Family-run Lancing swimming club makes a splash with award

A swimming club in Lancing, which has been running for more than 20 years, has been recognised with an award for its '˜successful' and '˜creative' approach to lessons.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Dec 2016, 13:39 BST
Updated 6th Dec 2016, 12:51 BST

Penguins Swimming Lessons, based in North Lancing, won ASA Swim School of the Year at a ceremony held at Birmingham University’s Great Hall on Saturday, November 26.

Linette Wheeler, of The Street, North Lancing, started the swimming school 22 years ago.

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The 40-year-old, who attended the ceremony with her husband Kyle, said receiving the award was ‘amazing’.

“It’s a real tribute to Penguins and all of the great teachers we have there,” she said. “We’re a close-knit family team and we have evolved over the 22 years that we have been running.

“I want to dedicate this award to my family, my dad and my mum, who really inspired us to swim at a young age.”

The mother teaches classes alongside her sister, Gill Button, 46, at Lancing College, where there are six main teachers and six teaching assistants in total.

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Judges said the swimming club went ‘above and beyond’ to help their learners reach their potential and focused on the personal development of staff, according to Linette.

The awards were presented by Ellie Robinson, the 2016 Paralympic S6 50m Butterfly Champion and Daniel Goodfellow, 2016 Olympic diving bronze medallist.

Jane Nickerson, interim Chief Executive of the ASA – the national governing body for swimming – said: “We have many fantastic people involved in our sport and the annual Aquatics Awards are our opportunity to recognise the great contribution that is made every day by our volunteers, teachers, coaches and partners.

“The Awards is also an opportunity to celebrate the many achievements within the aquatics community

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“From the individuals who have overcome personal obstacles to learn how to swim, to the athletes who have represented their clubs and country.

“All our nominees are great ambassadors for our sport and it is wonderful to be able to recognise their achievements.”

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