dame Mary Peters. Dame Mary Peters won gold at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games in the Pentathlon.

Full list of 2010 sports awards nominations.

With effect from 1st January 2010, the ASA rules on swimwear/costumes were changed. The current wording in Regulation 411 ("Costumes") no longer applies and instead the below has come into force:

Regulation 411 (amended) Costumes
411.1 The swimwear (swimsuit, cap and goggles) of competitors in all competitions shall be in accordance with the FINA General Rules and Bylaws on swimwear, in force on the date of the competition.

FINA rules state:-

GR 5 SWIMWEAR

GR 5.1 The swimwear (swimsuit, cap and goggles) of all competitors shall be in good moral taste and suitable for the individual sports disciplines and not to carry any symbol which may be considered offensive.

GR 5.2 All swimsuits shall be non transparent.

GR 5.3 The referee of a competition has the authority to exclude any competitor whose swimsuit or body symbols do not comply with this Rule.

BL 8.2 In swimming competitions the competitor must wear only one swimsuit in one or two pieces. No additional items, like arm bands or leg bands shall be regarded as parts of a swimsuit.

BL 8.3 From January 1, 2010 swimwear for men shall not extend above the navel nor below the knee, and for women, shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor shall extend below knee. All swimsuits shall be made from textile materials.