​Bury Leisure hosts inter-school swimming gala

This year’s Bury Primary Schools Swimming Gala took place at Castle Leisure Centre on Wednesday 6 February 2019.

Involving 19 local primary schools and over 150 school children, the gala provided an afternoon of friendly competition and healthy poolside activities.

The winning team was from Bury Grammar School closely followed by Greenmount Primary and St Mary’s CE Primary.

As the overall winner Bury Grammar School will go on to represent Bury at the Greater Manchester School Games on Tuesday 19 March.

Paul Wilcock, Aquatics Development Officer for Bury Leisure, said: “This year’s gala was another big success. It was great fun for all the children taking part and I’m pleased to say that several swimmers from our Learn to Swim programme were placed in the winning teams.

“Congratulations to everyone that took part in the gala and good luck to Bury Grammar School in the Greater Manchester contest next month.”

The primary schools involved in this year’s gala were: Bury Grammar; Chantlers; Hazlehurst; Heaton Park; Christ Church Ainsworth; Greenmount; St Joseph & St Bede RC; Unsworth; Wesley Methodist; Butterstile; Guardian Angels RC; Chesham; St Joseph’s Ramsbottom; St Mary’s Hawkshaw; St Mary’s RC, Our Lady Of Lourdes Holcombe; and Greenhill.

Zilpha Lang, Bury Leisure operations manager, said: “It is vital that all children learn how to swim because it’s such an important life skill and an amazing way to stay healthy, happy and safe. Children on our swimming programme build water confidence at an early age and we teach them how to stay safe and avoid potentially dangerous situations.”

Bury Leisure offers the Swimming Teachers’ Association Learn to Swim Programme for children aged 3-12 at Castle Leisure Centre, Radcliffe Leisure Centre and Ramsbottom Pool & Fitness Centre. Intensive learn to swim courses are also provided during school holidays.

To find out more about the Learn to Swim Programme or book daytime or evening lessons visit www.bury.gov.uk/buryleisure-swimminglessons

ENDS

Press release issued: 15 February 2019.

Picture: Three swimmers from Greenmount Primary (from left: Anya Hiscott, Bonnie Carruthers and George Dodd) are pictured with Jessica Calderbank (North West regional placeholder and swimming teacher at Bury Leisure) and Paul Wilcock (Bury Leisure aquatic development officer).

Notes to editors:

Bury Leisure is part of Bury Council and operates three leisure centres across the borough of Bury; Castle Leisure Centre, Bolton St, Bury BL9 0EZ; Radcliffe Leisure Centre, Spring Lane, Radcliffe M26 2SZ; Ramsbottom Pool and Fitness Centre, Stubbins Lane, Bury BL0 0PT.

Bury Leisure Swimming academy runs a structured swimming and water safety programme created by the Swimming Teachers’ Association, one of the largest swim teaching and lifesaving organisations. All our teachers hold professional qualifications and have a passion for teaching. As well as the Learn to Swim Programme a wide variety of other dry side and wet side activities are offered. For full details visit www.bury.gov.uk/buryleisure