Keen swimmer Sarah Marks with her instructor Shaun Martin

Local school girl, Sarah Marks, has enrolled on her 34th consecutive Waves Swim Programme at Ards Leisure Centre.

Sarah who is 15, had her first lesson when she was 7 years old and is still enjoying a regular lesson every Saturday morning and with the same instructor, Shaun Martin.

Starting as a complete beginner in 2008, she went straight through the programme levels, has achieved every badge possible and due to her love of swimming has kept going with the Stamina and Stroke sessions ever since.

When asked why she keeps coming back Sarah replied, “I just love swimming, I don’t do any other sport so it’s really good for keeping fit and I like the routine of coming to the pool every Saturday morning. Shaun has been really helpful in encouraging me to improve my strokes and distances.”

Sarah’s mum, Deborah, also commented that, “Shaun has a great way of explaining things to children and motivating them to achieve which is one of main reasons Sarah has stayed with the lessons for so long.”

Her instructor, Shaun Martin said, ‘Sarah has been a pleasure to teach over the years and is a very unique case. I’m glad she has found the programme so enjoyable for so long.”

Sarah says she has no plans to stop her Saturday lessons and will continue to be an inspiration to all the other pupils in her class.