BURY'S elite swimmers are teaming up in a bid for Commonwealth Games glory.

The town's three swimming clubs, Ramsbottom Rascals, Bury and Elton and Radcliffe, have come together for the first time in a concerted effort to produce representatives for the 2002 showpiece in Manchester.

Bury has long been regarded as a poor relation to the other Greater Manchester boroughs such as Salford, Wigan and Stockport in terms of winning town hall support to give swimmers enough pool time.

But that is about to change with the introduction of specialist training sessions at Castle Leisure Centre every Saturday night for a 31-strong squad aged between 10 and 18 years.

Chief Rascals coach Rick Wesolowski, who has been working closely on the initiative with Kirstie Seymour, Bury Metro's youth sport development officer, has welcomed the announcement. "Bury is at last on the blocks, ready to take the plunge and produce swimmers capable of competing in the 2002 Commonwealth Games," he said.

"It is a fantastic opportunity for these young swimmers. They are focused children with a burning ambition. They want to succeed. There are other talented swimmers at the three clubs and the door remains open for them as well."

The most likely of the squad to win international honours is 16-year-old Matt Wood from Tottington, a top eight breaststroker from the Rascals. He smashed a 20-year record at the Warburton Gala in Salford at the weekend, setting a time of 1.10mins in the 100metres.

The other Ramsbottom swimmers selected for the squad are Ben Mallen, Paul Whelan, Laura Spencer, Luke Guest, Emma Hughes, Jodi Wood, Jennifer Sumner, Robert Steers and Kate Pearson.

Bury and Elton are represented by Joanne Bennett, Gemma Hitchlock, Arran Cooper, Jason Cooke, Collette Allen, Andrew McCormack, Mark Dorsey, Edward Banks, Daniel Hitchlock, Helen James and Chris Green.

Radcliffe boast Joanne Long, Nicola Hindley, Lee Szymanski, Emma Barrow, Steven Duckworth, Craig and Leanne Heywood, Laura Coakley, Danielle Kobak and Victoria Hawkins.

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