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Coaches Corner
Bristol Central is extremely fortunate to have a wealth of experience with regards to our Synchro Coaches. All are volunteers yet regularly give up their time to coach our swimmers and enable the girls to achieve their potential
Here are details of some of our coaches... More to follow.....
Karen Thorpe - Head Coach 15-17 and Senior Squad. Karen represented Bristol Central for many years; she has swum and coached at Club, County, Regional, National & International level. Competing Internationally at Pre-Olympic, World and European Competitions for over nine years, she was captain of the Great Britain Squad and won the Swimmer of the Year Award to a standing ovation. Karen also works for the Amateur Swimming Association as the Talent Development Officer for Synchronised Swimming.
Georgina Coombs – Club Coach & National Judge. Georgie represented Bristol Central for many years, as swimmer and coach. She competed at County, National and International level in Team & Duet events at European, World and in the Pre-Olympic Duet competition. Georgie was captain of the Great Britain Junior and Senior Squads. She has coached several Age Group & National routines, Head Coach for County Squad and National Junior European Squad. Georgie is also a qualified Synchro judge and has judged at Club, Regional, National and Age Group Championships. She is also an Advanced Skill Assessor and Team Manager.
Lynne Sissons - Lynne represented Bristol Central for many years; she has swum at Club, County, Regional, National & International level. Competing Internationally at Pre-Olympic camp, World and European Competitions for over nine years.
As an age group international Lynne represented England in solo, duet and team. Lynne has coached several Bristol Central senior National teams and has been regional head coach for many years. Lynne also represented Bristol Central as a speed swimmer and swam 100m & 200m backstroke up to National level for many years. As a Bristol University student Lynne won the Student Nationals 200m backstroke.
Laura Wren – Level 1 Coach. Laura rejoined the club in January 2005 as a coach. She is currently the head 12 and under coach and has been an assistant coach for the Multi Regional Squad, she is also a Basic Skills Assessor. Laura has represented the club at National level, as a swimmer. Laura is currently on both the synchro and general committee.
Maria Shortman – Coach. Maria represented Bristol Central for many years. She won the 1990 National Synchro duet competition and several National Team events. Maria was in the Great Britain team and duet from 1986-1993 both as a Junior and Senior swimmer. Her most notable competition was the 1991 World Swimming Championships in Perth, Australia. Maria is a qualified Synchro coach and Swimming teacher
Geoff Coles – Coach. I began at Bristol Central by bringing my elder daughter to speed swimming. One night we arrived early and saw the synchro swimmers training. That was the beginning of the great adventure back in 1985! I decided that I would like to help in some way rather than let the existing coaches do it all. My first job was playing music for routines, as there were lots of solos and duets as well as teams in the ‘good ‘ole days’! I have always been involved with music, so when the previous ‘music man’ from Cheltenham turned down the volume control for the last time, I took over. I used to travel all over the South West making a noise for the girls at competitions of which there were many more than there are today. Due to a coach leaving, I was asked to take over the younger swimmers– and here I am!!
Hayley Pearce – Coach. Hayley swam for Reading Royals at National and County level for several years and coached the novice team to a gold medal in a Regional competition. Now assisting the 13/14 squad for Bristol Central having joined the club at the end of 2008. Hayley is also a Basic Synchro Judge
Helen Milliner – Coach/Scorer. Helen has been involved at the club for some time as a parent and a novice coach. Helen is also a trained Scorer and Team Manager.
Christine Marsh – Coach. Chris has been involved with the club as a parent for many years. She qualified as a coach in 2006 and has been the Synchro Secretary since November 2007. She is also a Basic Skill Assessor, Basic Judge and Team Manager.
Louisa Chadwick - Coach and choreographer. Louisa has swum for Bristol Central at Club, District, County and National level for many years and was captain of the senior squad for 5 years. Along with Alex Marchant she achieved a silver medal in the World Masters Championships in San Franciso. Louisa was appointed as the Great Britain Junior Assistant coach and Team Manager for 2008 and is currently the Assistant Coach for the National Development Squad for the second year running.
Alice Waldock - Coach/Lifeguard. Alice represented Bristol Central at Regional and National level for many years in both the Team and Duet events. Alice qualified as a coach in 2006 and has coached our 15/17 B Team for the last three years, taking them to the National Age Groups where they achieved 3rd place in 2007, 2nd place in 2008 and 3rd in 2009. Now at Cardiff University Alice regularly coaches for Bristol Central during the holidays.
Lisa Marsh - Coach/Lifeguard. Lisa represented Bristol Central for many years both at Regional and National Level. She was part of the Junior Great Britain Squad in 2007 and swam in both the Free and Combination Team events at the Junior Europeans in Calella, Spain. Lisa qualified as a coach in 2006 and regularly coached the starter sessions. Now studying Languages at Southampton University, Lisa hopes to resume coaching during the holidays.
Jade Cook - Coach/Lifeguard. Jade represented Bristol Central at Regional and National level for many years in the Team Duet and Solo events. Jade rejoined the club in 2008 as a skills and figures coach using her knowledge and experience to help our current swimmers.
Details of our other coaches will be added when available.
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