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This year brought changes to our coaching structure with swimmers being allocated to coaches and the introduction of swimmers logbooks. These encourage swimmers to log their swimming sessions, competition times and PB’s. This system will be reviewed very soon to ensure that all new swimmers have been allocated to coaches.
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.
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. We do need more qualified timekeepers, 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.
A successful Skills Development event took place for swimmers over 2 Sundays in May. Thanks to Marion for organising this and the coaches who took part.
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 have held some development galas to encourage the new swimmers to compete. We are 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.
This year some of our swimmers have been training with City of Bristol Squad. The rules for who will train and compete with the squad are changing to only include those swimmers who have achieved ASA SW regional qualifying times. A number of our fastest swimmers have been selected to train with City. 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 now have an updated website which we are encouraging swimmers to access. We are putting results of competitions on the site and trying to include other information. This is slow, however anybody who 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 Stacey and to Jenny for taking on this task.
Swimming Competitions during the year
Speedo League
We took part in the C final last December 2006 in Exeter where we were 3rd, which meant we remained in the 2nd Division. This year we have just competed in the first 2 galas and hope this year to be in the B final. This is one of our most important league events of the year and which 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 3rd. We continued 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 Speedo 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 Series
We began galas in January when we were in 5th place and by the end of the five galas in November we were finally 3rd overall which was a splendid achievement. 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 Jackie, Karen, Lee and Mick for helping with these galas. I am pleased that I can now handover the management of this league to others.
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 the following swimmers took part
Jake Probert, Patrick Noon, Tom Shortman, Finn Taylor, Chris Harrington, Harry Trewhitt, James Sharley, Alex Chklar
Corrie Leach, Robyn Darlison, Lucy Heddington, Katie Cook, Fern Perry, Christine Howie, Alice Dale, Chloe Bryant, Tayler Maggs, Olivia Ryan, Ellie Boucher
Many of these swimmers reached finals and most achieved PBs – well done swimmers. Thanks to Nicky 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 Championships
This year Tayler Maggs, Chloe Bryant and Alex Chklar qualified for these championships. Well done.
Chloe Bryant was selected to compete in the Inter County competition at Sheffield in October where she represented Gloucester County. Well done Chloe.
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.
Open Meets
This year we attempted to compete in more Open Meets, which 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!!
Avalon at Millfield School – 8 swimmers competed in January in this meet providing the rare opportunity to compete in a 50m Pool. Again in October 9 swimmers took part with some excellent results and pb’s. This is a very popular meet with swimmers competing at a high level.
In April 9 swimmers competed in the Salisbury open meet where we achieved 10 gold, 8 silver and 1 bronze medals. This was the first time this meet had been held and very enjoyable for all the swimmers so look out for details of next year’s meet.
Finn Tayler, Cambia Bailey Jones and Alex Chklar all braved the cold waters of Henleaze Lake in the Open water competition. Congratulations to Finn who was 3rd in the under 16-age group. Finn also successfully competed in the Weymouth Open water event in the summer.
Bristol North Open meet at Hutton Moor was once again well supported by our younger swimmers with 17 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 we had our annual trip to Cornwall for the Carn Brea Open Meet which was held in Penzance. 7 swimmers and 7 adults enjoyed a memorable weekend in 2 caravans in Hayle. Look out for the photos on the website! Between them the swimmers brought home 13 medals with 7 gold. Tayler was first in the 100 Backstroke and Amber, Chloe and Harry all won both their 200 and 100 Breaststroke races with Amber achieving a competition best time in the 11 years 100m Breaststroke. Well done to all the swimmers. We look forward to next year…
Finally 7 swimmers took part in the Brockworth Open Meet at GL1 earlier this month. Once again some good swims and positions. Particular congratulations to 10-year-old Rachel Ghui who achieved one 1st, three 2nd and one 3rd position across all strokes and IM events.
We were also successful in retaining the Tim Bratchel Memorial trophy after competing in the Bristol Penguins gala in the summer.
We look forward to another successful swimming year next year when we are taking a group of swimmers to a training camp at Calella at Easter as well as 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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