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October 2008 Newsletter - 28-10-2008WELCOME BACK after the summer break - and the galas have already started! Training camp August 2008A very successful pre-season training camp was held from August 25th – 28th to get swimmers back into shape before the season kicked off. This was the third summer camp and is always a great way to start the new season. This year was especially valuable as it included a trip to Thorpe Park for “team bonding”, and persuaded the normally reluctant early risers that swimming for 2 hours from 7.30am was a good start to the day! Thank you to Jo King and Julian Metcalf for arranging this, and to Ann Walkley for helping them in the coaching. Captains’ reportIt is now less than a month until the first round of the speedo league and we have teams in two divisions for the first time. After our success in Division One last year we should now be hoping to build on that performance. We will be competing again some of the best clubs in the country but we should not be overwhelmed by this fact as we earned our place among them due to our hard work and determination during training and racing. Although good individual performances are important, being part of a team and supporting each other is also essential. Being the loudest club on poolside, cheering and offering encouragement for every single one of our swimmers really does make a difference. Compared to other clubs in this division we don’t have as much pool time, we therefore have to make the most of what we do have. This means arriving at training on time, with the proper equipment, ready to train hard. It is also important to listen carefully to what Jo and Julian have to say, and take it on board as they are giving up their precious time to coach you. Every session makes a difference, a small personal sacrifice now may dramatically improve performance that could make all the difference to the team as a whole. We therefore remind you that Friday and Saturday sessions are open to all speedo swimmers and you are actively encouraged to attend them. Best of luck Summer AchievementsCongratulations to Xander Alari-Williams and James Manning who competed in the National Championships at the end of July for the first time. Both were competing in a 2 year age band, the 15-16 year olds, and both fell in the younger bracket, so can compete again in the same group next year. James swam superbly in the 50m freestyle and managed to lower his PB (personal best) by another 0.5 seconds. Xander also produced a PB in his 200m breaststroke and got through to the final, placing him 8th overall in the country for 15-16 year olds, and 3rd for 15 year olds. On the British database he is now placed 3rd in his age group for 200m breaststroke long course and short course. Not bad at his first attempt!! And here is a report from James Manning, describing what he went through. “This year Xander Alari-Williams and I qualified to attend the English National swimming championships held at Ponds Forge pool, Sheffield, in July. I had qualified to swim the 5om freestyle and Xander the 100m breaststroke. I was lucky to have swum at Ponds Forge in the medley relay with the club team in 2007, so I had been before. It had been really hard work leading up to the qualification as it was often interrupted – French GCSE, flute exam, water polo training (and matches at the ASA Nationals in Manchester) and GCSE coursework. There was also the swim training and attending meets to get the qualifying time across the South East, of course. When I got my qualification time at Bexley Open in April it felt quite surreal, but the training obviously had to continue. It was only in the last four weeks that I could really focus on my swimming; Jo and Julian really worked on my starts. On the Thursday before my event, I travelled up to Sheffield with my Mum and sister. Dad had to work and we met him that evening after he travelled up by train. Julian Metcalf travelled up with Xander and his parents earlier in the day, and we three visited the pool that evening to get our bearings. We met up with Jo King and Steffi and various other swimmers that evening at a restaurant and Xander and I returned to our accommodation for an early night, as there was an early morning long warm-up at the pool. I’m told there was a lot of noise that night – I slept through it! Ponds Forge was full of young swimmers in various kit milling about. They were everywhere – on the pavements outside and walking to and from the city centre along with the commuters of Sheffield. The 50m pool was lined with clubs teams and coaches prepared for the day ahead. A camera man stood in the spectators gallery recording the swimmers and the events throughout the day and they appeared on a large