Abergavenny Swimathon November 2023

10 Teams took part in this year's Swimathon, on Sunday 19 November 2023 whereby Abergavenny Rotary Club finance the hire of the local swimming pool to allow local schools and clubs to raise money by being sponsored to swim as many lengths as possible within a one hour slot.

Abergavenny Triathlon started off swimming for 2 hours, as part of their training and unsurprisingly all 4 teams swam over 300 lengths within the time.

Abergavenny Junior Netball Club then occupied 2 lanes and swam 112 and 139 lengths, this always proves a good fund raiser for this club which has over 70 young members. King Henry VIII School then swam in 3 lanes with the teams swimming between 126 and 161 lengths, encouraged and supported by the PE Dept. and Deputy Head Teacher Mr Mark Stockham.

Abergavenny Swimming Club, a very successful local club, followed in 8 lanes and as expected swam between 130 lengths and 175 lengths. This year Gilwern Scouts participated for the first time and with the help of a Torfaen Swimming Club members swam an incredible 176 lengths with only 2 participants!

The highlight of the event is the participation of the local Junior Schools of Ysgol Cymraeg, Our Lady St. Michaels, Cantref, Llanfihangel Crucorney and Llanfoit, wiht the latter winning yet again by swimming 119 lengths within the hour.

Many thanks to the local Rotarians for keeping the score, the Leisure Centre for their support and most of all the teachers and organisers of the participating schools and clubs, who without their support these children would not be able to take part in their clubs.

And thank you to all the sponsors!

Rotary Club President Mr Dean Christy said "the Rotary Club is delighted at the response from local Schools and Sports Clubs for participating in the annual Swimathon event. Well done and thank you to Trevor Morgan (PHF) for organising another very successful event this year and thanks to all those Rotarians who helped with the scoring on the day. We estimate that the local Schools and Sports Clubs have raised several thousands of pounds for their organisations through this event".

Pictured are teams from the Abergavenny Swimming Club being given their starting orders by Abergavenny Rotary Club Supremo - Trevor Morgan (PHF). Well done and thank you Trevor for organising another very successful Swimathon event again this year.