Pickering in high praise for Surrey Sports Park’s new swimming facilities
Tuesday 23 March 2010
One of Britain’s top women swimmers over the last decade, Karen Pickering MBE, on a visit to the Surrey Sports Park, hailed the new swimming facilities as a “fantastic place to train and race”. Pickering, who represented Great Britain at 4 consecutive Olympic Games and has a medal haul including 8 World Championship medals (4 gold) and 13 Commonwealth Games medals (4 gold), held the new pool facilities in high regard.
“It’s amazing you’ve got a 50 metre pool here. It’s a long way when I get in and swim in a 50 metre pool now as it’s been a while since I swam long course, but it’s just a lovely pool.”
Pickering continued: “It’s really impressive. There’s lots of room on the pool side so you can imagine if you have competitions it’s not going to feel too cluttered or too busy on the pool side. There’s nice seating and it’s a good temperature around the pool side. I think you’re going to have some great results here. The swimmers have got a really good opportunity to make the most of this pool, and I wish them all the best of luck.”
Pickering was on a visit to Surrey Sports Park whilst filming a feature for Channel Five’s ‘The Gadget Show’. The British swimmer went head to head in a series of swimming races with programme host Suzi Perry to test the latest advances in swimming technology. Pickering talked about the benefits a 50 metre pool such as the training facility at Surrey Sports Park can have in creating further international success in the water:
“Obviously I’d like to see 50 metre pools as much as possible as there are so few 50 metre pools in the country. The better the pools and the more options there are for swimmers the better. I still believe it comes down to the coaching, and if you’ve got the right coach and a 50 metre pool then you’re well on your way to getting good results.”
Surrey Sports Park, Chief Executive, Jason Harborow, said: “It is great to once again receive complimentary comments from another of our country’s greatest swimmers. We have always believed the pool and other facilities at Surrey Sports Park to be truly world class, and for Karen to be so positive fills us with confidence. With Mark Foster also expressing his excitement over the project, we really believe we have a fantastic swimming facility on our hands.”
The swimming pool, which is the first 50 metre indoor pool to be built in Surrey, is one of the flagship facilities of the new multi-million pound Surrey Sports Park, which is owned by the University of Surrey. IIt is due to open on Monday 19 April and will be one of the premier training facilities ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.
The 2 metre deep pool will be complimented by some of the very latest high-tec equipment to help athletes of all levels. It will have a full Datronics timing system, OSB12 starting platform, traversable boom, movable floor as well as a magnificent separate wetside changing village.
Last year saw Surrey Sports Park and Guildford City Swimming Club announce details of an agreement that will see the two working closely together. The agreement will give Guildford City Swimming Club exclusive access to the magnificent new facilities at the Surrey Sports Park and will see leading coaching staff from the swimming club led by GCSC Head Coach, Richard Garfield working closely to develop and enhance the University of Surrey Swim Squad with the aim of producing and nurturing elite level swimming talent.
In addition the club will provide tuition and training for swimmers of all levels and as part of the development of swimming within the South East region. More details of Surrey Sports Park’s Learn to Swim programme can be found at surreysportspark.co.uk. Courses are available to book now by calling 01483 689111.
The Surrey Sports Park has already been registered as a suitable training venue for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 but as well as catering for elite athletes it will also provide the best and most up to date sport and facilities for anyone interested in sport and fitness.
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
