29 November 2006   SWIMMING remains one of the country's most popular sporting activities whether for fitness or fun and Harrogate Borough Council has become the latest local authority to sign up for a national programme to help swimmers get more from their swimming pools.

 

Developed by Zoggs the swimwear and equipment manufacturer, the Swim4Fitness is an online swimming programme with over 130 different levels to choose from.  It also offers a complete support package including on line access to a dedicated support team who will be on hand to offer advice and tips on technique. 

 

Swimmers across all five of the district council's pools can register free of charge and with everyone trying to get fit for Christmas, or perhaps wanting to shed those extra pounds at the start of the New Year, the timing couldn't be better says Councillor Pat Jones, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services.  "People using gyms are used to being set a programme of activity to increase their level of fitness and this new swimming programme brings a similar style to getting fit by using the swimming pool. 

 

"Those who sign on will be able to choose their own personal challenge based on their abilities and what they want to achieve.  They will be able to find out the distances they are covering, how fast they are swimming or how many calories they are burning.   They will also be able to use the Zoggs LapPro which is the first personal lap timer which has been designed and developed by swimmers for swimmers.  Over 280,000 swimmers around the country are using the programme and I hope that many more in our district will be encouraged to start swimming or to use this programme to swim more effectively."

 

Full details on the Swim4Fitness programme are available at the Harrogate Hydro, Knaresborough Pool, Ripon Spa Baths, Starbeck Baths and the Nidderdale Pool and Leisure Centre.