53-year-old who learnt to
swim after spinal injury says
sports award is down to them

A SUPERMAN triathlete has been paying tribute to the team at Penketh Pool as the centre marks its 40th anniversary this year.

Great Sankey man Chris Smith picked up the special recognition award earlier this summer at the Warrington Sports Awards and said the prize was thanks to everyone at the Honiton Way baths that helped teach him to swim six years ago.

The 53-year-old said: “I dedicated the award to the staff at Penketh Pool who have given me lots of help and support with coaching and technique ever since.

“If I hadn’t learnt to swim at the centre I wouldn't have been competing in a triathlon and if I hadn’t been competing in triathlon I wouldn't have won the award so I like to think that it was a joint effort.

“On the night, coach of the year was also awarded to a taekwondo teacher at Penketh Pool which isn’t a bad success rate when you consider its size and resources.”

Chris, who learnt to swim after suffering a spinal injury in 2001, returned to the Penketh pool last week after finishing 14th in the London Triathlon and completing the course three minutes faster than the previous year.

He added: “I must admit the thought of winning the Warrington sports award did spur me on to dig deeper and push on harder.

“I have also been giving some talks to groups in Penketh about nutrition, health and fitness and work with schools about perseverance and success in sport.”