SWIMMING CLUB TAKES THE PLUNGE WITH NEW SPONSORED TRACKSUITS
Members of Redditch Swimming Club are now looking as good out of the pool as they are in it thanks to sponsorship from a local aluminium extrusion company.
The only competitive swimming club in the Redditch and Studley area, Redditch Swimming Club has grown since it was established over one hundred years ago (1898) and now has over 400 members. The club, based at the Hewell Road Swimming Pool, ranges from complete beginners to Olympic finalist and Commonwealth medallist Jamie Salter, and regularly enters club members into County, Midland and National competitions.
Club coach Barry Ferguson is himself a former GB water polo player and national swimmer in butterfly. Barry understands the importance of thinking like a winner when it comes to competition – “Winning is not just about the physical attributes of a swimmer. The psychology involved in winning is increasingly being recognised as a vital factor. Part of that process is feeling good about yourself and turning up to a gala dressed for the part in our new tracksuits, with the competitor’s name proudly displayed, will certainly help. A professional approach is very important to us and one we instil very early on with our members through our Code of Conduct. The way we present ourselves to the outside world and to our fellow competitors is fundamental to that professional attitude and we are very grateful to Hydro for sponsoring our tracksuits.”
Neil Hardacre, himself one of a number of volunteers who help to run the club, works as Technical Sales Manager at Hydro Aluminium Extrusion, a company that supplies aluminium components used in many varied products, from ladders and lighting systems to flat bed trucks and trailers. The company has a specialist fabrication facility based on the Ravensbank Drive Industrial Estate in Redditch. Neil comments – “Hydro is very much a company that puts its people first, recognising that it is the contribution of the employees that brings business success. Like many UK manufacturers, we are operating in a very competitive market and we know the value of having a competitive edge. We are delighted to sponsor a local club and hope that in a small way we can help give Redditch Swimming Club that competitive edge which can take them on to even greater success. And with a name like Hydro, a water based sport couldn’t be more apt!”
At the most recent event, the West Midlands modern biathlon competition held on Sunday 1 April, 14 swimmers from the club competed, with three outright winners and seven qualifying for the National Finals to be held in Manchester in May.
Anybody interested in gaining more information on Redditch Swimming Club should contact Club Chairman Graham Nice on tel: 01527 546920.
Tel: 0121 622 6868 Fax: 0121 666 6551
E-mail: admin@shawandunderwood.co.uk