ON the evening of Saturday, January 18, Crediton and District Swimming Club said goodbye to their much liked and respected assistant swimming coach, Martin Williams. Martin, from Exeter, has been a volunteer coach for the Club for more than 10 years, seeing the development and progression of hundreds of enthusiastic young swimmers. He was sometimes considered to be a tough coach, pushing the swimmers to achieve the best they could, through training and commitment.

This was always done in a professional and friendly way, helping the swimmers to improve and develop their skills.

Martin was presented with an engraved decanter during the evening, which was also a presentation evening for awards won at the recent Swimming Club Championships, held towards the end of 2019.

During the championships, club swimmers raced according to age group, with events of different distance and different stroke, enabling swimmers to challenge themselves across the full range.

Trophies were awarded to the top three placed swimmers, and medals awarded to all participants.

Sara Rolle, a Masters member of the Club, was awarded the Chairman’s Trophy, following her hard work and support earlier in the year, during the enforced absence through illness of Club Coach Jane Brimacombe.

The Club Lifesaving Instructors, Andy Coles and Christine Furse, chose Joe and Sasha Manners to receive the Lifesaving Trophy for their efforts during the year.

The Trophies for distance races and relays will await those events still to take place due to the pool at Lords Meadow being closed for refurbishment during December.

The great performance of the swimmers is the result of all the hard work put in by them, but also by the club coaches, such as Martin.

The Club would like to thank Martin, who can now enjoy a well earned rest!