WINSFORD Swimming Club have upped the ante by winning an incredible award.
The Winsford Lifestyle Centre-based club have been named as Club Of the Year 2025 by Swim England, beating off contenders from all over the country having won the same award for the north west region.
Despite being pitted against much bigger clubs, chairman Barry Keeling says he believes Winsford’s community spirit swayed things their way.
“It came as a complete surprise,” he said.
“We went along thinking that it would go to one of the bigger, southern clubs but it came home to Winsford.
“This is a result of the swimmers, the coaching and teaching team and the huge numbers of volunteers that we get – all the parents that put on a Winsford ASC shirt and do all of the jobs.”
Winsford ASC are currently champions of the North West Arena League Premier Division in both Arena A and Arena B.
Keeling expressed his pride that the club remains in its original state –the same orange shirts are worn while various social events and volunteers keep the club running.
The 79-year-old has been chairman of the club since 1985, when his daughter started to swim there.
“We were a very small club back in the days when I started,” said the 79-year-old chairman, who has held the role since 1985.
“If kids were talented, they had to leave the area to progress which then put pressure on the parents and children.
“The mission was to always bring the coaching capacity to the area and that’s what we have done here at Winsford ASC.
“People will see that we have won, but they will also see the huge levels of support, the fact that the kids have fun competing, which is what it is all about at the end of the day. You want to have fun at that age.”
The club offers lessons and competitions from the age of six, where children can work with experienced and talented coaches.
Part-time swimming coach Adam Blackburn, who has autism, was delighted with the club’s award.
The club encouraged Adam to stay in swimming when he lost the disabled swimming number over 10 years ago – they asked him to volunteer and he has just gained his Level One coaching qualification.
“The club is like a family to me,” he said,
“They have encouraged me so much and I love working and volunteering for them.
"It’s just amazing to have won a national award."
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