A ‘dedicated and hard-working’ swimming coach from Andover has been shortlisted for the prestigious Swim England National Awards.

Katy Ross has been training pupils at the Andover Swimming and Water Polo Club for more than 20 years and has earned a place in the highly competitive "Water Polo Development Coach" category in a recognition of her exceptional work within the club.

This summer Swim England invited members across the country to nominate individuals or clubs for their National Awards and couldn’t believe the response. A spokesperson said: “We received more than 100 nominations across all the categories, each nomination was carefully reviewed by a panel of experts, who faced tough decisions in selecting the finalists. In the end, we believe we have identified very worthy winners.”

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Certificates will be awarded to all the shortlisted finalists, while the winner of each category will receive a trophy. Category winners will also be entered into the National Awards and receive an invitation to the prestigious National Awards Lunch, set to take place in Birmingham later this year.

Sarah Horne at the Andover Swimming and Water Polo Club said:  “Katy's nomination is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and commitment to developing water polo talent at the club. Her recognition on this national stage is a proud moment for the club and the wider Andover community.”