Ann De Sausmarez Grantham is right at home in the Beau Sejour pool. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0550340)
ANN DE SAUSMAREZ GRANTHAM swears by the health benefits of swimming and is urging more parents to get their children in the water.
She will be the only visitor to hve competed in all 17 Guernsey masters meets when she takes to the pool at the weekend. The 69-year-old twin, who was evacuated from the island to the UK as a youngster, is back to participate in the OCS Open International event over the next three days.
‘I just love the island and I just love coming home,’ she said. ‘I’m a swimming coach and official and I swim for the Royal Navy,’ added the former Wren.
She is full of praise for the event and the organisation.
‘The friendship is so fantastic. When you go to a lot of championships, it can be quite stressful, but when you come here, it’s like one big family.’
But she stressed: ‘It’s very competitive.
‘The people behind the scenes work so hard and when you get something like this it’s total gold-dust,’ said Mrs De Sausmarez Grantham.
She admits to being a very physical person and recommends swimming to everyone, whatever their age, as a major health benefit.
‘Instead of finishing at 40 or 50 you will find people are so healthy who swim. Their heart and lungs are absolutely prime,’ she said.
‘It’s one of the best physical things to do. A lot of people are living longer and are physically able to do so much.’
Some youngsters today go about 20m and start panting, she suggested.
‘It makes you very, very tough. You have to learn to go with swings and roundabouts. It’s a therapy and you meet so many people.
‘It’s brilliant. We have got to get parents to get their children off the seats watching computers, but parents have a big job with the price of everything,’ she said.
‘These children are the future of this country and being physically healthy helps their brains.’
She also commended the Beau Sejour indoor pool.
‘The water is absolutely superb – it’s known as fast water.’
The masters swimming sessions begin today at 6pm.
Tomorrow participants will be in the pool competing between 8.30am and noon and from 5.45 to about 7.45pm.
On Sunday the event will run from 9.30am and finish before noon.
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