A YEAR since they launched their sponsorship packages and fundraising campaign, Farnham Swimming Club are delighted to announce two fantastic sponsors, GoldHR Consulting Limited and Haus Maids.

The support of these businesses, along with a generous grant from Surrey Playing Fields, has contributed towards the club being able to afford the all-important scoreboard, which is now proudly in place at Farnham Leisure Centre.

This helps the club run internal meets such as the annual Club Championships, where young swimmers are introduced to licensed competitions in a friendly and familiar environment and experienced swimmers get to improve their personal bests, and mini-meets aimed at familiarising the club’s youngest swimmers with racing.

Now that the scoreboard is in place, the club is looking to raise funds to buy some individual items such as headsets which can be used by coaches to communicate with swimmers in the water. Investment in training aids such as these will really help more of the club’s swimmers reach county, regional and national level and position the club as one of the best in the country.

The beginning of the new season was celebrated with the Farnham Swimming Club Annual Awards Night, held in the Medici at Weydon School – an opportunity to celebrate not only the amazing success of the swimmers but also all the tremendous support given by coaches, teachers, club volunteers and parents.

A great night was had by all, and thanks to some incredible sweet donations from committee and parents the pudding auction raised an amazing £1,155 towards being able to invest in that new training kit.

The club made a brilliant start to the season in the Surrey County relays, this year held at K2 in Crawley for the first time. The senior boys 16 and over team gained bronze in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay – huge congratulations to James Parry, Zack Westhead, Alessandro Harker and Andrew Hooper, an amazing achievement. As always the club celebrated not only the medal winners but all swimmers taking part, some of whom were having their first experience of competing at this level.

Farnham Swimming Club members are working hard to achieve those all-important county and regional times. They attended their first open meet of the season, hosted by Rushmoor Royals Swim Club, in late October. With 76 per cent of Farnham swims at the meet being personal bests, the bar has been raised. Along with personal bests, new club records and county qualifying times were achieved.

Round one of the Arena League season took place in October, when Farnham Swimming Club competed against Amersham, Elmbridge Phoenix, Chalfont Otters, Eastleigh and Dorking. It was a truly exciting evening with tremendous racing and even better team spirit, and Farnham’s new team mascot – a feisty red bull – was introduced.

The club is thrilled to welcome Louisa Ewing as assistant head coach. She brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm, is working with all age groups and is delighted to have joined head coach Sean Bailey and his team.

To sponsor Farnham Swimming Club email chair Fiona Lee at [email protected]