Six children from the Isle of Wight have been presented with top awards by Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew for doing swimmingly.
Elsa Wester (Seaclose), Emma O’Rourke (Waterside), Billy Squires (Heights), Liam Millar (West Wight), Seth Rayner (West Wight) and Summer Gifford (Medina) all won Achiever of the Year accolades at this year’s Southern Water Learn to Swim awards. They were among 24 swimmers who were nominated for the awards and received medals and goodie bags while they were cheered on by their proud parents, swimming instructors, siblings and friends.
The awards are given to children who have shown great courage in overcoming particular difficulties or for exceptional performance while learning to swim.
The water company went to great lengths to ensure that the event, held at the Mountbatten Leisure Centre in Portsmouth on Sunday was a fun day for all, helped by children’s entertainer Signor Baffo.
Duncan Goodhew said: “It is great to see so many children who have learnt to swim with help from Southern Water. I have been fortunate to have had so much enjoyment from swimming in my life and it’s nice to see these youngsters so enthusiastic about the sport.”
Learn to Swim supports lessons at 85 pools and clubs across the region and has taught more than 600,000 children to swim since it began in 1992. It is sponsored by Southern Water suppliers 4Delivery, Morrison Utility Services, Clancy Docwra, Barhale Trant Utilities.
