Congratulations to Cupar & District Swimming Club who have just been named within the top three swimming clubs in Scotland! What a story they have to tell! The following is a release they’ve issued that explains the countdown to the well-deserved accolade …

“In June 2022, our Club decided to enter a Scottish Swimming competition to find their Club of the Year. Unfortunately this was not good timing as most of the Club members went off on holiday in July. However a small group of volunteers got together and made a plan.

Leigh Jamieson, Laura McNeilly, Marlyn Graham, Hilary Lumsden, Gina Logan and Jen Smith drew up a plan. They were fortunate to reconnect with former parent member Stuart Williamson who was well known for his photographic skills. The criteria stated that we had to produce a 2 minute video to prove why we should be Club of the year; not an easy task in a club with a membership of 140 swimmers and lots of parent helpers and coaches.

We compiled a programme putting out there all our strengths:

• During Covid we had retained our membership numbers
• We worked alongside Fife Sport and Leisure trust in getting everyone safely back in the pool
• Every month we contribute to Cupar Food bank, depending on their specific request
• We work with Bell Baxter High School Young Leaders through Active schools giving them the opportunity to become Lifeguards and Teachers at no cost
• We work with Bell Baxter High School and other agencies offering a wider Access scheme for those who struggle to finance swimming lessons.
• For a small club we have over 20 qualified technical officials who help run galas throughout Fife and beyond
• We have qualified team managers who help our young swimmers when they attend galas
• Our senior swimmers help in the teaching and coaching of our young swimmers
• 3 of our senior swimmers attended a Scottish Swimming Young Leaders programme, and 1 attended a Young Ambassador’s course
• We support our senior swimmers in offering voluntary work for Duke of Edinburgh award.
• We train our own poolside helpers, teachers and coaches.
• Our top swimmers have this past year swum at numerous National events
• We produce our own monthly news letter
• Hannah Miley came to our Club for a pool session and also gave a workshop on Girls Health.
• We have membership of Duffus Park Community Sports hub and East Fife Sports Council
• At the Sports Council awards we won the following categories
  • Sustainability
  • Coach of the year
  • Young volunteers of the Year
  • Runner up – Keeping connected

So getting all this information into a 2 minute video was not an easy task, but after 2 shoots we were up against a tight timescale and sent the video full of high hopes.

 

 

In August we were informed we were in the top 3 and this was followed by a virtual interview with a panel from Scottish Swimming and a follow up visit to the club for more video coverage.

A group of 10, including the “Six Starters”, Stuart, video operator, our President Helen, Meet Secretary, Karen and Coach Mark attended the Scottish Awards night in Edinburgh. We did not win, the trophy went to Aberdeen Dolphins but finishing in the top 3 in Scotland was a great achievement, for our small Club.

We will continue to flourish as a club as we are fortunate to have a fantastic group of swimmers and a fantastic group of parent helpers and coaches.

Anyone wishing to join our great club please go onto our website and make contact; if we have space we will welcome you and if not we keep a waiting list.”

 

Need more?

Visit the Club’s website via this link.

 

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Just click on the image below to use our form to submit. We will then share as a story within the collection.

 

Thanks for reading!