Our first event of the Club year was, as always our main competitions of the British Synchro calendar, the National Age Groups and British Championships. These competitions were both held in December 2009 in Gloucester.  With 8 teams, 2 solos and a duet entered, it was a very busy 3 days of competition for all swimmers and coaches, but all agreed it was well worth all the hours of training throughout the year.  Bristol Central’s swimmers finished in the top 3 places in 8 of the events.

The Shacklock Trophy (This is awarded annually to the Junior swimmer with the highest total routine score for solo, duet and team events at the National Age Groups) was presented to Alex O’Mahony.  This was a wonderful achievement and it was the second year in a row that this trophy was awarded to a Bristol Central swimmer.

From their performances at the National Age Groups, swimmers were selected to be included within the 2010 England Junior Talent Squad (Previously the Junior Great Britain Squad).  We are extremely proud to announce 8 swimmers from Bristol Central were selected and have taken part in several training camps during 2010.  The aim of the training has been to improve fitness levels ready for the 2011 competitive year.

Our final event of 2009 was as usual the Christmas display which we held on the 13 December.  This is always a very popular event with all swimmers (those new to the club and even our most senior swimmers) taking part.  Our thanks go to Georgie Coombs, for her amazing choreography of the opening and closing routine which she pulled together in just 1 week!  All the clubs routines for 2009 were performed (including our Novice team) with the highlight of the display being Anya Tarasiuk’s performance of one of the GB Team routine (for those new to the club, Anya is one of 2 swimmers from Bristol Central currently in the Great Britain senior squad).

The first competitive event of 2010 was our Club Championships in February.  Fifty swimmers took part and the results were used to select swimmers for our squads for 2010.

For the first time in 4 years the British Championships and National Age Groups are to be separate events this year.  The Age Groups will be held in December as usual but the British Championships were held in April to bring the competition in line with the International calendar.  This encouraged some foreign entries and we were able to compete against Great Britain, China, Beijing Water Cube and SSD Village, Italy.  All spectators enjoyed the amazing routines and Bristol Central gained some very good results.

In July 25 swimmers took part in the Regional Figure competition held in Bristol.  For most this was their first competition against swimmers from other clubs.  We were extremely pleased with their results.  Bristol Central’s swimmers came 1st in five of the events

In July our senior swimmers were invited to the “turf cutting” ceremony when work began on a new £27 million Leisure Centre at Hengrove Park.  They gave a “dry” demonstration of their winning Technical routine from the British Championships earlier this year and details of the display appeared on 2 local TV News Channels and in the local paper.

The Multi-Regional Age Groups were held in Gloucester on the 16 October.  It was a long day particularly for our younger swimmers but we had good results   Here are the events where we finished in the top 3 places (full results are available on the website)

12 & under solo 1st
15/17 Duet2nd & 3rd
12 & under Competitive Team2nd
12 & under Recreational Team2nd
13/14 Recreational Team2nd
15/17 Recreational Team2nd
15/17 Competitive Team 1st

At the end October our elite swimmers took part in the Scottish National Age Groups and Championships in Glasgow.  Two coaches made sure we didn’t miss out on the fun of Halloween much to the delight of our swimmers by “posting” creepy crawlies and treats under the doors of their rooms.  Some coaches were also surprised to find a bat in their rooms!   It wasn’t all fun and games though as our swimmers took the competition very seriously.  Two of our teams came 1st in their event and we also came 2nd in the 12 & under and 15/17 solos and also 2nd in the 15/17 duet event.

Nine swimmers from Bristol Central were selected to be in the South West Elite Training Squad.  Ten in the South West Academy Training Squad and two in the South West Talent ID Squad.

This year seven of our swimmers were selected to be in the Multi-Regional Squad (swimmers for this squad are selected from the South West, South East and London regions).  They attended a week’s training camp at the High Performance Centre at Aldershot in the summer.

Starter courses have been run throughout the year which has increased our membership numbers considerably and continues to improve the awareness of Bristol Central’s synchro section.

Perhaps the most important change for the Synchro section this year is the appointment of our full time Development Coach, Maria Shortman.  This appointment was made possible as The Amateur Swimming Association had approved funding for 6 Performance Synchronised Swimming Clubs across the UK one of which was Bristol Central Synchro.  Maria’s started her employment on the 1st November and her main duties will be to promote Synchro in the local area, enhance the clubs programme and training plans, as well as to strive towards producing World Class Synchronised Swimmers in Bristol, that underpin the Senior GB Programme at Aldershot.  This is the first of 6 appointments across the country and we are thrilled that Bristol is the first one.

Not all our news is from the pool- Engagement congratulations go to Louisa and Craig and Laura and Andy.  Also best wishes go to Lynne and John who are expecting another baby early next year.

I would like to thank all the coaches, scorers, judges, assessors, team managers and all our helpers who voluntarily give up their time all year to help our swimmers enjoy the synchro sessions and gain success at competitions.  They all work and have their own families but continue to give their time willingly.  Thank you.

Finally all of Synchro wish to thank Rod Thompson for all his work and guidance through his time as Club Secretary. 

Christine Marsh.
Synchronised Swimming Secretary.