Olympian to present long-lost swimming trophy

The trophy named after Cumbrian swimmer Wendy Burrell was donated by Carlisle Evening News editor Colin Dobson in 1968

A long-lost trophy named after an Olympic swimmer is to be awarded once again, after being found gathering dust in storeroom.

Carlisle-born Wendy Burrell was just 16 when she represented Great Britain at the 1968 Mexico Olympics in the team medley.

To celebrate her achievement, the Wendy Burrell Trophy was donated by a local newspaper to be awarded to the best young swimmer in Cumberland.

The trophy was thought to be lost for more than 40 years, but was recently found by staff at the James Street swimming baths ahead of the building’s upcoming demolition.

The trophy named inWendy Burrell's honour was rediscovered in a storeroom

Ian Richardson, executive member of Cumbria Swimming, said: “We knew the trophy existed from some work we did last year, because we were 100 years old.

“We had been doing some research to try and get some more information about the trophy and it turned up when they cleaned out the old storeroom at the James Street baths, which was absolutely amazing.

“When we discovered it, that sort of prompted us to do some more work and we thought that we should reintroduce the trophy and have the trophy refurbished.”

Wendy Burrell was just 16 when she competed for Great Britain in the Mexico Olympics

Ms Burrell, now 71, is heading back to the county to present the refurbished cup to the top swimmer at Sunday’s CASA County Championship event in Workington.

She will also become the first inductee into the newly established Cumbria Swimming Hall of Fame.

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