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In a year when swimming has enjoyed a raised profile through the successful Olympic Games it has been yet another busy and successful year one for Central speed swimmers, coaches, team managers, helpers and parents. I will try and capture the highlights in this report.
Once again we have welcomed a number of new swimmers to the club from other areas and clubs. We hope that they have settled into our sessions and enjoyed competing in league and open competitions. It is good to see a number of younger swimmers joining through our sessions at Jubilee and St Mary Redcliffe.
This year has seen an increase in the numbers of parent helpers at league competitions and open meets. We are continuing to encourage more people to undertake Team Manager, Child Protection and other relevant training to ensure they are equipped to support our swimmers. All helpers are subject to CRB checks to ensure the highest level of protection for swimmers. This year a number of parents have become qualified timekeepers which is great, we now need more to come forward to train as judges and referees as whenever we host our own galas or enter league competitions we need to have plenty of officials. Any body interested please talk to Marion or me.
We are continuing to attract younger swimmers into the club from Swim School and through the sessions at Jubilee Pool. This is very encouraging as we need to continue to build up our team of competitive swimmers. We were also pleased to see a number of new swimmers in this years Sprint and Club Championships. Thanks to all the Coaches who give of their free time to support and coach the swimmers in all our sessions at Jubilee, Redcliffe and the University. Thanks to Marion who tirelessly links with schools and Bristol City to ensure we access all the support we can and encourages new swimmers to join.
A successful Skills Development event took place at St Mary Redcliffe involving 31 swimmers over 2 Sundays in May. Thanks to Marion for organising this and the coaches who took part.
A number of our swimmers have continued to train with City of Bristol Squad. These are swimmers who have achieved ASA SW regional qualifying times. This means that they will have up to 7 sessions with City but will continue to train with and compete for their host club – Bristol Central.
We continue to put results of competitions on the website and are trying to include other information. We would like to encourage more reports and stories of events so if anybody would like to contribute a story about their experience of a competition or anything else please let me know and I will pass on to Derek Milliner. We are also continuing to record all the results to provide a list of times for each swimmer, thanks to Jenny for taking on this task.
Swim Camp in Calella, Spain
20 swimmers and 5 coaches and team managers spent an enjoyable and hard working week at a swim camp in Calella, Spain. This was an excellent opportunity for the swimmers to have an intensive period of training, enhance their skills and techniques as well as bond together as a team. Thanks to Marion for organising and parents and swimmers for raising funds. We look forward to the next trip!
15 swimmers and parents attended the exciting World Swimming Championships in Manchester in April where we saw several of the successful Olympic swimmers in action. Everyone had a great time, saw medal-winning swims, met and were photographed with James Hickman – once again thanks to Marion for organising.
Swimming Competitions during the year
National (Speedo) League
We took part in the B final last December 2007 in Exeter where we were 5th and 13th overall in League 2. This is one of our most important league events of the year that often provides some exciting competition. Thanks to Keith and Richard for managing the team.
Cotswold
This year we were also in the C Final at Clevedon where we came 2nd in a very exciting competition. We continue to struggle to field a top class team due to the restrictions on which swimmers can take part – as we are in League 2 of Speedo we are not allowed to use swimmers who were in individual events in Cotswold individual events. As we don’t have a huge pool of swimmers this does create difficulties. Thanks to Richard for managing this team.
Mini SeriesThis year we were 4th overall in the mini series following some excellent results earlier in the year. It was good to introduce some new swimmers into the team, particularly an increase in younger boys. For some swimmers these galas were their first taste of competitions. Thanks to Karen and Lee for coordinating and managing this league and for other parents who have helped at galas helping with these galas.
Southern Junior League
Bristol Central competed for the first time this year in the Southern Junior League – an opportunity for 9-12 year olds to take part in a high quality competition against clubs across the south of England. This year we competed in 2 of the 3 galas and came overall. Thanks to Nicky Bryant, Sue Sharley and Phil Hawkins for managing this team. Nicky has just been elected secretary for the league so we wish her well in this role.
Some of our youngest swimmers took part in a Junior Novice Gala in April providing them with their first taste of competition. Several Central swimmers were successful in the Bristol Junior and Secondary School Galas during the year
Gloucester County Championships.
