Posted on 16th Sep
New competition level starting blocks will further enhance the training environment in the main pool at Newark Sports and Fitness Centre for Newark Swimming Club.
The investment is part of Newark and Sherwood District Council’s commitment to supporting grassroots sport, improving access to facilities, and helping young people pursue pathways into higher level sporting activity.
The council said by funding essential equipment like starting blocks, it was ensuring that local sports enthusiast could train to national standards.
Newark Swimming Club has seen exceptional success in recent years, with swimmers achieving regional and national accolades. The new starting blocks will help build on that momentum.
Coun Susan Crosby, portfolio holder for Health, Wellbeing and Leisure at the council, said: “We’re delighted to support Active4Today and Newark Swimming with this funding. I met Newark Swimming Club members who will be using the blocks, and it was brilliant hearing about all of the success of the club in recent years and how much enjoyment their members get from swimming.
“I spoke to one young boy from Newark who was not a confident swimmer when he started with the club. He started aged eight in the small pool and now swims at county level.
“I hope these new starting blocks will help more swimmers train to competition standards and give them the best chance to build confidence in the water and succeed at the highest levels.
“Clubs are vital to our community, not just for promoting health and wellbeing, but also for nurturing our young people, their talent and ambition. We are absolutely committed to helping to provide these opportunities to our residents to help them flourish and grow.”
Head coach Adam McIntyre said: “The diving blocks have already had such a massive impact on our swimmers, even though we’ve only had them for a couple of sessions.
“It allows our swimmer to train with the equipment that they’ll use in races at most other pools, giving them the best possible chance of being successful and achieving their goals.
“A massive thanks to everyone involved in making this happen for not just for our current swimmers, but for future Newark SC swimmers for years to come.”
