Captain Chris hopes to Save the Day
Chris Leighton an 18-year-old Billingham boy has been selected as the captain of the England Lifesaving Senior Development Team who will be competing at the Commonwealth Championships in Bath.
Chris is a member of the Billingham Lifesaving Club and Tees Actives Sports Academy and is currently being put through a punishing 21 hour per week training schedule.
The championships will take place between 24th -29th September, with the opening ceremony being held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and the actual competition being staged at Bath University. The Australian team will start the competition as favourites but will have to fight off stiff opposition from New Zealand, Canada and the home nations. The England team are hoping to medal at the championships and will be training hard at a squad session to be held at Bath University later this month.
Chris will be competing in 8 out of 10 disciplines. These disciplines include the 50m carry and the simulated emergency response competition.
Chris who has just completed his A levels at Stockton Sixth Form College, is hoping to continue his studies at Teesside University when he starts a Sports and Exercise Science degree in September. Chris said “I am really pleased to be selected as captain of the Development Team but I will be training really hard in the Activ8 Gyms and in the pool at the Forum and Splash. I still have not given up hope of forcing my way into the full England team”
For further information on Tees Active Sports Academy contact Academy Manager on (01642) 528772 or visit new.teesactivelimited.co.uk