Swimmers and para-swimmers of the Manchester Performance Centre engaged in a bit of festive fun as they took on a yule log bake-off challenge.
The event supported by UKSI and UK Sport was created as an opportunity to connect the Olympic Pathway Swimming and Para-Swimming training groups plus staff in a shared, fun and non-swimming environment.
Manchester Performance Centre has developed to become an integrated centre since September 2024, with both groups sharing pool time, facilities and staff - and the festive bake-off with a local cookery school provided a space for social integration and a chance to break down barriers of perception and enhance awareness of each other’s needs.
Split into pairs and tasked to prepare a yule log, minimal direction was given (as per British Bake Off tradition), thus encouraging the pairs to problem solve and be creative together. Each pair’s final creation was then scored by the cookery school.
Commenting on the value of the event, Ryan Livingstone, Lead Coach Manchester Performance Centre sad:
“It was very enjoyable afternoon for all who attended, a great exercise in developing squad cohesion and a nice social activity for the group as we lead into the festive period.
"There will be greater cohesion and integration between the two programmes as a result of the event, ultimately this will lead us towards a united group of athletes in Manchester Performance Centre.”
Aled Davies, Performance Coach Para-Swimming adding:
“It was wonderful to see their creativity in a different environment, great to see them working together, sharing different ideas and approaches to the same problem. It required a lot of collaboration.
"Thanks to the investment from UK Sport, UKSI and AquaticsGB, we’ve been able to create an event which fast-tracks the development of relationships in an authentic manner. As a result, we’ve given the swimmers a platform to develop their relationships with one another. Removing some of the barriers which may create social anxieties."
After judging by the cookery school of each pairs effort, Matt Richards and Cameron Vearncombe were declared victorious and scooped up the culinary bragging-rights.
“It was great to spend time with the whole centre away from the pool and even better to come away with a win with Cam!” said Richards.
