Bracknell

A 15-year-old who has been swimming at Bracknell Leisure Centre since she was 18-months-old has achieved her silver merit award.

Camilla Fillingham demonstrated a range of swimming tests to complete the Bracknell award, including swimming 100 metres in less than three minutes, swimming 800 metres including 400 metres backcrawl, diving in at the deep end of the pool and treading water for two minutes with one hand behind the back, skulling forwards and backwards for 10 metres each way, and retrieving objects from the bottom of the pool.

She started in the Bracknell parent and baby classes with instructor Angela Miller and has been taught by her ever since, and has the full range of badges and awards:

* In the Bracknell learner pool she progressed through the minnows, ripples, tadpoles, seals and dolphins classes;
* Then in the training pool, Camilla successfully completed her grades one to four;
* Finally, and in the competition pool, Camilla achieved pre-competition, grades five and six, and then the bronze and silver merit awards.

Camilla, who travels from Lower Earley to use Bracknell Leisure Centre’s pools, said: I really enjoy my swimming lessons with Angela at Bracknell Leisure Centre and I can't wait to start training for my gold merit award."

In the new year, there is a full range of swimming classes starting at Bracknell Leisure Centre for all ages.

Bracknell Children’s classes start with splashers for children as young as six months, rising with age and ability right through to dolphins for children aged up to seven. There are then classes to help children achieve the six swimming grades and then up to gold merit. There are also fitness and synchronised swimming classes and rookie lifesaver courses.

For adults, there are beginners and improvers classes, sessions to help people master front crawl, l’eau robics, ante-natal classes and the chance to achieve teaching and lifeguard qualifications.

Bracknell Leisure Centre also has a wide range of classes including circuit training, aerobics, spinning and gymnastics; and facilities like a gym, squash courts, and a crèche.

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Leisure, said: I would like to congratulate Camilla for achieving her silver merit award, and wish her all the best for her gold award.

Swimming is just one of the many ways to get fit at Bracknell Leisure Centre, why not call in at the Centre and find out more about what’s available in 2009.”

For more details about Bracknell Leisure Centre, and the Council’s other sport and leisure facilities call 01344 454203.

Bracknell Forest Council