Schools swimming: Isle of Skye’s not the limit for talented youngsters

Published on Tuesday 7 February 2012 01:26

Remoteness could be a hindrance to sporting achievement, but Isle of Skye youngsters’ victories at the Brodies Scottish School Championships proved otherwise.

Portree High School’s Ruth Gordon completed a superb double in the 13-14 years 100 and 200m breaststroke at East Kilbride, while her school-mate Rebecca Smith won the 15-16 years 200m butterfly.

In addition, Broadford Primary School’s Katie Mackenzie was the bronze medallist in the 12 and under 50m breaststroke, and her class-mate Iona Macleod followed her home in fifth place.

A number of factors have turned the sport from a fun activity into a more serious sport on the island. The first was the arrival of Englishman Rod Hall as head coach, the second was a new pool attached to the High School completed in 2008. All the swimmers and coaches at the Skye Dolphins Club have also shown huge commitment, and they are now making a serious mark on Scottish swimming.

Ruth, whose father Peter is an assistant coach, and Rebecca are both members of the Highland swim team and the Scottish youth development squad.

“I used to come on holiday to Skye and absolutely love the place,” explained Hall.

“I had been a coach at Bristol City and started investigating the possibility of becoming involved in Skye and moving to the island.

“Skye Dolphins swimming club was already doing a lot of fun stuff, now it’s just a lot more competitive. There was only a 20m pool but the new one built four years ago is a five-lane, 25m pool and that has made a huge difference.

“It is tremendous to see the swimmers doing so well. For instance, Ruth won a bronze medal at the British National Age-Group Championships last year.

“A present, we have 40 swimmers in the club and the top ten or so are all very talented.”

But the distances the swimmers have to travel would make many baulk.

The Broadford girls – Rebecca, Katie and Iona – face a 50-mile round trip to Portree, while it is a three-hour drive to Inverness for the Highland swim team get togethers.

But the swimmers and their coaches are made of stern stuff and Thurso, Wick and Orkney are frequent trips on the Highland circuit.

In addition, some of the Skye Dolphin swimmers have started competing on the Open water circuit – although, and understandably, none train outdoors in Skye at this time of year.

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