Bob Clifford

Despite pre-match nerves (would I be the least athletic person ever to have had Swimtherapy lessons?) and work pressures getting in the way of my first lesson and then being ill for the next one, the three lessons I had with Rich proved to be a very positive, enjoyable and useful experience.

My swimming improved at least as much as I’d hoped it would and I think this proves that you can ‘teach an old dog new tricks’ and that anyone can improve and become a half-decent swimmer. For what it’s worth, an ordinary 46 year old –definitely not a triathlete – swam 450 metres in 9 minutes 55 seconds on 31st August and prior to lessons had achieved 9.45 by 31st October and 9.35 by 30th November. For fun, I was measuring myself against the US Navy Fitness Tests for 45 to 49 year olds which measures times for 500 yards (about the same distance). At the end of February after my first two lessons I managed 9.00 and after my third lesson I timed myself at the end of April and swam this distance in 8.46 – an ‘excellent’ time according to the charts. Not world class (!) I know, but a massive improvement for a basic fitness swimmer – previously a heavy smoker and all the rest.

I’d had some lessons at the local pool previously but they had made no difference. I had also tried more than once to find a decent swimming coach for a few lessons but had almost given up bothering when I stumbled across Swimtherapy. I almost couldn’t give my money away before, some coaches not even getting back to me. This was not the case with Swimtherapy. At no point did I get the impression that they were not interested in the ordinary improver and would encourage anyone wanting to enjoy their swimming more to invest in some of these sessions. I thought Rich was excellent and overall would strongly recommend Swimtherapy which I think is very well run.