Anthony Cassar
Anthony Cassar is a South African open water swimmer who help organize and manage the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association in South Africa during the 1980's. He appears in the book, Open Water Swimming In South Africa, A Journal of the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association compiled by Tony Sellmeyer about the exploits of South African open water swimmers.
Cape Long Distance Swimming Association History
The Cape Long Distance Swimming Association (CLDSA) was formed in 1969 largely as a result of interest generated in long distance swimming by the Robben Island to Woodstock race which was held in March of that year. A small group of swimmers and officials decided it was necessary to form a body to officiate and record all long distance swims in the Cape. The constitution laid down the basic rules of the sport which conform with today's international FINA rules. The Cape Long Distance Swimming Association is the only official body to officiate over solo swims in Cape Town waters in South Africa, and elsewhere in the country on request.
During the 1970's two races were organised from Fish Hoek to Muizenberg but apart from this, the Association's sole function remained officiating swims.
In the 1980's a group of swimmers from the Atlantic seaboard joined the committee and numerous open water events were organised, many continuing on an annual basis until the present. People such as Tony Scalabrino, Eddie Cassar, Anthony Cassar, Barry Cutler and Chris Barnard kept the Association growing and six years ago a national body was formed in order to select and take swimmers to the FINA World Championships.
The founding members of the CLDSA were Dennis Pearson, Coenie van Eyssen, Frank Nielsen, John Pagden and Peter Bales, with surfing doyen John Whitmore as President.
