The centre will host the Great Britain Club Team Swimming Championships for the first time. Commonwealth Games medallists will be in action at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre, Weston-super-Mare, when it hosts this top national event.

A total of around 500 swimmers from up to 40 teams will be competing in the championships to find the best men's and women's teams in the country.

This follows a successful bid to the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) by North Somerset Council to host the competition which, for the past four years, has been held at Stockport Leisure Centre.

"The ASA were very impressed with the facilities we had to offer here," said Swimming Development Officer Carl Wood. "This event will put Hutton Moor Leisure Centre firmly on the national swimming map and, with the swimmers plus management and coaching staff staying in local accommodation over the weekend, will bring additional income into the resort."

The centre is also the venue for the England v China badminton match on Friday, November 13.

"It is a real coup for Hutton Moor to get these two prized events," said North Somerset Council's Recreation Manager Russ Currie. "It has always been a major regional facility but is now establishing itself as a venue for both national and international events."

Five badminton medallists from the recent Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpar have been selected in the England team for the fifth leg of their six-match series against China. They are Mark Constable, Rebecca Pantaney, Julian Robertson, Nathan Robertson and Jo Davies.

This is the sixth consecutive tour of England by the Chinese with China so far notching up three wins, England one and one draw.

The match, which includes men's and women's singles and doubles, starts at 6.45pm. Tickets, ranging from £4-£6 for adults and £2 for juniors under 16, are available from Hutton Moor or by contacting (0117) 9620679.

Youngsters from Priory and Wyvern schools in Weston are set to benefit from the match coming to Hutton Moor. Coaches accompanying the players will spend an hour at each school during the day working with budding young badminton players.

North Somerset Council's Sports Development Officer Sam Davies, who has arranged the special sessions, said: "It is a golden opportunity to get the youngsters involved with some top level coaching."

ENDS EDCL 68/98

Note to News Editors: You are invited to send a reporter/photographer/film crew to the special badminton coaching sessions which have been arranged on Friday, November 13. These will be at Priory School at 12.30pm and Wyvern School at 2pm.

For further information contact Richard Turner on (01934) 634995 or Sam Davies or Carl Wood on (01275) 810995.

Last Revised: 7 Nov 98