MAKING WAVES
TALENTED young swimmers are gearing up for an Olympic effort which will see them swim more than a million metres to cover the costs of a vital pool upgrade.
Members of Inverclyde Amateur Swimming Club have launched a donation drive to pay for the installation of six new racing blocks at the Waterfront Leisure Centre’s pool in Greenock.
Club members say that the state of the art equipment will improve the way the already successful club prepares for big competitions and tournaments.
They are aiming to raise £12,000 to pay for the blocks and are already well on their way thanks to a £6,000 donation from the Waterfront’s operators Inverclyde Leisure.
To raise the funds, the club members will collectively swim 696 miles – the distance from the Waterfront Pool in Greenock to the Paris venue where the world’s best aquatic athletes will compete this summer.
Kenny Ramsay, who is a committee member at the club, said: “The kids are going to swim the distance from the Waterfront to the Olympic swimming pool in Paris, which is over a million metres.
“They’ll be getting sponsorship from their families and friends but if any member of the public wants to donate, they can do so through our JustGiving, any extra money will go to club funds.
“It’s going to be an Olympic effort for sure!”
Issues with the Waterfront Pool’s moveable floor had affected the club’s ability to use it for diving in recent years, but with a new floor now installed the club are hoping to kick on and find further success.
Despite the pool’s issues talented IASC members have still enjoyed a number of major triumphs.
Their mini league team are currently regional champions, having won the title in 2022 for the first time in 39 years before defending it the following year.
Kenny added: “The kids have achieved phenomenal results when you consider that they’ve been qualifying for district and national events without the ability to practice their diving.
“Their swimming clearly is very strong, which is what’s seen them qualify, and with the added bonus of being able to improve their diving we’ll only see them get better.
“We’ve had brilliant support since our JustGiving page went live, it’s £12,000 we need in total and thankfully Inverclyde Leisure have agreed to fund £6,000 of that.
Inverclyde Leisure’s Operations manager Stuart Boyle said: “We are delighted to work in partnership with Inverclyde Amateur Swimming Club to bring new state of the art diving blocks to the Waterfront.
“This addition will help the club take their already very talented and successful swimmers to the next level.
“The introduction of starting blocks is the next logical step for the club and Inverclyde Leisure and follows nicely on from the recent replacement of the moveable floor at the Waterfront Leisure Complex.
“Inverclyde Leisure are committed to supporting the development of clubs and look forward to continuing our work to help create sustainable aquatics pathways for all ages and abilities.”
Those who wish to donate to the club’s fundraiser can do so online at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/clairemcarthur.