A bleak period for swimming in the municipality of Aa and Hunze, because swimming club ZZG De Boskikkers has decided to stop. But there is also good news, because the annual school swimming competition in swimming pool Zwanemeer in Gieten will continue.
Returning membership numbers and a shortage of trainers and volunteers are the reasons for lifting the swimming club. “It was no longer possible,” says Hilde Steenbergen of the swimming club. “It is very sad news, because in the 89th anniversary many people have very nice memories of the swimming club. Including ourselves as a club of young people who still wanted to do it.”
In 2014, Swimming Club Zwanemeer Gieten (ZZG) and De Boskikkers merged after they had been working closely for several years. The Gieter Swimming Association was founded in 1935, the Boskikkers from Rolde originated in 1961. When the association could no longer use the swimming pool of Hof van Saksen in Nooitgedacht in 2016, the club was already on a thread.
In the past decade it seemed to go in the right direction again, but partly due to the corona period it was no longer possible to fully rebuild the club. Last summer it was therefore decided during a general meeting of members to lift the association.
There is still a positive news to report when swimming in the municipality of Aa and Hunze. With the money that the association still had in the savings account, a new foundation was established. That foundation will ensure that the annual school swimming competition continues to exist. “The volunteers are all very enthusiastic that they can do something and the schools are very happy with this event,” says Steenbergen.
On 21 May students from schools from the region meet for the competitions. “There are a few 100 children who come swimming here. It is nice that we can continue to do so from the foundation.”