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# Swimmers defy uncertainty over future of Lichfield pool to land place on national training scheme
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/swimmers-defy-uncertainty-over-future-of-lichfield-pool-to-land-place-on-national-training-scheme/
- Published: 2019-09-10T10:01:43.000Z
- Updated: 2019-09-26T20:03:42.000Z
- Description: Youngsters from under-threat Lichfield Swimming Club have defied uncertainty over the future of their pool to be selected for a prestigious Swim England training program.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Sport, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:18, News

Youngsters from under-threat Lichfield Swimming Club have defied uncertainty over the future of their pool to be selected for a prestigious Swim England training program.

![Ezra Lambert and Bryony Stephenson ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/img_7979.jpg)

Ezra Lambert and Bryony Stephenson

And in another achievement the junior squad has made it to the final of Division 2 of the Nuneaton & District Junior Swimming League, facing off against the best clubs in the region on 14th September at the Pingles Leisure Centre in Nuneaton.

The future of the club, which was founded in 1968, is in doubt because of proposals which could see its base at Friary Grange Leisure Centre, closed.

Ezra Lambert and Bryony Stephenson have been chosen by the head of talent at Swim England, Grant Robbins, to take part in the national development programme selection. This recognises the achievements of these two young swimmers.

In July, Ezra took part in the Midlands Open Water Championships at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham, winning two silver medals and achieved qualification for the Open Water Nationals in August.

Bryony took part in the British Summer Swimming Championships in Glasgow – to get there means she is in the top 20 fastest swimmers in Britain.

#### “Incredible hard work and dedication”

Lichfield Swimming Club chairwoman Rachel Bentley said: “We are so proud of Bryony and Ezra being selected for this Swim England programme.

![Friary Grange Leisure Centre](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/250a5379.jpg)

Friary Grange Leisure Centre’s pool

“Only the best young swimmers in the country are chosen and this is a testiment to their incredible hard work and dedication.

“Our young swimmers have been amazing all year and the fact that they have got to the junior league final shows what talent is being nurtured at Lichfield Swimming Club.

“We’d like to say thanks to all the swimmers, parents and coaches for their incredible efforts.

“Lichfield is a city going places and our swimmers are putting it on the map around the country.

“It is vital that the Friary Grange remains open so we can continue to give young people these opportunities to shine.”

A Lichfield District Council Cabinet meeting to decide the future of the city’s last public pool will be held by at the Lichfield Garrick on 7th October.

The local authority is reviewing an initial plan to shut the facility from April 2020 after more than [8,000 people signed an online petition](https://www.change.org/p/lichfield-district-council-save-the-friary-grange-leisure-centre-in-lichfield?ref=lichfieldlive.co.uk) against the closure.