Local boy's award well earned (From Andover Advertiser)

Local boy's award well earned

6:49pm Tuesday 16th June 2009

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Swimming fans Caden Ash and Julian Collins are making a splash after being presented with an award by Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew to mark their achievement in the water.

Caden, five, from Andover, and Julian, 12, from Whitchurch, are an inspiration to others in their swimming classes. Now their determination, enthusiasm and hard work have paid off after they were awarded a Southern Water Learn to Swim Achiever of the Year award at a special ceremony at Testwood Lakes, Southampton, on Sunday.

The awards are given to children who have shown great bravery in overcoming particular difficulties or for exceptional performance. Caden’s instructor at Andover Leisure Centre, Carol Buchan said: “Caden has been diagnosed with a serious hearing problem, meaning in a class environment he finds it extremely difficult to pin point conversation and instruction.

“But through this he has shown a great enthusiasm and willingness to learn and has shown a great deal of improvement over the last few months. He is always bright, keen and a pleasure to teach. He gives a great deal of pleasure to all in the class and myself.”

Julian’s instructor Yvette Jones said: “When Julian first came to our special needs class we struggled to even get him into the learner pool. Now he can freely swim around the 25m pool, swimming his own style of front crawl and dives to the bottom of our deep pool. We are so proud of him and his massive achievement.”

Caden and Julian are two of only 50 children who received the award, out of the 40,000 children taught annually on the scheme.

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