 |
Reading Cygnets Swimming Clubfor the Mentally Handicapped
|
|
|
WHO WE ARE History
Aims and Objectives
|
How we got started
Two
mothers of Downs Syndrome children who had seen mentally handicapped
athletes competing in a day of sports organised by the Special Olympic movement founded Reading
Cygnets in 1981. Mrs Doreen Gardiner
and Mrs Pam Weekes persuaded the local authority to give two one hour sessions
at Highdown School and Reading Central Pool were the first six swimmers swan
socially with their families. In that
year, two of the swimmers Paul Parsons and Chris Phillips went to their first
Special Olympic Games in Knowlsey, both returning with medals.
With this victory came publicity and then the club began to grow
The few swimmers
there were in the club started to compete in more and more competitions
and started to become very proficient in galas.
Unfortunately Mrs Weeks had to leave the area and asked Mr Ron
Phillips to take over the running of the club and it was decided that due
to more swimmers now wanting to join a more structured system was needed
and we would become a fully motivated competitive club.
1983-
We
currently have forty-two swimmers,
with Learning Disability, Downs Syndrome and Austic,
including two of the original six,
Paul Parsons and Chris Phillips.
We now have two hours
on a Sayurday and one hour on the club night, Sunday's.
All sessions are at Reading Central Pool, Battle Sreet. We are
structured to cater for all levels swimming abilty(
subject to passing a coaching assessment). Saturdays we
encourage all to train for the two hours to
increase stamina and help the more proficent swimmer , with the
occasional stroke correction time.
Other swimmers have the option to swim for an hour.
On Sundays, at Reading Central Pool all are welcome but we currently have a
places for additional swimmers.
All six lanes have qualified coaches, from the assistant to the fully qualified club coach from Reading Swimming Club.We have to grade the swimmers for them to get the most from the training. If you are interested in this commitment contact Gordon Dart, see contact page
|