FIFE Synchronised Swimming Club, seeking new members to join their Carnegie Leisure Centre training sessions, could try adopting Hollywood Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence as their honorary chairperson.

Former cheerleader and energetic star of The Hunger Games, Jennifer recently chastised fellow cast members when they suggested that neither cheerleading nor synchronised swimming should be taken seriously. The award-winning actress was heard to say, “I can understand what you are insinuating with the synchronised-swimming thing and, let me tell you, they are athletes!” Lesley Bloomer (52), who now coaches adult beginners, has been with the club for 24 years and echoes the sentiment.

She told Press Sport, “It combines dance and swimming and it’s creative too. The swimmers get together in teams to make their own routines and there’s a great sense of achievement that comes when you get it right.” Lesley became bored of swimming lengths to keep fit and explains the broad appeal of the sport. “I didn’t begin until I was an adult and found that this was a bit like gymnastics underwater and such good exercise. It’s just a hoot and such good fun.” In 2012 the sport received a huge boost when four talented synchronised swimmers performed as ‘Aquabatique’, wowing audiences on Britain’s Got Talent.

This was followed quickly by the London Olympics when the British team finished a creditable sixth. The skill and endurance of Aquabatique and the Olympic team was clear to see.

For extra motivation, Fife Synchronised Swimmers also take part in their own team competitions and compete for medals at the Scottish Club Championships.

Former Scottish squad swimmers Lynn Hardie and Irene Glen undertake coaching duties, alongside their newest coach, Louise Fenlon (22), who learned synchronised swimming at the club and took it on from there. They oversee choreography, costumes and themes and training sessions that teach basic water skills such as aquatic breathing techniques.

The club is seeking competent swimmers who want to take part in the sport for recreation and for those who would like to compete. It is open to everyone from age eight upwards and they have a come-and-try session in Dunfermline on Sunday 23rd November. It’s in the pool at Carnegie Leisure Centre from 6.30-7.30pm.

Head coach Lesley is also on the lookout for new recruits on the coaching side of things and would welcome anyone who would like to volunteer to help with poolside assistance. The Fife Synchronised Swimming classes take place in the Carnegie pool every Sunday from 6.30pm. The pool has deep water to practice routines and underwater speakers so that teams can perform the moves to the music.

For more information and to watch some of their performance clips visit the club’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FifeSynchronisedSwimmingClub. To find out about joining or volunteering, call Lesley on 07974 823249 or email their club secretary Rose-Marie Leighton at rmleighton@live.com.