Turks and Caicos, July 4, 2025 – Grace Bay once more delighted swimmers at the 15th annual Turks & Caicos “Race for the Conch” Eco-SeaSwim on June 28, 2025. The 2.4-mile, 1 mile, and 1/2-mile events drew 75 participants from the US, Canada, Barbados, and Mexico along with 35 TCI swimmers. Another 16 youngsters under 10 years and undertook part in the 100-meter swim.

Each race saw several outstanding open water swimmers competing for conch trophies in near perfect sea conditions. Other swimmers wanted to challenge themselves while enjoying the experience of gliding through the inviting turquoise waters. As before, the start and finish took place on the beach in front of Rickie’s Flamingo Cafe.

Local swimmers once more showed they could compete with the best. Sean Walters and Asher Soderquist (just 10 years old) picked up extraordinary 2nd and 3rd places respectively in the 1/2 Mile Men’s Division. Isaac Farley secured a splendid 3rd place in the 1-mile Men’s Division, while Lex Olerenshaw grabbed a superb 3rd place in the 2.4-mile Men’s Division. Several other TCI swimmers placed among the top 5 or 10 in each event.

Orrin Meyer from the US turned in a blistering time of 51 minutes, 15 seconds to win the 2.4-mile (Ironman distance) Men’s Division, just over 10 minutes faster than 2nd place male finisher—his father, Jay Meyer. The Women’s Division swimmers in the 2.4 mile were no less impressive with Samantha Peck from the US coming in 1st with a smashing time of 1 hour, 2 minutes, 31 seconds. She was followed by Nathalie and Carrie Trantner.

Ari Henson won the 1-mile Men’s Division followed by Ryan Williams. while the Women’s Division was won by Julie Henson followed by Mary Mackley and Mary-Anne Savage.

In the 1/2-mile Men’s Division Garry Mahon from Barbados took 1st, while Celia Wolf took 1st in the Women’s Division followed by Stella Lord and Cara Stein.  Race organizers Ben Stubenberg and Chloe Zimmermann could not be more pleased with the wonderful turnout, especially the increasing numbers of TCI swimmers in the race. Stubenberg said, “It is so gratifying to see how the race has progressed over the years. We love welcoming the new swimmers, as well as reconnecting with the swimmers who return year after year. No venue can match Grace Bay for open water swimming.” Zimmermann added, “We are thrilled at how the race generates so much enthusiasm among participants who all push themselves to go the distance and do their personal best.”

Unsurprisingly, “The Race for the Conch” is consistently listed as one of the top 100 open water swim races in the world by the World Open Water Swimming Association.

Stubenberg and Zimmermann take seriously the second part of the event name, “Eco-SeaSwim” by asking that all swimmers use reef-safe sunscreen devoid of harmful ingredients. To help ensure that request, organizers have partnered with one of the top reef-safe sunscreens in the world, Caribbean Sol, and made it available to all swimmers on the beach.

In addition, the organizers strive to use local services and products. These include conch medals for everyone carved by Stanford Handfield, conch trophies created by Lucie Stubbs, T shirt designs by Alizee Zimmermann, T shirt printing by Wise Solutions, and Proud of My Island goodie bags created by Sammy Kildegaard and Emiliano Otin.

Stubenberg and Zimmermann praised the tremendous support of 20 volunteers on the beach and in the water. “They are the backbone of the event’s success,” they stated. “We could not do this without them or our generous sponsors and providers.” They include: Experience Turks & Caicos, Grace Bay Club, Ocean Club, Projetech, Whole Health, Atlantic Aviation, Hartling Group, Surfside Ocean Academy, Silver Palm Charters, Finishing Touch, Natural Trade Distribution, Visittci.com, Gabriel Kulcsar, Big Blue Collective, Got-U-Covered, Jafooe Computer, DJ Dayhoh, Caribbean Bottling Company, Caicu Naniki Tours, and Marco Travel.

The organizers also want to give a big shout out to the TCI Department of Environmental and Coastal Resources, TCI Marine Police, Provo Ambulance Service, TCI Red Cross, Big Blue Collective, and the TCI Regiment for their essential safety support.

The “Race for the Conch” is a registered TCI nonprofit. Proceeds from the race going to Provo Children’s Home, Red Cross, TC Reef Fund, and Project Inclusion Turks & Caicos.

The next “Race for the Conch” will take place on Saturday June 27, 2026.

More information about the race can be found on their website www.ecoseaswim.com

The Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) is thrilled to announce its participation in FIFA’s prestigious global Talent Development Scheme (TDS), an initiative dedicated to nurturing young athletes with exceptional potential. This program is set to revolutionize youth football in Turks and Caicos by establishing sustainable systems focused on:

• Identifying Talent
• Training Talent
• Showcasing Talent
• Creating Developmental Environments

It has been established that the most successful nations are characterized by robust quality education programs. However, many countries currently lack adequate opportunities for young players to develop their skills. FIFA is poised to act as a catalyst for nurturing young talent in regions where such opportunities are limited, particularly through the Talent Development Scheme.

To address these challenges, nations are establishing national academies and recruiting skilled coaches to enhance their infrastructure and promote football development. The collaboration between FIFA and its member associations is vital in this endeavor. FIFA provides both technical and financial support, while member associations demonstrate their commitment to creating the necessary frameworks for success.

The overarching mission is to foster a robust culture of individual player development, ensuring every young talent is given the opportunity to excel. This initiative transcends traditional coaching; it is about unlocking potential, crafting long-term player pathways, and empowering youth to succeed both on and off the field.

