Last updated at 19:21, Tuesday, 12 January 2010

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TOP Olympic swimming coach Bill Furniss passed on his vast knowledge to South Cumbria’s top young stars at the Park Leisure Centre.

Furniss, who guided superstar Rebecca Adlington to double gold in the 400m and 800m freestyle at the 2008 games in Beijing, was in the Barrow pool to help 69 swimmers improve their skills.

The event, which was organised by Ulverston Otters Swimming Club, saw the country’s most successful-ever swimming coach advise members from both that club, and the Barrow ASC, Millom, Troutbeck, Kendal and Carlisle set-ups.

Children aged from eight and up were able to brush up on their technique and increase their speed through the water, thanks to Furniss’ tuition.

As well as the swimmers themselves, 20 coaches from across Cumbria also attended the session to pick up tips so that what was taught by Furniss could be taken back to their respective clubs, and the tips on technique used on future Cumbria swimmers.

Mark Knagg, who helped to organise the day for the Otters, said: “It all went really well. Everyone seemed very happy, from the eight and nine-year-olds up to the older swimmers.

“Bill was fantastic, he is really cutting edge and at the forefront of the world swimming coaching scene and it was fantastic to have him here, the kids all got a lot out of it.

“There were also a lot of coaches from all the other clubs around the county there and everyone got on well together.”

He added: “Ulverston Otters were lucky in securing Bill Furniss, as he is in demand to coach throughout the world.

“We had great help from the leisure centre, who were very accommodating in making the facilities available for the day.

“Hopefully Sunday will have been some help for all the swimmers who attended to improve their technique and increase their speed.”

The day consisted of two-and-a-half hours in the pool, with all the emphasis on improving stroke technique.

There were also two hours spent in the gym and two hours of lectures on swimming technique.

Among those being helped by Furniss were South Cumbria’s two national champions – Joe Elwood, from Ulverston Amateur Swimming Club, and Fraser Minnican, from Barrow Amateur Swimming Club.

There were also numerous rising stars who are achieving times to enter the National Championships this year, all hoping to follow in the footsteps of Adlington and former Barrow member and Commonwealth games silver medallist Matt Bowe.

The session was sponsored by Gilmour Fabrications and Inmet Insulations, based on Park Road.

First published at 12:59, Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk