South Sunderland Swimming Club (SSSC) has been named Club of the Year in the npower North East Disability Sports Achievement Awards.

Although the club was only formed in 2003, this year members won 30 medals at the Disability Sports Event Juniors Competition – with club swimmer, Danny English, setting World and European records in the 100m Individual Medley.

SSSC’s President and coach Alan Cook was on hand to pick up the award from David Harker, Chief Executive of Durham County Cricket Club.

Cook said: “It is great we have achieved such a recognition from the English Federation of Disability Sport and npower, particularly as we are a fully integrated swimming club, not just one focusing on disability.”

Cook acknowledges the award was made possible partly because of the work the club did to achieve the asa’s ‘quality mark’ accreditation Swim 21. This has seen the club become a place for swimmers with a disability who want to develop their swimming skills and forge a pathway into a competitive programme.

Cook was also nominated for the Service to Sport Award for all the work he has done in Sunderland over the years with disabled swimmers of all abilities ranging from beginners to elite performers. Unfortunately he just missed out, with the award going to Keith and Shirley Knox for their work with Bedlington Disability Sports Club.

His main focus has always been to give disability swimmers in the Sunderland area the opportunity to access training opportunities that will allow them to compete at the highest level and he feels ‘it has always been important to be involved with disability swimming.’

Seven sports awards in total were presented to individuals and clubs at this year’s North East Disability Sports Achievement Awards, which was held at Durham County Cricket Ground by the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS).

ITV presenter Ian Payne hosted the event and more than 120 guests attended the celebration, including track and field paralympian and world champion, Stephen Miller and Gordon Neale OBE, Director of Events, Disability Sports Events.

Patrick Bonner, EFDS North East Regional Development Manager, believes the awards celebration recognises the achievements of the region’s athletes. He said: “These awards are a fantastic way to celebrate the successes of our disabled sports stars in the North East. The awards are also a great opportunity to acknowledge some of the fantastic work that clubs, organisations and individual volunteers do in the region.”

-ENDS-

For more information contact the asa PR Manager Sharon Rose on 01509 632262, 07876 652318 or email sharon.rose@swimming.org

The asa is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The asa supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The asa aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

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