Girls practise physical health as one

Synchronised swimming has made a big splash with young girls in Derby at the Memorial Swimming Pool.

A two-day workshop organised by SynchroWA was part of a pilot program, specifically targeted to generate interest in the Kimberley for the growing sport and highlight the benefits it can deliver to the health and physical wellbeing of young women.

Local organiser Felicity Hadlow, secretary of the Derby Sharks Swimming Club, said “the offer made by SynchroWA to host the demonstration workshops was just too good an opportunity to pass up”.

An enthusiastic group of 22 Derby girls participated in the introductory session coached by former Olympian Natasha Haynes and her 14-year-old daughter Jade, a current member of the Australian national team. More than 10 girls stayed on for the remaining three sessions.

Brian Miller of SynchroWA said he was thrilled with the interest shown by the Derby community.

“If we were to score the response from the first round of workshops in Derby we would give them 10 out of 10,” he said.

As a result he said SynchroWA was committed to developing synchronised swimming in Derby, provided the sport was sustained locally by ongoing commitment and interest from the girls involved.

“Our development plan includes the financial and technical support in training a locally based coach,” he said.

“Their goal will be to develop the Derby team and a routine to the stage whereby they can participate in the Recreation Display program of the Synchronised Swimming State competition to be held in Perth next March.”

Despite only being active in WA for three-and-a-half years, the number of registered synchronised swimmers in WA has taken over from the Eastern States.

Local Derby District High School teacher and former dancer Jade Gatcomb will take the position of coach for the Derby team and will travel to Perth for training with WA coach Natasha Haynes, who competed in the 1992 Barcelona Games for England.