Club gets underwater cash boost

Swim club donation

Instructors at Fauldhouse Penguins Swimming Club will be able to enjoy a fish eye view of how their members swim underwater, thanks to a £ 5000 cash boost.

The club has been given the award from the Coalfields Regeneration T r u s t ’s C o a l f i e l d s Community Investment Fund.

The Club is using the award buy an underwater camera system and laptop to let its members and their coaches see precisely how well they are performing below the surface and develop stroke correction and personalised training plans.

The process can be of benefit to all ability levels and will be used by all of the Club’s 50 members.

Audra McPhee, the club’s gala organiser and chief fundraiser, said the club are delighted to receive the funding.

She said: “We really can’t thank the Coalfields Regeneration Trust enough for helping us get this system.

“It will mean the world to our young swimmers, and take our coaching to a new level.

“Our members compete well against the bigger clubs, but with the bare minimum of training aids.

“This system will let us film them underwater, and show them what they are doing well and what they have to change.”

Audra added the new equipment will be a big help with coaching.

She added: “In the past we borrowed a Go Pro underwater video camera, but it meant my husband had to try and film the swimmers while he was submerged himself and using a snorkel – not ideal.

“Now our coaches will be able to use the camera’s pole to get it to the right depth, and there is a screen above the water so they know what they are filming.”

Nicky Wilson, Scottish Trustee of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust said the group are delighted to help the swimming club.

She added: “I understand that one of club’s objective is to produce swimmers of a standard to qualify for East District Age Group Championships.

“We very much hope that our support will make it that bit easier to achieve their objective, and make swimming, with all the health benefits the sport brings, that bit more attractive to young people.”

Fauldhouse Penguins’ Training sessions take place from Monday to Friday evenings for two hours in the pool at Fauldhouse Partnership Centre.

It will mean the world to our swimmers