Fresh look ahead of club championship

A total revamp of the facilities in and around the training pool at Perth Leisure Pool has been secured as a result of a yearlong joint fundraising effort.

New starting blocks, lane ropes and flags have been officially unveiled at the facility in time for Perth City Swim Club’s annual championship this weekend.

Two of the required five backstroke start ledges have also been purchased, with sponsors being sought to fund the remaining three at a cost of £1500.

Several thousand pounds has been spent on the new equipment which will be used for club members and the wider public using the training pool.

Funding for the project was a joint effort between Live Active Leisure and Perth City Swim Club, supported by The Jimmie Cairncross Trust.

A significant chunk of the funding was raised through a sponsored bungee jump by club captain Freya Bannerman and fundraising committee member Pamela Renfrew.

Perth City Swim Club president Carol McPartland said: “This has been a monumental effort on behalf of a lot of people to reach this point.

“We have to thank everyone who has been involved, particularly the support and co-operation of Live Active Leisure and The Jimmie Cairncross Trust.

“As well as the obvious benefit to our club swimmers, the new equipment is there for the people of Perth who use the pool too.

“The old starting blocks and lane ropes were no longer fit for purpose and age had simply caught up with them. To be honest, they have been needing replaced for some time, but specialised equipment like this doesn’t come cheap unfortunately.

“That’s why it has been so important to make it a joint effort and why everyone should be delighted that we have finally reached this stage.

“It’s worth giving a special mention to Freya and Pamela for literally taking the plunge and raising a significant part of the total which was required.

“To be able to announce this ahead of our 2019 Club Championships is very satisfying and should give everyone involved a timely boost.”

The championships run over the course of two days this weekend and more than 100 of the club’s swimmers will be taking part. Participants range from swimmers aged seven and eight right up to world champion and Olympic medallist Stephen Milne.

Stephen will be presenting the medals on Sunday, while former club swimmer Scott McLay will be returning to present the medals on Saturday.

Scott - who is Scotland’s most successful Commonwealth Youth Games athlete ever - is breaking off from preparations for next month’s European Short Course Championships in Glasgow.

He said: “I learned to swim at Perth Leisure Pool and my first club was Perth City Swim Club. My earliest memory is of winning a medal at my first club meet at the age of seven.”

Head coach Ann Dickson described the championships as her favourite meet of the year.

Carol added: “Our parent volunteers have really rallied around to support the event and without them we would not be able to hold the meet on such a scale.

“We have some poolside seating and the viewing gallery upstairs and we would encourage people to pop in and watch some of the action.

“You might well spot an Olympian in action, while the younger ones’ racing can get very exciting with lots of close finishes.”