It’s been a busy, successful start to 2025 for REN96’s swimmers, across all age groups.
With around 260 members, REN96 is Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire’s largest swimming club and has squads spread across all ages, from the youngest Foundation squad to the not so young Masters squad!
First into the competition pool this year were swimmers from REN’s Foundation, Skills and Development squads at the excellent ‘Murdoch Mini-meet’ run by South Ayrshire Swim Team. It turned out to be a fantastic first meet of 2025 for these squads, who set 70 personal best times (PBs), won 3 gold medals, 4 silver medals and 6 bronze medals - 4 swimmers even swam too fast and collected a ‘speeding’ band! This young team behaved and performed superbly, thanks in no small part to coaches Michelle, Adam and Graeme and Team Managers Karen and Cat. The swimmers would like to thank everybody for giving up their time to support them.
At the other end of the experience scale, members of Ren96’s Masters squad headed south to the Carlisle Aquatics Masters Meet. Swimming the 200m individual medley and 1500m free style, and supported by his fellow masters team mates, Gordon Wallace brought home a gold medal for his performance in the 1500m event.
With limited opportunities to swim and compete in a 50m pool in Scotland currently available, 13 swimmers from REN96’s Senior Performance, Age Group and Development squads checked their first meet off the 2025 calendar by heading south to Sunderland for their New Year meet. It was a fantastic and very competitive 3 day event, and gave the REN96 squads their first Long Course (ie swimming 50m lengths) meet of the year, and a great opportunity to put this season’s training into practice ahead of the upcoming National events. REN96’s swimmers achieved some outstanding performances against tough opposition and returned home with 1 gold medal, 3 silver medals and 2 bronze medals.
It’s been a busy start to the year for REN96 but it already looks like it s going to be a great season for them. Well done to all the swimmers, coaches and supporters who make it possible.
Allan Kelly for REN96
