One of the clubs objectives over this year has been to improve the way we communicate with our swimmers and parents; I hope that you will have noticed some of the initiatives in this regard over the past few months. We are however not finished yet and during the coming month you will see what I hope you will agree are further improvements, these are as follows:
Web site
At present our website provides general information about the club. We want to make it far more a practical tool where you can pick up information on, for example: Team details for coming galas, details of club events, coach’s comments on sessions planned or sessions done, club courses planned. Phew! There will be much more and we are very fortunate to have Lucy Steve who is working with Adrian Brown to provide the club with a ‘living’ website. Please begin to visit the site more frequently over the coming weeks and months.
E mail Bulletin
I hope you will also notice the format of this bulletin has changed somewhat, Colin Draper has kindly offered to put the bulletin together each month providing general information on the clubs direction, articles from our coaches, event advertising and I am sure, as they say lots more! If you would like to write an article for the bulletin please contact Colin.
Club Training Sessions
I am delighted that these seem to be getting busier, very pleasing and of course bring new challenges for our coaches and poolside helpers. The club is undertaking a comprehensive review of the structure and content of the training sessions, some of the areas we will be looking at are:
Coaching support for Andrew and Sharon, for increasing swimmer numbers.
The introduction of Land training
Introducing morning training sessions
Providing development channels for swimmers aspiring to county and beyond.
All in all quite a challenge and your input would be very welcome. The key for the club is to maintain its strong appeal across all ability groups, to maintain its friendliness and inclusive ambience.
I hope you will give your committee feedback; you are the membership of our swimming club and therefore its future.
Andrew Moss
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Gala Successes!
At 6pm on Saturday, 7th June, Beacon swimming Club was at full stretch, sending out two teams: one to compete for the Gadstone Voller Trophy at the K2 Centre, Crawley; the other to compete for the Dijon Trophy at Tunbridge Wells (Monson). For both groups it proved to be an evening of excitement, drama and notable success.
The Gladstone Voller Trophy Gala at Crawley (squadron relay) saw Beacon confronted by stiff competition in the form of:
Littlehampton SC Crawley SC Brighton SC
Hastings (1066) SC Erith SC Hailsham SC
This was a superb evening which culminated in a memorable win – some thirty points separated second place Hastings 1066 from first place Beacon.
Earlier, Beacon swimmers had been quick to make an impact, with two first places, three second places and three third places achieved by race 10. At the end of race 20 Beacon was already out in front with 59 points, seven points ahead of second placed 1066.
The Mixed 8x25 Breaststroke Squadron (Rachel, Freddie, Abi, Will, Amy, Harrison K, Steph and David) was an enthralling contest as the swimmers twice moved up from third to second, only to fall back for a third time before finally taking second on the touch.
The Boys 14/u 4 x 25 Fly Relay (Harrison K, Ryan, Thomas, Elliott) was equally exciting with the team making up two-thirds of a length deficit to earn us another valuable second place.
All swimmers swam exceptionally well and it was very pleasing to see the three debutants competing so well. Also of note was the high level of encouragement and support, and the wonderful team spirit demonstrated by all the children.
The Squadron:
Rhianna, Lily M, Rache, Nina, Seb, Freddie, Marcus, Felix, Torwa, Abi, Katie, Jessica, Harrison Will, Evan, Oliver, Izzy, Amelia, Amy, Rachael, Beckii, Harrison, Elliott, Ryan, Thomas, Steph, Sasha, Chris, Tim, Ben, Andrew.
Thanks go to: Coach: Sharon, Timekeeper: Adrian, Team Manager: Lesley and Debbie, Official:Fiona
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At Tunbridge Wells, Beacon competed in the Dijon Trophy Gala against the following clubs:
RTW MONSON SC TANDRIDGE AQUARIUS SC
SEVENOAKS SC BLACK LION SC
This was not a squadron relay gala and swimmers turned in some great PB’s
Charlotta Neely started off with the first win in the girls 13U 50m freestyle with a personal best time of 32.25. This was the first of 10 personal best’s the team would produce.
