IPSWICH Swimming Club's annual Champions of the Future gala, due to take place this weekend, has been cancelled.

By Nicola Markwell

IPSWICH Swimming Club's annual Champions of the Future gala, due to take place this weekend, has been cancelled.

Owing to a hectic schedule for local swimmers, with both the Runnymede and Diss Open meetings taking place over the weekend, the club have taken the decision to cancel the event.

The gala was set to feature eight teams from the local area, with swimmers aged between nine and 12 years old, and was due to be held at Crown Pools.

However, after discussions with other local clubs, Ipswich SC saw no option but to cancel.

The club sends its apologies to anyone hoping to take part, but the decision was made in order to alleviate some of the swimmers' load.

This is also in the light of next weekend, when the club are sending a full team of swimmers to the London Speedo meeting, held in Hillingdon.

Last season the club got to the event final for only the second time in their history, and this time around they are sending another very strong squad, with swimmers from ten years old right up to the likes of local star Karen Pickering competing.