Chapeltown & District Amateur Swimming Club
Affiliated
to ASA, NECSSA, YSA, S&D ASA, RLSS
Reply to: Mr Kevin Canetti
(Publicity Officer),
PRESS
RELEASE
Lound clinch first place after
“swim-off” at
On 23rd November Chapeltown
Amateur Swimming Club hosted the first school swimming gala for several years,
giving 100 children from Lound Junior School, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary
School, Ecclesfield Primary School, Monteney Primary School, and Southey Green
Community School, the chance to try out competitive swimming for the first
time. The gala consisted of 25 races for both boys and girls, with each school
having two Chapeltown club swimmers to offer advice and cheer them on.
The gala, which was held at Chapeltown
Baths, was the brain child of Tom Barlow, chairman of Chapeltown ASC, “it all
started with the discovery of an old School’s trophy when we gave our cabinet a
spring clean earlier this year.” he explained. “It made me realise that school
children rarely get the opportunity to try out competitive swimming and I
started to look at creating school gala. I discussed it with several Heads at
local schools and they were very positive and supportive, the result was
tonight’s gala.”
Family, friends, and the school Heads
watched the competition which included an exhibition race by several Chapeltown
swimming club’s members. The gala was eventually won by Lound after a close-run
“swim off” was required when St Mary’s and Lound finished in joint first place
after the 25 race competition.
Deb Halliday-Bell, Head of Lound School,
was delighted with the gala, “The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and
worked extremely hard in all their races. Their was a great atmosphere at the
pool and I’m sure many of the children will want to get more involved in
swimming which can only be a good thing. We’re all proud of their efforts.”
Competitive swimming does seem to be on
the increase, Chapeltown club having seen membership increase throughout 2006,
especially in the younger age group. Further details on the club visit www.chapeltownasc.org, call in at Chapeltown
Baths on a Thursday evening between 7.30pm and 9.30pm and ask for Tom Barlow or
Robert Grayson, call Robert Grayson on 0114 2885181.
“The gala went so well we’ve already
decided to make it an annual event,” concluded Tom Barlow.
Picture: Deb
Halliday-Bell, Head of Lound School with the first place trophy.
The final standings were as follows:
Story by Kevin Canetti.