Adam Fenner had 3 personal bests: 13U 50M freestyle 31.97, 50M breaststroke 45.28, 50M butterfly 38.67.
Callum Gray, in the boys 10U 50M butterfly 53.04,
Stephanie Parsons, in the girls 12U 50M backstroke 41.91 and the 12U 50M butterfly 41.04,
Jessica Moore, in the 11U 50M freestyle 41.79,
Izzy Groenen, in 10U 50M freestyle 49.25,
Fraser Keith, in 12U 50M freestyle 36.54.
Despite all the good swims Beacon only managed 5th place.
Thanks go to: Coach: Andrew H, Timekeeper: Lesley, Team Manager: Deb D, Official: Jim F
Congratulations and well done to all swimmers who took part in both galas.
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President’s Prattle
The Club is making great strides to become a Swim 21 accredited club which is in no small way attributable to our hard-working committee. Well done everyone.
Also, it is great to see the club winning galas. This is down to the coaches and, of course, all the hard work of our swimmers. Let’s keep it up. To do this we do need more poolside help so don’t be shy in coming forward to take the course offered in this bulletin.
ASA Competitive Speed Awards
These are awards for gaining certain times for different strokes either at the sprint distance of 50metres or the middle distance of 200 metres.
The times required for each stroke and distance are displayed on our notice board at the leisure centre and on poolside (together with badge samples). Every now and then I give out letters informing swimmers when they have achieved an award. This is a good way for swimmers to find out how they are progressing and it gives them something to aim for. Swimmers are very keen to decorate the back of their “T-Bags” (club pool-side T-shirts) covered in these badges at inter-club galas. This is a good place to display them.
Masters Swimming (25yrs and over)
If you were once a keen swimmer, or would like to take up training, why not come along to our sessions? Competitive swimming is not obligatory but there are opportunities to enter Masters’ Galas, should wish to try your hand. I usually take part in the Eastbourne Open Masters’ Competition and the West Sussex Masters’ and there are many more. In the past, several of us have entered the Southern Nationals at Bournemouth, the Nationals at Sheffield and we have even travelled to Guernsey for a competition. It’s good fun, you meet other swimmers and you occasionally get a new PB – or in my case – another year older – you try to equal last year’s times!
Well, enough prattle. See you at the pool.
Hilary
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BEACON BARBECUE
SATURDAY, 5TH JULY
FROM 5.30 PM
We are delighted to announce a social evening to be held at Crowborough Rugby Club on Saturday 5th July from 5.30pm.
We are planning games for the children (young and old) and a bar-b-que. A licensed bar will also be available.
At this stage, to assist us with our planning, it would be appreciated if you would send an email to Debbie Smith harni@btinternet.com to indicate whether you are able to join us, and how many tickets you require. There will be a small charge per person or per family, purely to cover costs.
Further details will follow once we have an idea of numbers attending.
We hope you can join us for what promises to be a very entertaining evening.
Debbie Smith
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Poolside
I am organising a poolside helper’s course, which will run on the 22nd and 29th June. The start time has not been finalised yet but it will probably be about 3:00pm until 7:00pm on both days. The course will be run by Shelley Robinson who is a senior tutor for the ASA.
If you are interested in coming along then please let me know ASAP. The course costs £50 per person, which the club will pay. Please be aware that you will also need to fill out a CRB check form so you will need a passport or equivalent, your national insurance number and a recent utility bill/ bank statement with your address on.
As the club will be paying for the course a verbal agreement to help poolside once a week or so would be appreciated.
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STOP PRESS
June 14th Lewes Gala
As you are aware Beacon swam in a gala on the 14th June at the Seahaven Pool in Newhaven. It was hosted by Lewes SC. We came first out of 3 teams beating Lewes and 1066. We had several PB's notably Adam Fenner taking 4 seconds off his 50m Breaststroke. The other notable event was Chris Ghosh beating his main rival from 1066 in both the front crawl and fly.
We then celebrated at McDonalds in Uckfield on the way home.
Well Done Everyone.
Fiona
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