In response to the recent developments, FIFA has appointed Eilidh Mackay, AFC/FA A Licensed Coach, to the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) for a two-year term. Eilidh will be stationed in Providenciales. Hailing from Scotland, she previously contributed to a FIFA Talent Development Scheme in Bhutan, South Asia.

Coach Mackay, in collaboration with the TCIFA Technical Team, will spearhead the development of the TCIFA Talent Development Pathway. Under the expert direction of both Coach Mackay and TCIFA Talent Development Leader Lenford Singh, the initial phase focuses on scouting boys born in 2013 and 2014 on the island of Providenciales. This phase will culminate in the formation of the first training cohort, which will consist of selected U12 boys and U14 girls. This comprehensive pathway will soon extend across all four islands- i.e. Providenciales, North/ Middle Caicos, South Caicos, and Grand Turk.

By leveraging the expertise of Coach Mackay, the TCIFA aims to build a resilient ecosystem that supports young athletes through its structured training sessions and competitive opportunities.

TCIFA Technical Director, Dane Ritchie, explained “The Talent Development Scheme (TDS) is indeed of great benefit to us here in Turks and Caicos Islands as it allows us to create opportunities for the best talents across the country to train and play together. The TDS environment will foster development of the best players as they will challenge each other to get better. Having Coach Eilidh Mackay here as our FIFA Talent Coach will help us tremendously to shape the future of our TDS program. She will focus on providing support for a structured and sustainable program that will identify, train and play talent players with focus on the players individual development.

We are excited to have Eilidh on board with us and looking forward to he support to further develop our TDS program over the next two years”

Coach Mackay commented, “I’m excited to work with TCIFA to help shape a player development environment that puts the individual at the heart of the journey. This program is built around the principle of player first, then team focusing on long term development. We will be striving to connect the islands through best with best opportunities.”

The program will incorporate FIFA training methodology that supports the individual development of players creating an environment that better prepares young footballers of Turks and Caicos for the demands of modern football.

The TCIFA Talent Development Pathway is designed for young individuals who not only exhibit exceptional talent but also possess the ambition and mindset essential for continuous growth and improvement. This pathway embraces a holistic approach, encompassing football skills, monitoring academic competencies and various other elements to ensure comprehensive consideration of all aspects of the child’s development. Participants in the program are expected to demonstrate commitment and discipline by actively engaging both on-pitch and off-pitch. In this dynamic setting, every participant is inspired to reach their full potential, both as an athlete and as an individual, paving the way for future successes.

The TCIFA Technical Team recognises that player development is inherently non-linear. To support and nurture each player’s unique journey, TCIFA remains committed to providing opportunities for growth. Consequently, players who are not initially selected during the early stages of the scouting process may still have the opportunity to be considered later on. The TCIFA Technical Team will continuously monitor player development across the grassroots program, Fortis League, school competitions, and various other developmental events throughout the year.

“Coach Mackay’s appointment marks a significant milestone in our journey to elevate youth football in our nation. We are confident that her expertise and dedication will greatly enhance our TDS Program, providing our young athletes with unparalleled opportunities to grow and excel. Together, we are committed to creating a dynamic and supportive environment that nurtures the potential of every player, ensuring a bright future for football in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” said TCIFA General Secretary, Tamara Hall-Worme.

For more information about the FIFA TDS Talent Coach Programme visit Talent Development – FIFA Training Centre

Turks and Caicos, June 28, 2025 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association’s (TCIFA) General Secretary, Tamara Hal-Wormel, participated in the prestigious FIFA Football Summits 2025. Three FIFA Executive Football Summits were held in Miami, Florida, during the FIFA Club World Cup. The event brought together football leaders from around the globe to discuss the future of the sport.

The FIFA Football Summits are a significant platform for football associations worldwide to engage in dialogue, share insights, and collaborate on initiatives to advance the game. The participation of TCIFA’s leadership underscores the association’s commitment to being at the forefront of football development and governance. FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated “The FIFA Executive Football Summits 2025 were my opportunity to reiterate to our global football community FIFA’s firm commitment to serving football around the world”. He highlighted the critical role these summits play in fostering dialogue and collaboration among football leaders. He also emphasized the importance of inclusivity in football.

“We were thrilled to be part of the FIFA Football Summits 2025,” said Mrs. Hall-Worme. “This gathering offered an invaluable opportunity to learn from our peers and contribute to discussions that shape the future of football on a global scale.”

President Sonia Fulford, who attended in her capacity as FIFA council member, added, “The TCIFA’s involvement in such international forums not only highlights the progress of football in the Turks and Caicos Islands but also allows us to bring back innovative ideas and strategies to enhance our local programs and initiatives.”

The summits included a series of discussions and workshops centered around critical topics, including objectives for the 2025 FIFA Match Pilot Program, the 2026 FIFA Series, the 2027 Women’s World Cup, the evolution of the FIFA Forward Development Program, Women’s Development, FIFA Connect, and strategies to enhance youth participation (such as the development of 100 mini fields around the world). These discussions underscored a shared vision for the future of football.

The summits concluded with a renewed commitment from FIFA and all attending member associations to collaboratively work towards these ambitious goals, ensuring that football continues to thrive across all levels and corners of the globe.

For more information, please contact TCIFA Office Manager/ Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Candia Ewing at 941-5532 or cewingtcifa@gmail.com

Address:

TCIFA National Academy

Venetian Road 

Providenciales

Turks and Caicos Islands