HORWICH Leisure Centre Amateur Swimming Club (HLCASC) has been nominated in three categories in this year's Bolton Active Sports Awards.

As well as being up for club of the year, its lead coach David Evitts is in the running for coach of the year and swimmer Luke Batty has earned a nomination for disability athlete of the year.

It is a proud moment for president and secretary for Liz Trist, who has been involved with the club since it first started, after the leisure centre was built in 1969.

HLCASC continually punches above it's weight, winning a host of trophies every year while competing against the very best in the region.

Last year it won promotion to the Premier Division of the North West region of the Area National Swimming League after finishing second in Division One.

"Most clubs competing in the Premier Division are major squads such as City of Liverpool, City of Manchester and Stockport Metro" she said.

"These squads have a number of GB national swimmers, so it is a great achievement for a community club to compete at this level."

Promotion, as well as the recent nominations, come at a time of big change for HLCASC.

Trist is keen to stress that it is business as usual in the pool, despite ongoing building work on a new leisure centre, opposite the current site in Victoria Lane.

The new pool and leisure centre is due to open next autumn, 2017, but the club's president says it needs the support of the local community more than ever as they prepare to make the switch.

"We are very proud of the club's achievements but we are a community club run by volunteers," she added.

"We are looking for sponsorship to help us compete in the Premier League, such as coach hire or special team hats.

"With the new leisure facility being built in Horwich we hope that consideration will be made for a trophy cabinet because we don’t intend to stop winning."

Trist puts the club's proud tradition of success down to it's unique atmosphere, as well as some top class coaching.

Evitts, for example, combines his role as lead coach at Horwich with work at Bolton Metro Swim Squad, the town's elite swimming team, which he helped set up, and a prominent role as development coach for Team's GB's para swimming squad.

"I'm not sure if some of the parents here realise what an important role David plays on a national level," said Trist.

"He will soon be leaving for Rio with the British Paralympic team, but dedicates as much of his time as possible to helping our young swimmers.

"We are very lucky to have him, and while he will be away for the awards night, Dave certainly deserves the recognition for what he does here.

"But it's not just the standard of coaching that makes Horwich unique.

"Our swimmers are really passionate about swimming for their local club. Because of our reputation about being a really friendly club, a lot of swimmers want to join us.

"We also work hand in hand with BMSS to make sure every young swimmer reaches their potential.

"We monitor them closely, and those our coaches think would benefit from extra training we recommend them to BMSS.

"But because BMSS agreed not to enter the regional league competitions when it was set up, Horwich swimmers can compete for us in the same league as the big city clubs, like City of Manchester, City of Liverpool and Stockport Metro and are able to go for individual honours with BMSS in national and international competitions.

"It represents a fantastic opportunity for local swimmers to get the very best coaching and competition without having to travel to Liverpool or Manchester."

To register for an assessment at HLCASA visit the club website at www.horwichleisurecentreasc.org.uk or email swimming@horwichleisurecentreasc.org.uk.

The club is also looking to arrange an exhibit of photographs and memories of former swimmers to mark almost 50 years of history before they leave the current pool next year.

If you can help, email your pics and memories to swimming@horwichleisurecentreasc.org.uk.