DC Leisure has been crowned England’s best swimming pool operator at the prestigious Kellogg’s ASA Swimtastic Awards 2011, a glittering ‘Oscar-style’ event held in Sheffield on the 5 November. The Awards are organised by the ASA, the national governing body for swimming, and celebrate the achievements of swimmers of all ages and abilities from around the country.

The Kellogg’s ASA Swimtastic Awards 2011 was even bigger and better than ever with the glamorous awards ceremony hosted by former Olympian, Steve Parry, and a ‘Swim with the Stars’ session where nominees had the chance to make a splash with their sporting heroes.

The awards were attended by the cream of British Swimming, Diving, Synchro and Water Polo including, Nick Robinson-Baker, Cassandra Patten and the GB Women’s Water Polo team, who were joined by unsung swimming stars from across the UK in a celebration of swimming.

DC Leisure, which has registered offices in Bagshot, Surrey, won the award because it has a 20 year track record of achievement and manages 62 swimming sites in partnership with local authorities throughout the UK. By the end of 2011 they are expected to have awarded over 65,000 Kellogg’s ASA Awards.

This year DC Leisure has put a strong emphasis on family swimming and has funded free swimming for all under 8’s in 46 of their 62 swimming sites.

DC Leisure has also supported 154 staff in achieving Level 1 and 2 UKCC/ASA Teaching Aquatics qualifications, with 43 staff benefitting from IoS aquatic apprenticeships.

After winning the award, Jackie Goacher, Contract Manager for DC Leisure’s Amber Valley region said: “We are so pleased to have won Facility Operator of the Year, as we have tried so hard to increase swimming participation.”

“At DC Leisure we feel that we offer something in the pool to suit everyone and exercising in the water really has brought exercise to a whole new audience, people that may not exercise on dry land.”

“I think the secret to our success is that we are all so passionate about what we do, from the staff on the ground to the board members.”

Olympic and Commonwealth swimmer, James Goddard said: “I think this is a really fantastic day for everyone. It’s so nice to see the nominees interact with the international athletes. My daughter Evie is here with me today and she was really excited to get in the pool and have some fun with everyone.

“I think it’s very important to recognise the successes of the nominees. Every single person here has a really inspirational story and I think their achievements will make others believe they can achieve anything.”

To find out more about the nominees for the Kellogg’s ASA Swimtastic Awards 2011 or take a look at the images from the day visitswimming.org.