Now in its 27th year, the annual Swimathon, organised by the Rotary Club of Sandbach, was held at Sandbach School on 15th and 16th March.

22 teams took part and participation was again dominated by local youth groups. Guides, Brownies and Scouts were represented and with teams entering with names featuring Sharks, Sea Sharks, Aquarius and Neptune it was obvious that some good swimming would be seen. Two local primary schools -
Elworth Hall and Wheelock - both entered teams as well as Sandbach Interact Club. There was also an Under 10’s rugby team which took part – but they did hang up their boots first! The Sandbach Rotary Club team clocked up over 140 lengths.

The final amount of sponsorship money will be divided between the organisations who submitted teams for their own projects and the Rotary Club of Sandbach which has chosen Samaritans and Sandbach Talking Newspaper as its charities this year.

On the afternoon of the second day Fiona Bruce MP, Lesley Smetham, chair of Cheshire East Council and Richard Hovey, Sandbach Town Mayor (and past president of the Sandbach club) attended the event.

As always, there was a terrific atmosphere with the young people really enjoying themselves whilst, at the same time, raising funds for a range of very worthy charities. The Sandbach club expressed their gratitude not only to all those who took part but also to those whose support allows the event to take place: the school, the lifeguards and first-aiders, the lane marshalls, the photographers and the Inner Wheel Club of Sandbach.