Swimmers make a big splash
This week’s Reformer Club of the Week is the Rutherglen Amateur Swimming Club.
Recruitment has been a problem for the club in the past but they are starting to build a healthy membership.
Members train at the pool on Glenside Drive, Eastfield and participate in land training at Trinity High.
We spoke to assistant head coach, Fiona Lappin about the club’s recent success. “The club has existed since the early 1960s but little is known about those times today. The 1990s were a struggle for us and a lot of members were lost.
In 2002 the club started rebuilding and it has slowly developed into one of the foremost age group clubs not only in South Lanarkshire but in the West of Scotland.”
“We have a great track record of developing swimmers to district level and have had district champions and currently hold a number of age group records.
In the Clyde Coast Mini League last year we were third behind City of Glasgow and Inverclyde which is well beyond what one would expect of a club our size.
We have had swimmers who have progressed up to become Scottish National Age Group champions and we hope they will move on to bigger and better things. We also have swimmers who compete in open water events and again we have had Scottish age group champions as well as a relay where we came third.”
“This varies depending on age and squad of the swimmer. Currently our top swimmers have six or seven sessions plus land work, mainly afternoons and evenings. We only have an early session on a Saturday.”
“Life in a swimming club is always a little fraught. Our biggest problems is always recruitment and retention often due to swimmers and parents mindsets. It is not all about competition and winning but learning skills both for swimming and life, developing young people and building self confidence.”
“There are always lots of up and coming events, but we are currently in the Clyde Coast league season and everyone is excited. The focus at the moment for many is the Scottish National Age Groups at the beginning of April. Swimmers are anxiously collecting qualifying times and we currently have six that are likely to be going. Our own next big event is our own RASCALS meet which is held at Bellshill in May.”
“Our club is a family and we know everyone individually . We work closely with swimmers and parents to help our swimmers achieve in swimming and life beyond their dreams.
Achieving your goals. Learning what winning really is. It is not just about coming first but that’s a fantastic feeling too.”
“There are those who work tirelessly and those who think they do enough. Enough is never enough. You have to do what it takes.”
“If you have completed the South Lanarkshire Learn to Swim scheme you are automatically accepted into the club. If you are not sure about this, or learned elsewhere, go to the club desk at Eastfield on a Tuesday or Thursday night and we will see how we can help you to the level you wish to achieve. Check our website www.rasc. org.uk or come and speak to any of our coaches.”