Club History

Barrow Amateur Swimming Club is one of the oldest competitive swimming clubs in England. Established in 1876, membership cost the princely sum of one guinea. It has grown to a size of approximately 150 members, and the club competes at all levels from local to national.

In the early days the swimmers trained in a pool in Abbey Road which was 70 yrds by 20 yds, Then in 1931 the club moved to Abbey Baths (now closed) and since 1994 the Park Leisure Centre Barrow in Furness. At that time the club had a water polo team which trained and competed in Ulverston canal.

Our first recorded National champion was Sheila Calderhead (now Sheila Brown) in the 100yds backstroke 1932. Sheila went on to represent England in the Empire Games and the European Games.

At that time the club had many notable swimmers including:

Jack Williams who won the Schoolboy championships of England 1929. Miss Betty Middleton who completed the cross Windermere swim (from Belle Grange to Miller ground) aged 11 in 1931, the youngest girl to have swum across Windermere.