Clubs set to move

THE medal chances of Guernsey's best swimmers would be boosted by a move to a new pool at the Les Nicolles schools site. Guernsey's two swimming clubs are welcoming the chance to move out of Beau Sejour and concentrate their training at the new schools.

Elite local swimmers currently train sometimes half as much as they should because they are unable to get access to the pool at Beau Sejour.

'Local swimming organisations need to expand their current teaching programmes in order to cater for the ever-increasing demand,' said Alison Frankland, from the Beau Sejour Barracudas.

'The two clubs are excellently managed and both produce fine swimmers of all ages and abilities.

'But at performance level and above, swimmers require in the region of 18-20 hours' collective pool training time a week - the two clubs are able to offer around 11 hours at the present time.'

Frankland said that the best local swimmers would get better chances for national and international recognition with a dedicated training pool. The school pool would be available for training out of school hours.

'Several locally-trained youngsters are of the calibre to have gained selection by British Swimming onto the world potential age group and youth programmes and, in order to stay on the programme, must complete the required number of sessions per week.

'Without adequate training

facilities, we cannot compete at this level.'

Frankland added that the Beau Sejour Swim School as well as the clubs were unable to expand because of a lack of pool time and have large waiting lists.

Jo Winberg, coach at the Guernsey Swimming Club, said that the lack of a dedicated teaching pool at Les Nicolles would still cause problems, particularly for parents dropping children at two different sites.

'We will be able to have more time in the pool and it will take more of our swimmers out of Beau Sejour, but it's not the ideal solution,' she said.

The States will decide at the end of the month whether to spend an extra £1m. to develop a six-lane, 25m. pool at the schools, instead of the regulation four lanes.

The Culture and Leisure Department is funding the £1m. on top of the £47m. required by Education for the development.

'I think it's a great

example of joined-up

government,' said Dave Chilton, the department's chief executive.

He said that an extension to the pool at Beau Sejour was excluded from the redevelopment of the centre, completed in 2003, in favour of a school site development.

Plans were initially drawn up to locate a new pool at Les Beaucamps, but the cost was more than £7m., compared to the additional £1m. cost as part of Les Nicolles.

Other new school developments are likely to have a regulation four-lane pool included, but may have enhanced dry sports facilities for public use.

It is hoped the move will free Beau Sejour for public swimming from 6pm each evening.

The Department's recent survey has revealed this is the most popular activity among islanders.

'The clubs are very excited about getting their hands on that water and it would give Beau Sejour a new lease of life,' said Mr Chilton.

Only major galas would take place at the centre in future. The new school is expected to open in 2007 if the States agrees at its next meeting.