Dover District Leisure Centre reopens on Monday and while the Dover Life Guard Club are excited to return they will be reflecting on some missed opportunities.

Club swimmers would have been heading to the Regionals 2020 with some having aspirations of making Nationals this month. Due to Covid-19 pools were closed and dreams put on hold.

“The decision made to close pools was a huge disappointment to coaches, athletes and parents, but was the right decision, to safeguard all involved,” the club said.

While swimmers didn’t have their moment to shine at Regionals 2020, club captain Zoe Janssen said it will only make them more determined.

She said: “Obviously I am so disappointed to not have attended the Regional Championships this year and supported our swimmers as club captain, some of whom would have qualified for the first time.

“However, qualifying for South East England Championships is an amazing achievement in itself - we are all Regional Qualifiers and nothing can take that away from us. It will simply make us more determined when we are able to compete again.”

Those swimmers who would have been heading to Crawley K2 aged 14 and under, some in multiple events, were Charlie King, Isobelle Dill-Russell, Emily-Rose Evans, Tommy Goldup, Alex Dack, Amelie Niblett, Marcus Swinerd and Tyler Smith. Swimming for the first time in the new age group of 15 years+ held at High Wycombe, would have been vice captain Molly Lown, Nathaniel Turner, Edward Dill-Russell and club captain Janssen.

Head Coach John Vinson said: “No one expected, when we stepped out of the pool back in March, that it would be six months before the chance to return to our fabulous new pool.

“Having recently completed the County Championships and a third of the squad had already qualified for the South East Regional Championships to be held in April. The squad had been training hard and looking really strong and fast and looking forward to racing against the very best in the region.

“It’s a big achievement qualifying to this level, achievement built on fantastic attitudes, as well as huge commitment and hard work. For many this was their first opportunity and the work that they were doing in training reflected a desire to push on and perform well and to take the opportunity to chase qualification to National level.

“Excitement and potential was building but Covid 19 had other ideas and from training so hard in the water going into a frustrating lockdown. These young swimmers should be very proud of their achievements and I look forward to supporting them as we look to have our best year ever as they create a new positive curve and spike next year. I’m very proud of this exciting young squad.”