News Report

 

Runnymede SC is presented with their Swim 21 Accreditation Certificate by the ASA’s East Region Development Officer.

 

Runnymede Swimming Club has been awarded Swim 21 Accreditation for Swimming at Competitive Development Level by their National governing body, The Amateur Swimming Association.  The award was officially presented to the Club’s Head Coach Paul Eveleigh and members of the Club Management Committee and coaching team by Roy Emmerson, the ASA East Region Development Officer.  Runnymede SC is now one of only four clubs in the Essex County ASA to achieve accreditation, and is the only club with Competitive Development status.

 

The award ceremony took place at the club’s home at Runnymede Pool in Kiln Road, Thundersley, and was attended by Castle Point MP Dr Bob Spink, Mayor Tony Belford and Borough of Castle Point Councillors, Godfrey Issacs and Wendy Goodwin, Leisure Services management and pool staff, the Chairman, Brian Penn and Secretary, Kevin McBrearty of the Castle Point Sports Council, and club swimmers and volunteers from the past and present membership.

 

In recognising the clubs hard work, the Amateur Swimming Association’s Swim 21 National Panel particularly noted the hard work that the club puts into Fund Raising and Sponsorship initiatives.  They also particularly recognised Runnymede Swimming Club’s well-developed and pro-active involvement with local schools to help encourage swimmers of all abilities to improve their skills and become competitive swimmers.

 

Club Secretary Heather Davis said, “This is a major achievement in the history of the Club. Gaining Swim 21 accreditation is recognition of the quality of our club as a place for competitive swimming and coaching.  Runnymede Swimming Club provides a great service for all of its members and the local community.  Swim 21 is a commitment to future generations of club members that this club will continue to provide this quality service for years to come.  This award shows that Runnymede Swimming club provides the best possible environment in terms of coaching, management, guidance, care, safety, equality and facilities to help each individual swimmer achieve their full potential.”

 

Runnymede Swimming Club also receives the Sport England Clubmark in recognition of the quality service it provides for its members.  Both awards follow the recognition the club received by gaining the Essex County Council Club SX accreditation in July.

 

The Amateur Swimming Association recently announced that more than 250 clubs throughout the country have now achieved Swim 21 accreditation, which is well on the way to achieving its target of 800 accredited clubs by 2008.  The Swim 21 club network promotes the sharing of “best practice” examples in order to constantly improve every club, and also promotes the exchange of ideas between clubs in order to advance aquatic sports at every opportunity.  By gaining Swim 21 accreditation Runnymede SC is able to tap into these resources and can also take advantage of increased opportunities for funding towards training to further improve the club’s abilities and services.  One area in which the club is aiming to improve is in the increased provision of competitive swimming training for people and especially children with learning disabilities.  It is hoped that during 2006 and 2007 that this will become possible.

 

With a current membership of more than 250 people of all ages and abilities, Runnymede Swimming Club is an active member of the local community.  The club’s members compete at competitions throughout the year, and to start this season off they have just completed a weekend at an International event where the club finished in overall 2nd position competing against 12 other clubs from Holland, Germany and the host country Belgium.  The club also competes in the top divisions of the Essex Swimming League, the London area of the National Speedo League, and the M11 region of the Junior Speedo League.  Many swimmers from the club have training plans constructed by the coaching team with targets to compete at the Essex County Championships, the East Region Championships at Norwich and at the National Championships.

 

Swimmers who want to become part of this successful and friendly club should contact the Head Coach Paul Eveleigh on 01268 759043, or Club Secretary Heather Davis on 01702 478380 to arrange a trial session.

 

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