University pool now open to public from 6am

The Rosenblatt Swimming Pool at Oxford University Sport on Iffley Road has extended its opening hours so that it can now be used from 6am on weekdays.

The 25m eight-lane pool is open to the community as well as staff and students at Oxford University, and to promote the new hours Oxford University Sport is offering a free trial swim to anyone over the age of 16 that considers taking out a community membership.

Jon Roycroft, director of sport at Oxford University, said: ‘The swimming pool has been the training base for Davis Tarwater, a former Oxford student who this summer won a gold medal at the London Olympics, and for current student Jack Marriot, who won gold at the 2011 and 2012 British Swimming Championships in the 50m Butterfly. The pool was chosen by the New Zealand Triathlon Team as their 2012 Olympic training base.

‘But it is not widely known that the pool is open to members of the community at competitive membership prices.

He added: ‘Swimming is a lot of fun and a great way to keep fit. We are now opening even earlier than before so that people can pop in on their way to work and we would like all residents to know that our pool is open to them.’