Great excitement as Perth Masters Swimming Club prepares to host sold-out event at local leisure pool

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