plasma screen above the pool. At the other end a large electronic results board recorded the swimmers, their lanes and, after the races, their results. We had all been asked to supply photos of ourselves for them to pull up on screen at the end of each race, so they could show the winner’s face to the spectators. Strangely the adjoining public pool in another part of Ponds Forge held screaming children and inflatables, and Sheffield folk ate and drank in the busy public cafe in a walk-through area leading to our pool. Life went on. My event was due to start at around 11 and some hours had passed since the warm-up. I had another warm-up shortly before my race. My nerves had had plenty of time to go sky high as I eagerly waited. Xander’s heat was before mine and I stood poolside watching and shouting as he swam past. Xander did really well and qualified for the Finals the next day – which led to some last minute and unexpected re-organisation with the accommodation! Before my heat the competitors stood around at the far end of the pool in trunks and warm clothing waiting for instructions. When I finally got onto the block, it wasn’t as bad as I had thought and after a couple of deep breaths I calmed myself before the starter sounded. I couldn’t tell you what happened next. I heard nothing and only felt the effort of going through the water with my lungs straining at the end. I was relieved afterwards I had improved my position by 10 places and knocked 0.5seconds off my PB. I am determined to qualify again next year and do even better, We will be back!” Gala newsThree weeks after starting the season and we’ve already had 2 galas and some great swims. The first gala was the second gala of the Kent Junior League, one of the 2 important leagues in the club season, and especially geared for the younger swimmers. This year we have entered 2 teams, to try and give more members the chance to compete. Teams are picked based on current PBs and current fitness, to ensure selection is fair. The A team are in Division 1, the top division, so race against the best clubs in the county, namely Beckenham, Canterbury, Thanet, RTW Monson and Bexley. Each season the lowest positioned club is relegated a division. For the second time, Sevenoaks came a fantastic 4th, with first places achieved by Ellen Benn, Gregor Roberts, Emily Lobley, Zoe Harding and Fred Biggs. Individual PBs were achieved by Ellen Benn, Cecilia Fenner, Gregor Roberts, Paige Stapleton, Katie Lobley, Alexander Robbins (2PBs), Joseph Choong (2PBs), Nicholas Robbins, Patrick Maclachlan, Emily Lobley, Charlotte Coxon (2PBs), James Murphy, Zoe Harding(2PBs), Fred Biggs, Ben van Leeuwen, Madeleine Smith and Hamish Wyatt. Well done to all swimmers. The B team are in Division 3 and swam superbly to finish in 2nd place. First places were achieved by Amy Trigg, Lewis Roberts, Phoebe Osler, Girls 13/U freestyle relay team (Jessica Farrow, Zoe Carver, Lindsay Sawyer and Alex Chrysostomou) and girls9-10 freestyle and medley relay teams (Ellie Joyner, Phoebe Osler, Susannah Kitto and Amy Trigg) and individual PBs were achieved by 14 swimmers: Ellen Willumsen, Alexander Saunes (2PBS), Katie Hafford, Joseph O’Brien, Nathalie Bailey, Bethany Prentice, Nathan Marsh (2PBs), Zoe Carver, Molly Merson, Joshua Searby, Alex Chrysostomou, Alexander Hill, Victoria Bee and Amy Trigg. Well swum to everyone and especially to those who competed at late notice. On September 20th SSC attended the annual Chris Bassi Memorial Trophy at Monson Club in Tunbridge Wells and came out as victors. Congratulations! Personal bests (PBs)Most of you will have now received your entry packs for the forthcoming championships, which includes a record of your current PBs, as held by the club. If anyone swims at a licensed event and gains a PB, please let the club know, so that we can update your times. PBs, along with details of when and where they were achieved, should be e-mailed to Richard Catchpole at swim.times@btinternet.com.
|  NoticeboardSituations Vacant from September 2010 - click hereClub Championship 2010 details are now available under the swimming section (you must be logged in to view), click here to be directed. To make sure the club benefits from any purchases made at swimshop.co.uk or Amazon.co.uk please click on the link to enter the site, their systems will take care of the rest. Thank you.. The next badge sale will be on Thurs 16th September, 6:10-7:30 pm Open Water Events Open Gala information can be found in the swimming section of the website - updated 8th September 2010 Register for easy fundraising and help the club Click here  Latest newsXander Alari Williams is the new National Breastsroke Champion Sevenoaks boys all pb at National Youth Champs British Biathlon National Championships Liverpool  |
