Congratulations to Fleur Lewis at Barnet Copthall swimming club for becoming 1,500m British Champion

It is always great to feature good news rather than bad in the Barnet Eye blog. Did you know that the country's best swimming club is located at Barnet Copthall? I do because my daughter Maddie was a National Swimming Champion who represented the club for ten years and still holds some of the club records (I'm a proud Dad and those memories I will always treasure). 

However there is a new kid on the block and she's taken a fair few of Maddies club records, which I think is wonderful. Her name is Fleur Lewis and she's not only got the club records, but she's won the British Championship gold medal at 1,500 metres. Given that she's had to train under thr constraints of covid, it is a wonderful achievement.

Fleur Lewis Senior National Champion at British Championships on the 1500 free 16.45.51. Great swim. Well done Fleur. @Barnet_Better @BarnetCouncil @Barneteye @gllsf @GLL_UK pic.twitter.com/C17ndfooLy

— Barnet Copthall (@BarnetCopthall) April 11, 2022

As that was Maddie's speciality, I know first hand what an acheivement it must have been. All of the mornings up at 4am, all of the shlepping around the country for swimming gala's. The 1,500m is a punishing race and you need to train for it remorselessly.

Out of curiosity I had a little shufti at the club records this morning. I shed a little tear when I saw the 50m Breaststroke record. It is still held by Shannon Powell. Shannon was a very talented swimmer and runner, who tragically passed away doing the Middlesex Cross Country running championships in 2011. The whole club was devastated and the moment when her little sister accepted her swimmer of the year award in her place was the only time I've blubbed in public for as long as I can remember. If any of Shannon's family and friends see this, she will not be forgotten.

I'd like to publicly put on record (once again) my admiration for the staff, vounteers and parents of this wonderful swimming club. It made my day to see that they are still up there and winning gold medals at Nationals and the British Championships. Well done to Fluer! And as to her parents, I know how proud you must feel, it's wonderful, enjoy the moment!

Today has been a good day for me

I've just got back from Sheffield. My daughter Madeleine won the National youth open water swimming championships gold medal (14-15 age group) at the Rother Valley water park.  She's a member of Barnet Copthall Swimming club. This was her first open water event, she swam 1,750 meters in a time of 20:23:11. It was a fantastic achievement.  The sport has been on the up since Great Britain won a Silver and Bronze in Beijing. She is staying up for the National Youth Championships.  The club has had a great week with Barnet Swimmer Freddie Cornwell winning five golds so far and two silvers at the age group National Championships. I know first hand how much time, commitment and effort goes into such an achievement. Barnet is fortunate to have such a successfull elite sports club.  Two years ago, then  Barnet Mayor John Marshall presented Maddie with an award recognising her achievements winning five golds and two silvers at age group. I sincerely hope they do the same for Freddie this year.

The Barnet Copthall Swimming blog (nothing to do with me) - keeps us all up to date with the acheivements of the swimmers - http://www.barnetcopthall.blogspot.com/ - Maddies success is detailed on the British Swimming website -

http://www.swimming.org/asa/news/clubs/payne-takes-youth-open-water-title/5697/ -

I must say a personal word of the thanks to Rhys Gormley, Maddie and Freddies coach. We hear plenty of stories in the press about the bad things young people do. Through my childrens sports clubs and my own associations with  YMCA and the Sound Skool project, I think it is also important to remind ourselves that we have some really brilliant young people in Barnet, who I for one am proud to bits for.

Community Sports Facilities in Barnet

Ok, first I'll nail my flag to the mast. My daughter is a member of the Barnet Copthall Swimming club Senior squad. She's national age group champion at 1500 metres and silver medal holder at 800 metres. This involves one or two lengthy sessions in the pool every day of the week except Saturday.

My son plays football for Watling FC Under 10 A team. You could say I have an interest to declare in community sports facilities. How do I rate Barnets community Sports facilities? Well lets have look at Swimming. Despite being the second largest borough in London and despite having one of Londons most successful swimming squads, there isn't a 50 metre community pool in Barnet. This means all of our swimmers are at a competetive disadvantage. There is only one high diving board, at Crystal Palace. Our coaches do a fantastic jobs, but how much more could they do with proper facilities. How many local youngsters would take up the sport if the facilities were better?

As to football. Again, there isn't a club I'd rather my son played for than Watling FC. Their home ground is Burnt Oak Leisure Centre. It isn't a bad facility, but there is a chronic shortage of funds, a chronic shortage of pitches and a chronic shortage council interest. I recently attended a recording of BBC Radio 4's any questions. One of the panellists said "I can't stand football". Sitting three rows in front of me was the deputy Mayor of Barnet, Hugh Rayner. His response to this statement. He clapped and cheered wildly. Last year, at a Hendon Area Residents forum meeting, I asked why the grass pitches at the Burnt Oak Leisure centre weren't being properly maintained. Hugh Rayner stood up and said that the Leisure Centre was superb and he hadn't seen any problems. I then asked if he'd actually been round the back to look at the pitch. He responded "Er, No". Everyone laughed.

The sad truth is that it's not funny. As you may know, I am standing for the Lib Dems in Mill Hill ward in the Council elections. If you have any constructive suggestions as to how sports facilities in the London Borough of Barnet could be improved, please EMAIL ME BY CLICKING HERE. We are in the process of drawing up our manifesto and any I promise that I will argue passionately to ensure that our young people get a better deal from the Council in regards to sports provision.