Perth Masters Swimming Club has pulled out all the stops ahead of welcoming 120 competitors from across the UK to the city this weekend.
The club is, for the first time in 25 years, hosting a masters event and were “flabbergasted” by the interest shown from a sold-out field.
Swimmers aged between 19 and 80 - from more than 30 cities and towns - will descend on Perth Leisure Pool tomorrow.
Event director Andrew Bailey revealed the competition has been nine months in planning and that excitement has been growing with every stroke performed in training.
“It used to be on the Scottish Swimming calendar every year but we decided, as a committee, to try bring it back,” he explained to the PA.
“We have been flabbergasted at the amount of people who want to come to our event. It sold out in record time and we could easily have added another 50 or 60 swimmers.
“So there is great excitement - it is building - and this is a real collaborative effort.
“We’ve got swimmers from all over Scotland, out to the Isle of Jura, up to Inverness, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Borders too. We have swimmers coming from England as well.”
A strong level of competition is guaranteed with European and British record holders among those vying to be a Perth Masters event champion.
“We have found the original trophy from 25 years ago,” Andrew smiled.
“Excitement is definitely building among the Perth team. We will have over 20 swimmers racing, some who haven’t since they were teenagers.”
The competition will also include a charity event named Medley Madness, with the winner taking home the Bob Warwick Trophy.
“Over 40 people have entered and paid £5 for the privilege,” Andrew said.
“We have a new trophy for that - the Bob Warwick Trophy - in honour of our previous coach who passed away a year ago.
“His wife will be coming to the evening event to present the trophy. It is an emotional thing for us as a team because he was our coach for a number of years.”
The Ex Servicemen’s Club in Perth city centre will host an evening presentation and ceilidh following the pool action. The venue will open at 6.30pm.
Many of those travelling to the city for the Perth Masters event will be staying overnight and providing a boost for the local economy.
Andrew revealed: “There will be 60 or 70 per cent of the swimmers staying over in the city.
“We are excited for the swimming, the competition, friendship and then helping bring income into the city of Perth.
“We want to make this an annual fixture. It is really important we do that. And we really want to give back to the local community.”
