A SWIMMING team is seeking support for an overseas training camp.
The Borders Elite Swim Team (BEST) is asking for help to fund a trip to Lanzarote, which will allow their athletes to train in professional facilities.
This will be a ‘remarkable opportunity’ for the swimmers to prepare for national competitions.
BEST, formed in 2008, is a collaboration between Galashiels Amateur Swimming Club (ASC), Kelso ASC, Peebles ASC, Live Borders, and Scottish Swimming.
The team provides a centralised training programme led by a performance development coach.
This is supplemented by home club sessions.
There is also a development pathway for newer athletes.
Notable past members include Commonwealth medallist Gregor Swinney and Commonwealth and Olympic medallist Lucy Hope.
The planned swim camp in Lanzarote is seen as a rare opportunity for the team to train in 50m pools, the same length as those used in competitions in the UK.
The lack of access to 50m pools in the Borders region is considered a disadvantage compared to swimmers from other areas.
The last time BEST conducted a swim camp was in 2019, with this trip giving BEST members ‘much needed experience’ ahead of national-level competitions taking place from March to July in 2025.
The camp will also give the athletes the chance to train with international swimmers, broadening their experience.
However, the trip comes with significant costs, including travel, accommodation, and equipment expenses for both the swimmers and their coaches.
As a community-based team, BEST relies heavily on sponsorship and donations to cover these costs.
The team is fundraising for the camp, which will benefit 13 swimmers.
They have set up a GoFundMe page, available at gofund.me/e3e6a5c5 for donations.
A spokesperson for BEST said: “Such camps also provide the opportunity to train with other swimmers from around the globe, broadening their perspectives and honing their competitive edge.
“As we are a community-based team, we rely heavily on the generosity of sponsors and donations to help us achieve our goals.”
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