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Clydebank College Student makes waves at the Scottish Schools Swimming Championship

Hundreds of Scotland's best young swimmers took part in the annual Brodies Scottish Schools Swimming Championship last weekend – smashing nine Championship records and showcasing the wealth of sporting talent in Scotland in the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The Championships are run by the Scottish Schools Swimming Association (SSSA), a voluntary organisation which has been encouraging the pursuit of swimming across Scotland for more than 60 years.

Ross Murdoch, 18, from Balfron who is currently studying HNC Sports Coaching with Development of Sport at Clydebank College scooped a gold medal at the competition AND set a new national schools record.

Ross said, ‘I’ve been swimming since the age of 4 and competing since I was about 10. I really enjoy competing in competitions against top athletes. It’s the first time I’ve won that competition and I am really pleased to come away with gold and the time achievement. I didn’t quite beat my personal best but I exceeded the record by over a second so I’m pretty delighted about it -especially since this is the last year I can enter this competition.’

I’m studying my HNC just now and I’m really enjoying the course, in particular the theory work. After my HNC I’m going to go onto HND level and afterwards I’d like to take a year out and enter the Commonwealth 2014. Ultimately I’d like to go to university and become a secondary school PE Teacher. Whatever I do it’ll need to fit it around my training. I swim 8 times a week and go to the gym 5 times, on top of that I coach and teach swimming - so I have a full on schedule!’

Ross’s ambitions don’t stop there; he is also looking into applying for team Great Britain for the European Junior Championships later on this year.

Pat Shearer, Curriculum Leader in Sports said, ‘Ross is a conscientious student who has done exceedingly well to have achieved such a great win. Everyone in the sports departments wishes him well for his future competition work. Watch this space I think we will be seeing a lot more from Ross in the future!’