Parents aim to raise £20k to keep young divers training facilites

Published on Wednesday 10 December 2008 10:35

THE parents of some of Edinburgh's hottest diving talents are trying to raise £20,000 to ensure the champions of the future do not leave the sport during the Royal Commonwealth Pool's scheduled two-year closure for renovation.

Edinburgh Diving Club, whose members train at the pool, is searching for a new home ahead of the closure in July 2009.

Parents of club members say their children, aged from seven to 18, could have to travel as far as Leeds to practice on the highest diving boards, because there are no five or ten-metre boards closer to Edinburgh.

They are trying to raise money to relocate two of the RCP's lower boards to Newbattle swimming pool and to create a dry training area in the Capital where children can practice manoeuvres. The club has so far raised 4500.

One of the club's stars is James Heatly, 11, of Balerno, who is Scottish three-metre springboard junior champion just a year after entering the sport. He is also grandson of triple Commonwealth gold-winning diver, Sir Peter Heatly, who is patron of the club.

Sir Peter, 84, who also lives in Balerno, said: "I think it's quite possible, unfortunately, that some of the members might drop out.

"Obviously they're trying desperately hard to get alternatives, but there's very few at the present moment within easy reach.

"We've got a remarkably thriving club and they've been growing both in numbers and standard and winning more and more events, so this is a very serious worry."

James's mother, Debs Heatly, 44, added: "Edinburgh Leisure have been trying to help, it's not all their fault. The timing has just been horrendous. For the Commonwealth Games, it's going to be very difficult for any of the divers to make the grade."

Also among the club's members are brothers Ramsay, Struan, and Finlay McCall, who competed against divers from around the UK at this weekend's Thistle Trophy contest at the RCP.

Ramsay, seven, and Struan, 11, both won gold medals, and Finlay, 13, took silver.

Their mother, Kathleen McCall, said: "I've got three boys and finding the time and the money to take three of them to Leeds even once a month is going to be expensive. It's a shame if it's all going to come crashing down around us."

She added: "We have to raise 20,000, but that's nowhere near enough to cover the full two-year period. We need help."

Royal Commonwealth Pool assistant manager, Debbie O'Hara, said the pool would provide world-class facilities for divers after refurbishment.

She added: "We're working closely with Edinburgh Diving Club to deliver a training schedule to support their needs during refurbishment.

"We're investigating a number of alternative facilities to relocate them whilst the refurbishment is under way. Edinburgh Leisure is committed to the future of Edinburgh Diving Club and supporting the stars of the future."