Success tinged with sadness

Date published: 25 July 2014


SWIMMERS from Crompton Classics claimed three out of four prizes in a gala — despite the council pulling the plug on their training facility due to spiralling repair costs.

The Aqua Gala, for youngsters aged nine to 13, took place at Oldham Pool between Crompton Classics, Rochdale Swim Club, Oldham Seals and Stalybridge SC.

Team manager Karen Burston said that while she was delighted that the club had scooped the prizes, it hit home how disappointed she was that local children would no longer have a local facility.

She said: “It really brings it home that we are going to have to leave. Some of the children were crying at the end. All of them want to stay.

“We will continue fighting to keep the pool but in the end we don’t think there will be any choice.”

Crompton classics won the Hirst Kidd & Rennie Trophy, an aggregate of girls individual events plus points from mixed relays. They came second in the boys version of the event, the Councillor Hirst Trophy.

They also won the David Rees Trophy, a mixed event which sees that fastest girls and boys compete together against the other teams and the Yorkshire Bank Trophy for the overall winners.

The club is now set to merge with Royton swimming club to form a joint team that will train at Royton pool ahead of the opening of the new leisure centre in 2016.

They have secured a few hours pool time for their swimmers at Royton Pool, thanks to Phil Ball, head coach of Royton SC.
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