Bay swimmer in SA team again for Perth super series

TEENAGE Eastern Province swimmer Chris Reid will pit his skills against the best Australia and China have to offer when he competes in the Billiton Super Series in Perth, Australia, starting on Friday. The talented star is part of a South African team competing in the three-day triangular gala. It is his second visit to the competition, having also been there last year, but Reid, 18, feels he is much more prepared this time. "I feel a lot more confident, having had the experience of competing against some of the gold medallists from the London Olympics last year," Reid said before leaving for the trip yesterday. "I know a bit more how to handle the pressure which goes with competing in this sort of competition and I feel I am not far off the top guys. "Having said that, I know the competition will be incredibly tough, and I will use this gala to see where I am compared to some of the top swimmers." Reid's immediate aim is to try to make the South African team for the Commonwealth Games in August. He is very close to achieving the qualifying times and will hope to underline his credentials in Perth. He was included in the SA team after excelling in several events in the last year, including the World Junior Championships, where he was part of the relay medley team which claimed the bronze medal, SA's only medal of the event.