season this Saturday.

The pool recently re-opened after upgrades to the facility, funded by a donation from the 1997 Bermuda End-to-End Walk, were completed.

The upgrading involved the addition of heated showers, water supply to the enlarged food hut, concreting in the pool area, a new back-up pump for the pool's circulation system and a fresh coat of paint both inside and out.

Commonwealth Games qualifier Stephen Fahy, who came up through the ranks of age group swimming, praised the crystal clarity of the pool. "It's wonderful to be able to see underwater from one end of the pool to the other,'' said Fahy, who took part in the World Championships in Perth, Western Australia, in January.

Saturday's meet, consisting of 28 Open timed finals, will commence at 1.00 p.m. with warm-ups starting an hour and a quarter earlier.

The pool was built, and is maintained, under the watchful eye of the pool administrator, Barbara Waldo, for the development of age group swimming and the four local clubs commenced training on March 2.

The age group swimmers are joined by a group of adult masters swimmers who have a variety of programmes to choose from during the early morning and lunch hours.

Options for adults are available from 7-8.00 a.m. three days a week, noon to 2.00 p.m. three days a week and lap swimming two days per week.

Evening programmes begin in May with the addition of `Learn to Swim' for adults and another masters training/stroke development programme.

Children's `Learn to Swim' classes will be held during July and August.