The draw of fun in the Lanzarote sun an incentive to West Suffolk swimmers

Seven years ago, a group of swimmers ventured abroad for a competition and training camp in sun-kissed Dubai – and they have never looked back since.

Now, a warm-weather training trip is something of a fixture in West Suffolk Swimming Club’s calendar and this year it has taken a squad to Lanzarote for a week-long camp.

Coach Dan Pilbrow said: “The destination of choice is Club La Santa, with the 26 places being snapped up within days of the camp being announced.

“This venue has proved an extremely popular choice because, as well as the excellent training facilities (3x50metre pools), there is a full program of supervised activities which the swimmers can access – including kayaking, wind surfing, football, tennis, fitness classes, duathlons, triathlons and open water swimming to name just a few.”

He added the purpose of the camp was to expose the swimmers to outdoor long course training conditions, a far cry from the hot and humid atmospheres found at indoor pools in this country.

“It has now become a target for our younger swimmers to reach the competitive squads, which is when they become eligible to attend the training camps,” Pilbrow added.

As well as Dubai and Lanzarote, West Suffolk has also visited Mallorca and Tenerife for warm-weather training camps.