Four volunteers have been honoured for their commitment to swimming as part of the ASA’s inaugural Aquaforce Awards.
The ASA Aquaforce Recognition Scheme honours volunteers in swimming and its related disciplines. Regional winners are put forward to a national panel where national winners are selected for the National Award, Outstanding Contribution Award, Club Award, and Community Award.
One volunteer from each category was recognised at county level with winners going forward for regional selection. Four volunteers in each region were nominated for national recognition and a dedicated panel whittled down the entries to name the top volunteer in each category.
Josie Grange (Nova Centurion SC, Midlands region), Andrew Walker (Lowestoft and Oulton Broad SC, East region), Jo John (Plymouth Leander SC, South West region) and Sue Clinton (Clevedon ASC, South West region) have been named as award winners and will be presented with their awards at the organisation’s Swimtastic dinner this Friday (27 October).
National Award winner Josie Grange has worked with the Nova Centurion Swim Club for 30 years and has been an influential force in all aspects of Nottinghamshire swimming. The award recognises volunteers for their ongoing commitment, time and dedication at county, regional and national levels.
The Outstanding Contribution Award is given to the volunteer that has made an outstanding contribution to their club, county or region. Andrew Walker, who won this year, has been volunteering within the region for almost ten years and was recently made president of the Suffolk ASA. As well as co-ordinating county and club newsletters and websites, Andrew volunteers at 11 sessions a week coaching at the club.
Plymouth Leander’s Jo John has received the Club Awards for her invaluable to the club. As a qualified coach she has been closely with many top young swimmers from across the county, and gives up 20 hours of her free time to coach at the club.
The Community Award is given to a volunteer for their ongoing commitment and dedication at county, regional and national levels.
Clevedon Amateur Swimming Club volunteer Sue Clinton has won this award after working closely with schools organising galas and giving children the opportunity to enjoy competitive swimming.
ASA Director of English Programmes Anne Adams-King underlines the importance of the volunteers to the sport.
“The ASA relies on its army of volunteers to support the sport at local, regional, national and international level,” she said. “Without them swimming would not enjoy the success it currently does nor its mass participation rates.
“The ASA is in the process of writing its volunteer strategy to ensure we continue to attract volunteers to the sport and provide them with the necessary training and support. By honouring all volunteers we hope to underline their value to our sport and the role they play in developing athletes from grass roots to gold medals.”
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The Swimtastic Awards are being held this Friday (27th October) at the Stratford Holiday Inn, in Stratford-upon-Avon.
For more information and photographs contact ASA Media Assistant Gemma Field on 01509 632262, 07917 726431 or email gemma.field@swimming.org
The Amateur Swimming Association is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,600 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.
The Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme is the most successful awards scheme in British sport and issues around two million awards every year to swimmers all around the world.
For more information about ASA Awards please see www.swimming.org
