|
Published:
April 8, 2008
Meet the new bosses of
Burnham-On-Sea swimming pool
 Triathlon
champion Sara-Jane Cox and her husband Mark Conklin (pictured)
were named on Tuesday (April 8th) as the new lease holders of
Burnham swimming pool, ending months of uncertainty about the
facility's future.
Sara
is the daughter of David and Ann Cox, who run the Laburnum House
hotel on the outskirts of Burnham at West Huntspill.
The
pair's ambition now is to turn Burnham Pool into a Swimming and
Sports Academy.
Sara
told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "We can do it, but only with the
goodwill of all those who who have said 'Burnham pool must not
close'."
"Now
is the time for all those thousands who signed the petition to
save the pool to stand up and be counted."
She
was raised in the town and attended local schools before obtaining
a Masters degree in clinical and experimental psychology in California.
She
won her first swimming medal at Burnham Pool some 30 years ago
and went on to become the National Modern Pentahlon Champion and
world amateur triathlon champion as well as winning many races
throughout the world.
Only
a month ago in a world-cross
country event in Utah with 1,300 runners, Sara was the first
British entrant and the seventh to cross the line.
Her
husband, Mark, is a world class 'Iron Man' and has played competitive
tennis and enjoys triathlon, the sport which brought the couple
together in San Diego, California and later to West Huntspill
Church, where they married five years ago.
Mark's
first job was an ocean lifeguard on California's beaches. He is
currently an international sales manager for Synergy Sport Limited.
RELATED
LINKS:
Official
'Save Our Swimming Pool' website
Hopes
high as Burnham pool's D-Day arrives
Council
confirms that multiple bidders interested in pool
Burnham
pool is top of Daily Telegraph list of UK threatened pools
Five
groups show interest in taking over pool
Hundreds
sign online swimming pool petition
Pool's
lease is advertised in bid to find new owner
Talks
held on possible community bid for Burnham pool
'Promising
progress' made in search for new pool owner
Liberal
Democrats give Burnham pool campaigners a boost
MP
meets council bosses in fight to save Burnham pool
Series
of public meetings set up to discuss pool progress
Hopes
of a last-minute reprieve for pool are dashed
Housing
scheme was considered for pool site in 2006
Burnham
vicar collects 300 signatures in support of pool
Angry
swimmers hold protest outside Burnham pool
Pool
campaigners demand answers on running costs
Huge
turnout at packed swimming pool public meeting
Campaign
group meets MP to discuss future of pool
Public
meeting set to be held on future of pool
Hundreds
sign petition to save Burnham swimming pool
'We'll
fight closure of Burnham swimming pool' vow campaigners
Burnham
swimming pool 'may permanently close by April 2008'
|
