SPLASH! Newsletter of Worthing Swimming Club

Issue 8 August/September 2003

NPTS UPDATE swimmers who first started the AGE GROUP NPTS last year should be training PRESENTATION Implementation of the NPTS in our competitive squad, giving plan is going very well and the us hope to find some committed A big thank you to all those who benefits for both the Club and swimmers that will be proud to took part in this year’s Age the swimmers on the programme represent Worthing at club galas. Group galas and to everyone l are clear to see. The next stage is who helped with organising the to introduce the Pre-Competition Peter Woodcock, NPTS Co- Presentation on 20th June. The Level 1 and 2 into the system in ordinator evening went swimmingly well September. These will be (please excuse this corny pun). A introduced over the coming * * * * * special thank you should go weeks in lanes 1 and 6. Dawn Osborne and Fenny Chan SEA SWIM who organised the food, A We hope to complete the move magnificent spread. Well done! to pre-payment for the rest of the Glorious sunshine greeted the 13 lanes during 2004, and that will swimmers who took part in this * * * * * be coupled with pre-payment at year’s Sea Swim on 13th July. both Waders and Lancing SPECIAL HONOUR FOR College. As swimmers now The Mayor and Mayoress of WORTHING COACH progress, the goal for each Worthing, Cllr James Doyle and swimmer is to join the Mrs Mel Doyle came to start the Graeme Pidgeon has been competitive squad. With this in race off and present the awards. selected as an assistant Coach to mind, as swimmers go through the England Squad for People the widths classes, certain The men’s title was retained by with a Learning Disability. The equipment should be acquired. Nathan Hart in a time of 9.22; the squad trains 4-6 weekends per As you already know swimmers Women’s title was won by his year and also competes should wear hats and goggles, the sister Melanie in a time of 6:56. A internationally. other basic equipment that all truly family affair. swimmers will require if they Graeme has been a member of wish to carry on to competitive Worthing Swimming Club since swimming are fins, pullbouys and 1969 and has held several posts kickboards. (Available from the on the Executive Committee Club shop). over the past 25 years. (Chairman, Secretary, Water However, we must point out that Polo secretary, Vice President) should a place in the competitive and is currently a life member. squad not be offered to a He started as a swimmer and swimmer, then we can only offer represented the club and county limited swimming after level 12. Nathan & Melanie pictured for backstroke during the 1970’s. We hope that by the end of 2004 with the Mayor and Mayoress, He also played Water polo for and certainly by early 2005 the Club President, John Doman Worthing at Junior and senior and the other competitors level and Sussex at junior level.

He also played for Southampton teams are progressing well and we staff must be informed of your University and England will continue to improve our absence. (this applies during Universities squad. Graeme entry-level gala swimmers. training as well). In future any started to coach and officiate for Feedback from these galas swimmer who decides that they swimming when his own children concerning behaviour has been are more important than the joined the club in 1986. He greatly improved and I am happy team will be withdrawn from qualified as an assistant Club to pass on my thanks to the future events until they decide Coach and Teacher and took swimmers involved. where their priorities lie over coaching several lanes. regardless of the effect it has on The only hiccup in this improved the squad. The same applies to * * * * * team effort and a reoccurrence poolside assistants no changes to from last year’s galas is the notion the programme will be accepted COUNTY FINALISTS that swimmers can turn up and without the team manager’s PRESENTATION then decide what events they feel consent. they are best qualified to swim or The Club was pleased to fain instant illness just before We are extremely fair in our welcome Alan Putland, Sussex their event and miraculously choices and most swimmers are County ASA President, when he recover later to swim their given a swim during the year so I visited the Club on 22nd May to favourite event. don’t expect to have to explain present medals to Gala Squad every detail or reason at every members who achieved success The order of events and who is gala. If you are lucky to be in the County Finals. swimming what is based on many picked make absolutely sure you variables, whom we are want to swim as a team member, swimming against, previous the fastest swimmer does not results, availability of swimmers make a winning team, all and experience of events. Once working together getting the best the team has been discussed and effort overall will win galas and arranged with the necessary that Does mean working and people, and all the swimmers supporting each other both allocated their swim turn up for during training and racing. the gala the only reason a change should take place if there is an Unfortunately I am absent due Alan Putland, (right) and Club injury, someone has been sick or to personnel reasons and I may President, John Doman, (left) the team manager makes a tactical not be around till after August so pictured with Gala Squad decision on poolside. please have a nice summer break members and a big thanks for everyone’s We train using all strokes so there efforts recently to cover my * * * * * is absolutely no reason why any absence including the swimmers. swimmer however slow cannot GALA SQUAD REPORT race any event to score a point to Ian Laker help the overall score. All Chief Coach The swimmers have been very swimmers at one time or another busy the last 3 weeks and looking will be required to swim all of the at the results I am pleased to see strokes, unless restricted by there have been some excellent medical reasons and if so a swims. doctor’s certificate is required at * * * * * the desk for insurance and safety The result against Bognor was reasons. GALA DISCIPLINE very encouraging as they fielded their strongest team and previous Swimmers are not allowed up Please note: Sussex League encounters with into the balcony at any Gala for Bognor have yielded poorer discussions on what they swim or 1) No swimmer will swim for results. The results from the not swim, or any other reason WSC in a gala unless they have Rother League show the new u11 except for illness or injury, and completed, handed back & comply with their Code of well in the strong senior events. Swimmers are reminded that Conduct. 2) You will swim the They made it to the finals in the they should not bring valuables event for which you are selected 10-lane pool at Sheffield and all down to the pool and to ensure unless you have prior approval by achieved several Personal Best that they keep their locker key the named coach on your gala times. Louisa and Kimberley with them at all times. selection slip. 3) No swimmer is came away with Bronze medals. to leave the gala poolside unless * * * * * you have prior approval by the named coach. SWIMATHON UPDATE

Failure to comply with either 2) I would like to say a big thank or 3) will result in you not you to all those club members participating further in the gala. who supported the event. This years total was £4,782, an 4) Reserve swimmers are not increase on last years figure. A guaranteed a swim but regardless L-R: Louisa Eames, Kimberley particularly pleasing result baring their coach trip is free. Bailey and Lizzie Pidgeon in mind it was achieved with fewer swimmers. * * * * * Graeme Pidgeon Well Done! DISABILITY SWIMMING * * * * * * * * * * The British National Open swimming Championships were AND FINALLY!!!! held at Ponds Forge International swimming Centre over the The Club would like to wish all weekend 6-8 June 2003. its members a happy and This high profile event which is enjoyable Summer Holiday. the “Wimbledon” of disability swimming was well supported with competitors from over 50 countries competing. This is an OPEN competition with most of the world’s top swimmers competing with no age group DIARY FOR SEPTEMBER restrictions. National squads had th been brought by France, Spain, 14 September, County Relay Catalina, Switzerland, Denmark, Gala, Crawley Croatia, Czech republic, Canada th plus strong sides from South 27 September, Rother League Africa, Iceland, Israel, Australia Round – 4, Fleet and of course USA. Over 50 World and National records were broken over the weekend. * * * * * Following on from their fantastic showing at the National Juniors in March, three Worthing PERSONAL PROPERTY swimmers qualified for this event. Louisa Eames (S14) Lizzie The Club would like to remind Pidgeon (S14) and Kimberley parents of the need to ensure that Bailey (S7, SM7, SB6). All are all property is clearly marked with still juniors and performed very the swimmer’s name.