Birkenhead Swimming Club celebrate 126th year with Swim-21 Award

Jan 14 2009 by James Maloney, Birkenhead News

BIRKENHEAD Swimming Club have celebrated their 126th year, making them the oldest club in Wirral.

They have also been re-awarded with Swim-21 accreditation by the Amateur Swimming Association, which is a quality mark awarded nationally and regionally to clubs throughout the UK.

Last weekend, the club held their annual awards and presentation evening, which was attended by the ASA’s Nick Turnbull, who presented the club with their Swim-21 award.

Birkenhead have an impressive track record, with a number of their members achieving great things in swimming.

Kath Grimmer is one of the club’s most senior swimmers and teachers trains every week. At 80-years-old, she recently headed Down Under with her training partner, Linda Corcoran, where the duo came away with some medals at the World Masters.

Colin Smith, who can be seen every Tuesday honing his skills in a canoe at Byrne Avenue, is also a valued member at Birkenhead. He recently headed to Italy and came back with a gold medal in World Canoeing.

Meanwhile, Kate Thompson, Sophie Gilbert, Harriet Solheim and Maria Kendall were all selected to attend the GB Water polo Academy held for one week in Millfield School.

Woodchurch High School pupil Thomas Barton, 14, and Wirral Grammar School pupil Danielle Lowe, 13, both recently gained seven national qualifying times for individual events in the National Age Group Championships 2008.

They also entered relay events for City of Liverpool Swimming Club and have since been selected by the ASA for the England Youth Talent Programme (NW Region).

For further information contact vice chairman Peter Blood on 0151 229 4425.