THESE swimmers are celebrating the news their club has given funding to help it recover from the costs of the pandemic.

The Witney and District Synchronised Swimming Club received a grant from the Swimathon Foundation.

The grant will help pay the music licence and with small outgoings.

The club, which has been in existence for 46 years, offers ‘artistic swimming’ to girls and boys from the ages of eight to 18.

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Alison Stevenson, treasurer at the club, said: “This funding is vital for us, so we are delighted.

“It will enable our club athletes to access much-needed pool time to rebuild skills specific to artistic swimming, such as relearning upside down positions, regaining anaerobic tolerance and recovering their feel of the water.

“This year has been very difficult for our athletes and coaches to watch their national events being cancelled and our close-knit team routines put on hold.

“However our athletes’ dedication and passion for their sport of artistic swimming has enabled us to spend more time improving land techniques and flexibility via Zoom sessions which will undoubtedly pay off when they return to the pool.”