Bridgwater Swimming Club earns ASA accolade

1:42pm Friday 2nd February 2007

BRIDGWATER Amateur Swimming Club had plenty to celebrate at its recent annual presentation evening in Bridgwater Sports and Social Club.

Club chair Bev Fournier introduced the new president Ron Harris, a long-serving member, who is actively involved both poolside and on the committee.

The night was also honoured by the presence of the new Somerset ASA county president Kaye Savory She has been a Bridgwater member for more than 15 years and it was a great honour for the club when she was inaugurated as county president in November.

Finally, Bev welcomed a very special guest, Dave Flack, a previous chairman of Bridgwater ASC, who chairs the ASA National Swim 21 programme.

He explained the importance and significance of the Swim 21 scheme and presented the club officially with its Swim 21 and Clubmark accreditation for Swimming at Skill Development Level.

In order to achieve accreditation, each club must be assessed by a regional and national panel in four areas: swimmer development; teacher/coach development; club management; and partnerships.

Bridgwater is one of only four clubs in Somerset to have received accreditation at this level, a triute to all the hard work by the volunteers who co-ordinate the running of the club.

Savory and Flack presented the medals and trophies from the recent club championships. They were extremely successful, with swimmers achieving a plethora of personal-best and club-best times.

One swimmer stood out: Nick Constable, aged 12, achieved 16 club-best times and was awarded a special trophy for this achievement.