Photo gallery: Big splash makes cash for good causes
The Rotary Club of Market Harborough SwiMarathon, James Parr, 7
More than £4,000 was raised for good causes by swimmers at the annual Market Harborough Rotary Club’s SwiMarathon event over the weekend.
The swimmers swam a total of 4,000 lengths at Harborough Leisure Centre on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. As well as the £4,000 raised an additional more than £2,500 was given by businesses as sponsorship of the event which will all add to the funds that will benefit good causes in the area.
Click on this link for a gallery of photos from the event.
Chris Etherington, chair of the group of Rotarians organising the SwiMarathon, said: “We are delighted to have gathered so much money this year from the sponsorship.
“We thought it might be difficult this year, with the economic climate, but with more swimmers and more sponsors we have raised this fantastic amount.
“It will all benefit local causes. It is so lovely to see so many people of all ages swimming together, and having so much fun.”
One of the big entrants in this year’s event was Market Harborough Church of England Primary which entered 11 teams. Six were teams of pupils, two of former pupils, one of teachers and two of parent.
Hazel Stephens, organiser at the school, said: “The children love it, and so do I. We have swum every year with more and more swimmers.
“We have also applied for grants each year and received awards for the school library and the Peace Garden and other things.
“It is good to be able to tell the parents that the school benefits from the SwiMarathon, as well as having fun actually swimming.”
The Harborough Leisure Centre team swam for the third year running and its team of six swimmers managed to match their previous record of 165 lengths completed in an hour.
New swimmers this year were from Christine Giles’ swimmers. She runs swimming sessions at her own small pool for families and thought the event would be a good challenge for her swimmers.
She said: “Our six teams, each with six swimmers, all did brilliantly. It was great. I would like to thank all our swimmers and helpers for taking part, and thank the Rotary Club for organising it all.”
There were teams from the Two Shires Doctors’ Surgeries and from women’s groups in Great Bowden and Little Bowden.
Brooke House College, Little Bowden Primary and Ridgeway Primary all had teams at the SwiMarathon.
HarborougH FM were at the poolside providing music for the swimmers and crowds, together with live commentary on the number of lengths each team was swimming.
The SwiMarathon is not an endurance event. Each team of up to six people get one lane to swim in for one hour while Rotarians count the number of lengths each team swims.
After the swim each participant gets a certificate with a photo of their team.
A team of 35 Rotarians of the Market Harborough club, who were assisted by members of Inner Wheel and the Welland Valley Rotary Club, ran the event.
St John Ambulance supported staff at Harborough Leisure Centre staff in providing supervision and the St John Cadets also had a team of swimmers.
Businesses that sponsored the event include, The Angel Hotel, Andrew Granger & Co, Brooke House College, e.surv (chartered surveyors), ET Pierson and Sons (accountants), Harborough FM Radio, Harborough Mail, Harboro Rubber, Jet Pumps UK Ltd, Market Harborough Building Society, Mayday Independent Financial Services Ltd, Mistrys Pharmacy, NFU Mutual (insurance, pensions and investments), K&G Roskrow Opticians, Stephen Sanderson Transport Ltd, Walker Forestry Conservation and Wartnaby Heffords Solicitors.
There will be advertisements in the Mail and on Harborough FM in April inviting applications for grants.
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Weather for Market Harborough
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
