Swimmers past and present will have chance to look back on 25 years of hard work, competition, and numerous victories and friendships as the Blenheim Blast Swim Team celebrates its 25th anniversary year in June.
The Blast, started out as a summer swim league because Blenheim was only community with an outdoor pool.
David Fox then created the Blenheim Foxtales. In 1997 when the pool became enclosed, head coaches David Fox and Brian Lindsey, worked to make the team become a sanctioned team with Swim Ontario and Swim Canada.
"Blenheim is one of the smallest swim clubs in the province," said Catherine King, a board member of the swim team. "To have a swim team that has lasted this long on a volunteer basis is pretty exceptional. The vast majority of clubs we compete against have paid coaches and have a lot more commitment involved in them."
In 2008 the team's name changed to Blenheim Blast.
John Van Herk, who is the current head coach, has been coaching for the last 20 years. He has coached swimmers, including his own children, swims varsity, and attend Olympic swim trials.
Today, the club consists of about 20 swimmers and five coaches.
The team will be celebrating its 25th anniversary at the legion in Blenheim on June 10th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
King said the celebration is an open-house-style event and that everyone is welcome.
