This week local and national media including the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph have been making sure Stockport is getting talked about, as they feature a great story from Life Leisure Grand Central Pools and Stockport born swimmer Rebecca Coales – here is what they have all got excited about!
Stockport born Rebecca Coales (38) has just smashed the UK record taking the previous long-standing female DYN (Dynamic with fins) record of 175 metres to 179metres, with a time of 2 minutes 36 seconds at Life Leisure’s Grand Central Pool.
DYN is swimming as far as you can horizontally in a swimming pool with no breathing apparatus (on a single breath) with a mono fin or bi-fins. Rebecca already holds the current UK Dynamic without fins record. The DYN record had previously been held by Ruth Griffin, incredibly since 2009.
Rebecca who grew up in Davenport and attended Stockport Grammar School, wanted to return to her home town to attempt the record and her Mum was there to cheer her on, she commented, ”I really wanted to be here in Stockport and at Grand Central, the 50 metre pool is perfect for this swim. I am so pleased I have done it; it’s my first monofin record. My sights are now on the World Championships where I will compete in no fins, mono fins and static dives. I will be back in Stockport to train with Steve and look forward to achieving even more in the sport.”
Steve Millard, Apneists UK Head Coach who trains Rebecca was delighted, “Rebecca was a relative newcomer to the competition circuit, only starting to explore her potential in the last 18 months. Previous to the 2009 record, another female Freediver who trained at Grand Central Pools had held it, Mandy ‘ the mermaid ‘ Buckley. It really shows the influence this training facility has on UK pool Freediving, and as a cross training tool for the depth Freedivers. Many champions and record holders have been coached at Grand Central, it is a centre of excellence and home to the amazing Stockport Metro swimmers and it certainly inspired Rebecca.”
International judge, Gary Lowe agreed that Rebecca had been brilliant and that there is much more she can achieve in Freediving, “Preparation is hugely important; Rebecca had to get into the correct state of mind and body to attempt the record. There is strict protocol to be adhered to and Rebecca made a textbook swim and surface.”
Kirsty Hockley, General Manager at Life Leisure commented, “We are thrilled that Rebecca chose Grand Central to attempt the record, the Freediving club trains here each week and it was really exciting to witness a UK record being achieved in our pool! It seems more and more people of all ages are taking up the sport for both the health benefits and the sense of wellbeing and relaxation it can bring, it is becoming a really popular sport.”
Grand Central is home to Stockport’s only 50m swimming pool and to Stockport Metro, the UK’s most successful swimming club.