Local rural schools compete at the annual NEARS Swimming Gala at The Dolphin
The Dolphin Leisure Centre, Haywards Heath, hosted the annual Network of Eastern Area Rural Schools (NEARS) Swimming Gala on Wednesday 21st July. NEARS is a collective of small local primary schools. One of its key aims is to provide opportunities for children to participate in a variety of collaborative, co-operative and competitive activities, such as the annual swimming gala. The centre, run by leading leisure trust, Freedom Leisure, has a 33x12m, six lane pool, with a moveable boom, which was the perfect place for these local school children to compete on a friendly and social level. Six local rural primary schools met at the centre for a day of fun competition in the water, with Albourne C.E.P. winning the boy’s swimming event and the girl’s trophy been shared between St. Giles C.E.P. and St. Peters C.E.P. Prizes were presented to the winning schools by Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability, Councillor Pru Moore, who said, ‘I was delighted to see so many children from our village schools having the opportunity to swim in the NEARS gala and compete on equal terms with other small schools.’ Andy Jones, Centre Manager at Freedom Leisure’s Dolphin Leisure Centre commented that, ‘Freedom Leisure is pleased to be able to support these small rural schools and provide swimming and other fun activities for these young people to take part in. We look forward to next year’s event and seeing more of the local areas young and talented swimmers’.
Release Date: 28/07/10| Author: JS
