Keri-Anne Payne honoured for a second time

Photo: Jan Harwood

Rochdale Mayor Councillor Keith Swift and Mayoress Sue Etchells with Keri-Anne Payne holding her World Championship gold medal.

Heywood swimmer Keri-Anne Payne has been honoured with a civic reception at Rochdale Town Hall for a second time after winning gold in the 10km Open Water event at the World Championships in July.

Friends and family joined Miss Payne to meet the Mayor of Rochdale and receive cheque presentations to assist with her training and swimming career.

Congratulating Keri-Anne, 21, on another success, Heywood Township Chairman Councillor Alan McCarthy spoke of how the young swimmer was a great ambassador for Heywood in showing what young people can achieve with hard work and dedication. Councillor McCarthy provided Keri-Anne with a cheque for £2,000 from the Heywood Township funds to provide support for her build up to the London 2012 Games.

Keri-Anne also received £1,000 from Link4Life as a member of its Talented Athlete programme, which also allows her free use of all fitness and pool facilities to help support her training programme.

Keri-Anne said: "I would like to thank everyone for all their generosity. Swimming is not a cheap sport and this money will really help. I want to thank the many people for coming here to support me. I'm sorry if I look a bit tired as I only got back from another event in New York this morning!"

Rochdale's Mayor Councillor Keith Swift said: "Keri-Anne is an inspiration for everyone in the whole borough, especially in her home town of Heywood. Our many congratulations go to Keri-Anne for her fantastic achievement and her historic win."

It was the second time that Miss Payne has been honoured at the Town Hall. In September last year she was commemorated in celebration of her winning silver in the 10km Open Water event at the Beijing Olympics.