Individuals and groups recognised for their fundraising efforts at Melton Lions Swimarathon presentation night

Shield winners were Mencap Swimcaps, Wednesday Night Misfits, St Mary's Primary School, Oxygen is Overated, and Helen Philpotts
PHOTO: Tim Williams — Shield winners were Mencap Swimcaps, Wednesday Night Misfits, St Mary's Primary School, Oxygen is Overated, and Helen Philpotts PHOTO: Tim Williams

The event, held at Waterfield Leisure Centre, in April, has raised £3,657 for local causes.

In all, 2,597 lengths were swum on the day, with 21 teams and 105 swimmers in total taking part. The average number of lengths swam by each team was 123. The fundraising total after 16 years of holding the event is £97,000.

At a presentation night held at Melton Council’s Parkside offices, trophies were handed out and cheques were given to good causes.

Cheque recipients from the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, the mayor's charities, Melton Mencap and First Responders, and certificate winners from John Ferneley College, Scalford and Grove primary schools
PHOTO: Tim Williams — Cheque recipients from the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, the mayor's charities, Melton Mencap and First Responders, and certificate winners from John Ferneley College, Scalford and Grove primary schools PHOTO: Tim Williams

The Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, Melton Mencap, Mayoral charities the Belvoir Castle Cricket and Countryside Trust and Emmaus, and the Melton First Responders were awarded with a split share of £4,150.

Cheques and a certificates were also presented to Scalford Primary School, as part of the Melton Lions school link.

Key Stage One pupils won £150 for their varied pictorial representations of life cycles and Key Stage Two pupils won £150 for their poetry ‘The six stages of life.’

The winner of the Melton Times Shield - which is for the most sponsorship raised by one team - was Mencap Swimcaps who raised an impressive £675. The winners of the Pearces Jewellers Shield - which is for achievement and endeavour - was Helen Philpotts of Mencap Swim Club.

The winner of the Melton Building Society Shield for the most lengths were the Wednesday Night Misfits who swam 214 lengths in 55 minutes. The winner of the Wilkinsons Shield Youth Award was St Mary’s Primary School, who have supported the event over a number of years, and the winner of the Melton Lions Shield for the most original team name was Oxygen is Overrated.

Special certificates were presented to John Ferneley College’s Dolphins team, Scalford Primary School’s Sharks team and the Grove Primary School’s Gladiators team for their participation.

Other organisations, schools and businesses who entered teams were Shrimps and Sardines, Latham Dippers, Just Add Water, Deependers, Melton Scouts Youth Team, Sink or Swim and the Nutty Narwhals, Speedos, Flipping Floppers, Oddshapes, Angels and Devils, Batman Robin and the Sidekick.

Lion Derek Kerr said: “We couldn’t have done this without the help of the swimmers, parents, teachers, swimming pool staff and our sponsors.”

The Melton Lions have thanked the many sponsors who underpinned the event - Melton Mowbray Building Society, B&H Printing, Mars, Jeld-Wen, Pearces Jewellers, Stephen Jeal at NFU Mutual, Oldham Marsh Page Flavell Solicitors, Richard Barnes Funeral Services, Diane Ruddle, chiropodist Heather Little, Costco and Aston Vauxhall.