A Bridgwater swimmer looks set to take on Europe’s elite swimmers later this year at the Len European Masters Championships in Slovenia.

Rich Hill has dedicated thousands of hours to the sport of swimming and has been a leading swimmer for Bridgwater Swimming Club for more than two decades.

He has achieved 15 top National Age Group rankings, competing all around the country, and at one point held 28 Bridgwater Swimming Club Records. Rich has represented Bridgwater Swimming Club at national level, competing in the 2014 Masters Nationals winning a silver and bronze, with only six months training. The swimming pool and facilities at Trinity Sports & Leisure in Bridgwater have always played a leading role in Rich’s success and many swimmers who have achieved such early success at competitive swimming have since retired from the sport. Rich spent some time away from swimming working as a personal trainer in the leisure industry and then the lure of a challenge and the support from 1610 have encouraged him back to the pool with Rich now achieving some of the best swimming times of his life.

1610 supports athletes such as Rich under the FANS scheme which rewards talented sportsmen and women who show potential in their sport with free access to facilities.

Rich says the scheme and facilities have had a big impact on what he has been able to achieve as a swimmer; “The Trinity site has been of huge benefit to me as it is right on my doorstep and easy to access the gym and the pool.

"This has become most apparent since September, where I have undergone a training schedule in preparation for the Masters European Championships this summer in Slovenia.

"Since September I have been able to train either in the gym or the pool in the region of 5-6 times a week, sometimes twice a day. I've seen my swimming performance improve no end. Then in December, racing for Bridgwater for the first time in some months at the Arena National League final, I swam to victory for Bridgwater with a commanding lead as well as a time 2/100th of a second away from personal best. “ Since then Rich has continued training using the pool and working out in the gym which has been critical to his success, achieving a personal best time in the 50metres front crawl at the County Championships at the age of 30.

Rick Hayes, development manager at 1610 believes that athletes can’t thrive without the proper support;” You can be a very talented swimmer but you need great facilities close at hand and the right training programme as well as a lot of dedication to succeed in sport as Rich has proved. We are delighted to be able to support Rich who will be an inspiration to other swimmers and athletes that it is never too late to enjoy success or return to compete in sport and the FANS scheme we operate is an important part of that process.”

For more information about Trinity Sports & Leisure please Tel 01278 429119.

For more information about the FANS scheme please contact ewarr@1610.org.uk