These are perhaps the most important competitions for swimmers during the year and one we encourage swimmers to enter and train for. This year we saw an increase in the number of swimmers taking part -
Alicia Daniels, Amber Brewer, Emma Jones, Sally Ann Tyson, Rachel Ghui, Robyn Darlison, Katie Cook, Christine Howie, Chloe Bryant, Tayler Maggs, Charlotte Frost, Grace Rees, Tamsin Marsh, Tilly Bryant, Lisa Marsh, Rachel Curnock, Lucas Nesquita, Jake Probert, Tommy Probert, Zach Dale, Patrick Noon, Kurt Leach, Julian Bailey-Jones, Tom Shortman, Finn Taylor, Harry Trewhitt, Steven Hood, Alex Chklar, Phil Duma, John Sissons.
This year we achieved our best results for some time with 7 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze medal winners. A number of swimmers reached finals and most achieved PBs – well done swimmers. Thanks to Nicky Booth who managed the entries and sorting out team managers etc. Swimmers must achieve qualifying times and we are currently taking entries for next years competition so please make sure you see Nicky or myself as soon as possible for details.
South West Regional Championships
This year, Chloe Bryant, Finn Taylor, Steven Hood and Alex Chklar qualified for the Youth Championships and Amber Brewer, Rachel Ghui and Tom Shortman for the Age Group Championships. Well done to all the swimmers. .
Amber Brewer and Finn Taylor were selected to compete in the Inter County competition at Sheffield in October where she represented Gloucester County. Well done Amber and Finn.
National Youth Championships
Finn Taylor qualified for and competed in the 800m Freestyle at the National Youth Championships in Sheffield in August. He swam well and achieved a personal best time.
Finn also competed in the Open Water championships at Gloucester county (2nd in 15/16 age group ) then National level in Nottingham (4th in 15 age group) and has since been elected to the Talent Development Programme.
Masters swimming championships
Alex Chklar and Michelle Jenkins both compete on a regular basis in Masters competitions with both recently competing in the Nationals where Michelle achieved considerable success. Well done both – an inspiration to our younger swimmers.
Michelle also competed at the World’s Masters events in Australia where she achieved a Silver and 2 Bronze medals – well done Michelle an inspiration to us all!
Open Meets
This year we attempted to compete in more Open Meets that provide swimmers with different levels and experience of competition. They also can be good ways of bringing swimmers together to develop positive team spirit. They can also be fun for parents too!!
In April 12 swimmers competed in the Salisbury Open meet where we achieved 7 gold, 7 silver and 7 bronze medals with 4 swimmers in overall top 3 of their age group.
6 swimmers competed in the first Chard and Clevedon Open Meet at WSM in June. Once again our swimmers were successful achieving 2 firsts, 4 2nds and 1 3rd place.
Bristol North Open meet at Hutton Moor was once again well supported by our younger swimmers with 19 swimmers taking part – some 9 and 10 year olds for the first time. This is an excellent competition for young swimmers as it gives them a taste of a high standard of competition. Well done to all who achieved positions and PBs.
In October the annual trip to Cornwall took place for the Carn Brea Open Meet that was held in Penzance. 13 swimmers took part and between them they brought home 23 medals with 13 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze. Our swimmers set 12 new records. Well done to all the swimmers.
We were also successful in retaining the Tim Bratchel Memorial trophy for yet another year after competing in the Bristol Penguins gala in the summer.
Stacie Ryan
Finally, we said goodbye to Stacie Ryan who sadly lost her battle with cancer in December. Stacie was a great supporter of Bristol Central and a proud mum of Chris and Olivia who have both successfully swum with the club for several years. We were pleased to be able to raise a significant amount of money from club members to support Chris and Olivia in their swimming and studying. Stacie was a very familiar face at the uni pool and at galas and is very much missed by her family and friends.
We look forward to another successful swimming year next year when swimmers will be competing in many of the same competitions and meets as this year. Well done to all the swimmers who train hard and enthusiastically represent Bristol Central and to all the parents and carers who support them.
Jean Trewhitt
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