REN96’s success continues but this time outside the water, with the club’s Rob Barratt qualifying as an Aquatics GB Swimming Referee.
The referee is the most senior swimming technical official (STO) at competitions and is responsible for ensuring the competition rules are adhered to and that the competition runs smoothly and correctly. Rob is one of three newly qualified referees in swimming’s West District and is now REN96's second qualified referee, alongside Craig Macdonald. Over the last 2.5 years of training, Rob has given his own time to qualify as a referee by studying for written exams and volunteering his time at swim meets (including some not attended by REN96) in order to undergo stringent practical training and assessments.
Rob credited and thanked his mentor Tom Mills for all his support and said “Volunteering as a STO gives me a sense of belonging to something that gives back to REN96 and the wider swimming community. Being welcomed into the wider STO community, I have spent time with like-minded people, from Dumfries to Aberdeen, who don’t want to sit back and say or think 'someone else will do that'. We've all got up, done something, put ourselves out there for challenges big and small, but all with the same aim of giving all the kids, and Masters, the chance to compete and put their training to the test.”
As well as now being a referee Rob is REN96’s STO organiser, a swim coach, lifeguard, former committee member and now an honorary life member - all while having been a swim dad to his 2 daughters!
With around 260 members, REN96 is Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire’s largest swimming club and the swimmers rely on a wide network of volunteers to help them train and compete throughout the year. Like Rob, many volunteers give up their time to qualify and take part in events as STOs, as time keepers, judges, recorders, starters and referees. Having a qualified team of STOs means that the club can support swimmers’ ambitions and achievements more fully as it allows the club to host and run more accredited time trials, competitions and club championships.
Everybody at REN96 congratulates Rob on qualifying as a referee and thanks him for all of his hard work and commitment to the club.
Allan Kelly for REN96
