Burnham-On-Sea Swimming Club’s club secretary, Kelly Podbury, has been appointed Somerset Amateur Swimming Association’s President for 2019-2020.
The club says the appointment “is a great honour for both Kelly and the club and a very well deserved recognition of all her hard work within the local swimming world.”
The news comes after Kelly has spent many years competing and teaching in swimming across the region.
A spokeswoman says: “Originally from Portland, Dorset Kelly has always been involved in swimming and swam for Portland Dolphins and competed at County level.”
“Kelly joined the Navy, where she continued to swim and qualified as a Preliminary swimming teacher and it was there her love of teaching started.”
“A few years after she left the Navy she qualified as Level 1 & then Level 2 ASA Teacher and ran her own swim school in and around the Gosport, Hampshire area.”
“After marrying in 2006 she moved to Burnham and for a short period of time was the Secretary of Burnham-On-Sea Swimming Club before moving to Gibraltar for three years.”
“Whilst there, Kelly worked as a seasonal job for three years managing the 50yd outdoor swimming pool for the military and their spouses, where she trained and qualified lifeguards and helped to run the Gibraltar Dolphins learn to swim and competitive club on a Thursday night.”
“When they returned to Burnham in 2010 it was a given that Kelly would find her way back to the club that Mark’s father had founded with friends in 1974.  She quickly took over as the Secretary again as well as Teacher Coordinator and then later the Swim21, now Swim Mark coordinator.”
“Kelly joined the Somerset ASA committee and began as the Volunteer Coordinator for Somerset, then volunteered for the National Volunteer Programme to gain experience of running swimming events before taking over as the current Competition Secretary.”
“Kelly’s desire to develop and improve competitions has led to herself and the meet management team successfully increasing numbers each year at all Somerset events and they have changed the competition to closely match the Regional/National requirements by making it Long Course.”
She added: “Kelly is looking forward to the honour and challenge of being President of the Somerset ASA for the coming year and plans to visit as many clubs and events as possible during her tenure.”
“Burnham-On-Sea Swimming Club will be supporting her all the way and know that she will do a fantastic job promoting swimming in the region.”
