Olympic Hopeful Ian Powell Joins Skipton Swimarathon as Ambassador
By Skipton International, PRNETuesday, July 5, 2011
ST PETER PORT, Guernsey, July 6, 2011 -
The Skipton
Swimarathon Committee is delighted to announce that Olympic
hopeful Ian Powell will be joining this year’s Skipton Swimarathon
as the event’s official Ambassador. The 25 year old Olympic
championship swimmer is Guernsey born and bred and has been a keen
swimmer since the age of three. As Ambassador to the Skipton
Swimarathon, his role will be to work with the sponsors
International and to help communicate the benefits of swimming
and encourage people to sign up to this year’s event and so raise
funds for local good causes.
The Skipton Swimarathon (www.swimarathon.org), now in its
35th year, is organised by the Guernsey Lions and the
Guernsey Round Table and is one of the island’s oldest charity
events. Set to take place this year at the Beau Sejour Centre
from 6-9 October, the event raises funds for good causes in
Guernsey and is a permanent fixture in the island’s charity events
calendar. An appeal went out in May of this year to the
people of Guernsey to come up with suggestions for the event’s
primary fundraising beneficiary, so this year’s recipient will be
announced soon.
Ian’s background made him an ideal candidate for the job.
He started swimming at the age of three at the Beau Sejour
and went onto Swim School at the age of five, and then into
Barracudas at the age of 10. Over the last 10 years, Ian has
won several swimming medals at the Island Games and has competed in
the Commonwealth Games, together with several other national and
international competitions. In this year’s Island games, he
won seven gold and three sliver medals and smashed six Island Games
records. Next year he will be taking part in the Olympic trials,
for which he hopes to represent the UK. His talent is so
exceptional that he won a scholarship to the Florida State
University, where he trained for six years. He is currently
training in Stockport in the run up to the Olympic Games.
Commenting on his new role, Ian said: “I am delighted to have
been invited to be the Ambassador for this year’s Skipton
Swimarathon. I started my swimming at Beau Sejour so I have a
real attachment to the place. Guernsey is my home, and this
is such an important event here, I am delighted to support it in
any way I can. My role will be to encourage kids and adults
alike to get involved this year and raise funds - swimming is
so good for you, not only for your general fitness, but it’s great
fun with family and friends too. I also want to stress the
importance of goal setting, and how exercise can really help in
other areas of your life too.”
Jeff Kitts, Swimarathon Chairman said: “We are so fortunate to
have Ian helping us out this year. He has a fantastic track
record in swimming and we wish him the best of luck for the Olympic
trials next year. His dedication and enthusiasm will be a
real boost to this year’s event. I am sure he will be a huge
asset.”
Entering the Skipton Swimarathon
Go to the website
to enter and remember, teams of 4 to 8 are invited, swimmers can
get together as family groups, friends, from clubs, schools and of
course company teams are most welcome.
This year donations and sponsorships can be made on line via
at
Even if you are not swimming you can still help support the event
by making a donation through the lifebuoy link
onwww.swimarathon.org.
About the Skipton Swimarathon
The Lions Club of Guernsey, Guernsey Round Table and Variety
Club of Guernsey formed the first Swimarathon Organising Committee
under the chairmanship of Jurat Harry Bisson in 1977. The proceeds
from the event were to be shared equally by the clubs and could
only be spent locally.
At the first Swimarathon 186 teams swam over a period of 31
one-hour sessions. This proved to be a very successful event - both
socially and financially. It was started by the Bailiff Sir John
Loveridge at 5pm on the Friday and finished at 10pm on the Sunday.
Just over 1,000 people took part and the sum of £19,900 was
raised.
Over succeeding years Guernsey Swimarathon has gone from
strength to strength and become the Island’s greatest community
fund raising event. Unlike many similar fundraisers, fun has been
the essential quality upon which its success has prospered. In that
way over 50,000 swimmers of all ages have raised more than
£1,000,000 for local needs during 34 enjoyable years.
Many Swimarathon traditions have been established including the
challenge of swimming for trophies. Children swim on a distance
basis and adults on money raised. Trophy categories include
Insurance, Professional Services, Construction, Religious,
Financial, Families, Health, Most Funds Raised etc. Non-swimmers
have participated in rubber dinghies, sub-aqua clubs without
surfacing, keep fit clubs without swimming and the event even had
its own TV station for a few years!
Guernsey Variety Club faded some years back and Round Table and
Lions Club are now the beneficiaries. Quite often the two clubs
agree to pool Swimarathon resources towards a common goal, for
example: Help the Aged. ; Guernsey Society for cancer relief -
Bulstrode House; a number of Youth Clubs; Maison St. Pierre; Grow
Limited; W.R.V.S; equipment for handicapped swimmers. St.
John’s Ambulance and Rescue; and last year The Ron Short
Centre.
Although Swimarathon was given the use of the Beau Sejour pool
free of charge in its early years, later, when charges were
introduced the Organising Committee was able to offset costs due to
the generosity of local sponsors. We are delighted to announce that
for this year Skipton International is again the sponsor.
About Skipton International in the
Community
In April 2010 the bank became the lead sponsor of the famous
Guernsey Swimarathon, which is now known as the Skipton
Swimarathon. Last year’s inaugural Skipton Swimarathon raised over
£42,000 for good causes in the Island, including a major donation
to the Ron Short Centre.
Skipton International has a long standing reputation for
community activity. Since 1996, the bank has been the lead sponsor
of Floral Guernsey. Donations totalling many thousands of pounds
have been made annually to support and develop the festival across
the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The Floral Festival weeks are now highly
regarded events in the local gardening calendar and attract many
visitors to the islands.
Skipton International is also a regular contributor to other
local events encompassing sport, the arts and local good cause
including the Liberation Day celebrations.
Media contacts: Please contact:
Guy Stephenson/Jennifer Duffy
Nacelle Limited
Tel: +44(0)20-8333-9125
+44(0)7980-241-558
E-mail:
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Tags: Guernsey, July 6, Skipton International, St peter port, United Kingdom
