THE Dorset Echo talks to West Dorset Warriors Swimming Club's Press officer Camilla Thornton who gives an insight into the history of the club and the people behind it.

To know West Dorset Swimming Club, first you have to know its head coach and founder Janet Hewitt.

There are arguably few people more dedicated to her sport than she.

Born and raised in Bournemouth, Hewitt swam for the Dolphins as a child.

On joining the RAF at 19, she taught all sport in the forces and swam competitively and very successfully for the RAF.

Married for more than 40 years to David, the chairman of the Warriors, she is a mother of four and grandmother to four.

She still puts in a 60-hour week at the club, regularly rising at 5am and going to bed late.

It is Hewitt's dedication and her sheer determination that has won her great respect from the highest ranks of British swimming.

Not least, it has inspired several generations of her swimmers to train hard to achieve their ultimate performance.

To date, Hewitt's 40-plus years of coaching has produced a Deaf Olympic medallist, Deaf European medallists, seven swimmers who have represented Great Britain and more national swimmers than you can shake a stick at.

Many of Hewitt's swimmers have also gone on to gain university swimming places in the USA.

Former Warriors who have gone away to college are always delighted to travel home to their club for an important competition.

And that's where it started - with competition. Back in the early 1990s Hewitt was teaching swimming locally and running Natterjacks in Dorchester, a teaching programme for young non-swimmers, but was thinking about starting a competitive swimming club in Dorchester.

There was indeed a demand for it as around 60 local swimmers were begging her to do so.

So Hewitt, together with long-time friend and colleague Alex Lawrence, founded the West Dorset Swimming Club in 1991, acquiring affiliation to the Amateur Swimming Association in 1992.

Within six months the roll was up to 100 swimmers.

The Warriors became used to triumph right from the start, capturing the Speedo League Division Three title in their very first season.

These days the Warriors are knocking on the door of the Premier Division.

However, the last 17 years have not all run smoothly and the club's greatest challenge was when in the mid-1990s Dorchester's Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre was being extended to add a small pool and the main pool was closed.

Hewitt explained: "We were told we would be without the pool for four months but it was closer to 18 months in the end.

"We were forced to take whatever pool time we could at Weymouth and Bridport.

"It was very difficult for the swimmers and parents to keep going as they had to travel so much.

"Many of our national swimmers left to join other clubs in order to get sufficient training. The whole situation nearly caused us to fold but we gritted our teeth and got through it."

Now though, the club is bigger than ever with around 300+ swimmers from age six up to 30 years, with its members enjoying success at many levels from local galas, Levels 1, 2 and 3 meets, County Championships, District Champion-ships right up to national and international competition.

Plus there are 200 more youngsters in Natterjacks, based at Damers School.

The Warriors have 17 teaching staff, three of whom are ASA coaches, and between them they teach more than 28 hours every week.

Plus there are very many parents who give up their time to lifeguard, run the club, organise competitions etc on a volunteer basis.

Hewitt added: "Without all the parents putting in their spare time to run the club, the Warriors couldn't exist. It's very much a team effort both in and out of the pool."

The Warriors also have enormous success in biathlon (swimming and running) and biathle (a continuous run-swim-run event).

Every year Warriors bring home national medals in the two sports and in 2008 there are no less than seven Warriors representing Great Britain in the Biathle World Championships.

To provide the best opportunities for its athletes, the Warriors form the backbone of Dorset Pentathletes, a club made up from athletes around the county which has been Britain's top biathlon team since it started.

It is co-operation that has contributed to the success of West Dorset swimmers.

Hewitt has been such a great part of swimming both in Dorset County ASA and at National level, for so many years that she knows everyone.

She is always willing to do favours, and therefore can pull in a few favours herself. Consequently the Warriors enjoy swimming luxuries such as access to training in a 50m pool, workshops by national coaches, ex-Olympic squad experts and physiotherapists, overseas swim camps and more.

But what makes the Warriors extra special is its inclusivity.

Hewitt has always been partic-ularly keen to provide swimming for people with disabilities and goes out of her way to provide a place in the club for those who would like one.

Hewitt is recognised as a national expert on coaching swimmers with disabilities by British Swimming, an accolade of which the club is justly proud.

She added: "The Warriors has had amazing success over the last 17 years but we are constantly moving forward.

"West Dorset has a strong and highly skilled committee and together we will ensure the club continues its success story for many more years to come."

West Dorset Warriors welcomes new swimmers and athletes of all levels. If you are interested contact Janet Hewitt on 266175 or click on www.wdwarriors.org.uk * If you like your club featured in future issues of this supplement telephone 830990 or email sport@dorsetecho.co.uk