SWIMMERS in Beaminster are being encouraged to improve their technique with a new buddy scheme.

The swim buddy programme is being launched by the 1610 leisure trust at seven of its facilities, including Beaminster Swimming Pool. The scheme will involve trained members of 1610 staff who will be offering specialist support to swimmers about fitness techniques and how to make the best use of equipment and facilities.

The swim buddy scheme has been developed by 1610 in response to feedback from a survey of swimmers who wanted more guidance and support when they are using 1610 pools.

Swim and sports development manager for 1610, Ricky Hayes, believes the swim buddies have an engaging role to play to challenge swimmers to change their swimming techniques for improved results.

He said: “The best way to think of a swim buddy is that they are a fitness instructor but for the pool.

"A swim buddy is not a swimming teacher, they are very much like a gym instructor. Our swim buddies have been given a careful blend or knowledge from fitness principles which can be used in the pool to help improve technique and form. So just like a gym instructor might approach someone in the gym if their deadlift technique was off, a swim buddy might approach you if you need to work on your breathing control or looking to change what you do from one session to the next."

The swim buddies will be available at at Beaminster Pool and Dorchester Leisure Centre.

They will also be able to advise on equipment and facilities by using the flags and bunting to help spot the wall when swimming back stroke, demonstrate how to use a pull buoy or other special equipment, explain why most pools have a pace clock to use and advise what training methods can be adopting to encourage increased fitness or weight loss.

1610 will also be running a special offer in May for casual swimmers where they will be able to buy three swims in a month and get a fourth swim for free.