Droitwich Dolphins Newsletter February / March 2007 Number 2
CONGRATULATIONS to all swimmers who took part in the Speedo League Division 3 promotional final where we were successful in securing promotion to Division 2. It was a closely contested gala, and our success shows the strength and depth of the Droitwich Dolphins. Our thanks go out to Simon Hillson and the other coaches for their commitment to the swimmers. Also, we would like to thank all the parents who came to support the swimmers at Stechford, and who certainly made their voices heard!!
(Full report attached below)
Dates for your Diary in February/March.
Saturday 10th February. House Gala for 12’s and under.
All swimmers who come along are guaranteed swims. The Coaches intend to make the team selections for the Nuneaton League ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams based on the performance at this Gala. This is also an opportunity for younger swimmers to gain more competitive experience. More details on the Notice Board.
Saturday 17th February
Second Round of the Worcester Winter League. Team sheets are now up on the Notice Board. Please indicate your availability as soon as possible, as this is a half- term weekend, and Lee Hall-Annison is already aware that some swimmers will not be able to compete. This will be a tough Round as we will be competing against Stourbridge ‘A’ and Worcester ‘A’
Sunday 18th February and Saturday 24th February
Long distance County Championships at Hereford. Please see Worcester County web site for further details.
Saturday 3rd March
Nuneaton League Squads meeting and swim session. Informative meeting regarding the forthcoming Nuneaton League.
Weekend of 10th / 11th March - County Championships at Wolverhampton
Weekend of 24th / 25th March - County Championships at Worcester
33 Droitwich swimmers will be swimming over these 2 weekends in over 160 events, and we wish them every success. A programme of events is available from the Worcester County web site at www.worcester-county-swim.org.uk
Other News
Open Meets
Entry forms are available from the Notice Board for the Avalon Meet at Millfield School, Somerset and the Haden Hill Open Meet at Wolverhampton both on Sunday 29th April. If you wish to enter, please let Catharine Buck have your application form and entry fee payable to Droitwich Dolphins no later than 28th February. These events are often over subscribed, so it is essential the Dolphins group application is submitted in good time.
There are also details of the Rotherham Metro Open Meet to be held in July at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield. Again, entries to Catharine Buck.
Presentation Evening
The Annual Presentation Evening at Droitwich High School was well attended by the swimmers and parents. 90 swimmers were presented with their National Swim Awards for levels 9 to 12, and 107 swimmers were presented with their achievement certificates for a top three placing at our Club Championships. Terri Dunning, a top National Swimmer made a guest appearance to hand out the awards and to offer encouragement and motivation by recounting her own swimming experiences.
Following the presentation Evening many of the swimmers and some parents were able to let off steam at the Disco which followed at the British Legion. It was a great success, and our thanks go out to Lee and Michelle Hall- Annison for organising the Disco.
Worcester Winter League Round 1
Another good performance by the Droitwich team on 20th January. We were unlucky to be nudged into third place by Worcester ‘B’ with only 5 points separating these 2 teams. The Gala was eventually won by Perry Beeches ‘A’, but the Dolphins were 72 points ahead of Orion, our nearest rivals, and Broadway and Oldbury failed to make any impact. (Report Below)
Redditch Diddy Gala
Although many of the swimmers and parents were disappointed with the overall result of a last place finish, it has to be remembered that many of the other competing Clubs put forward ‘A’ swimmers, whilst we elected to give some of our less experienced swimmers an opportunity to swim competitively against external clubs for the first time. A lot of experience will have been gained, which will help the swimmers be more prepared in the future.
Coventry Training Session
This was a resounding success – the swimmers returned full of enthusiasm following their gruelling two and half hours training in the 50 metre pool. For many this was a first opportunity to swim in an Olympic length pool. It is hoped that a further session will be arranged for later in the year.
And other matters…….
ASA Fees are now due. Yes, it’s that time of year again! The fee is £17.50 which includes insurance for each individual swimmer. Please make your cheques payable to Droitwich Dolphins and pass to Sharon Ellson or Debbie Storey. In addition, a number of swimmers have moved up squads, which will entitle them to more pool time, but regrettably it comes at a price.
The current monthly fees are:
Dolphins - £13
Sharks - £17.50
Bronze and Club - £21
Silver and Gold - £25
Please see Sharon Ellson if you know your child has changed squads.
Changing Rooms and Poolside
It has been brought to our attention that a number of swimmers are leaving their clothes in the cubicles whilst they are swimming. This is unfair on other swimmers who leave the pool at different times. Please ensure that swimmers use the lockers which are provided.
Can all poolside helpers please ensure that they do not wear OUTSIDE shoes when poolside to avoid cross-contamination?
The Leisure Centre has informed us that they intend to ban disposable plastic bottles with sport cap tops. Children are leaving them poolside and they represent a potential hazard if they get into the water and someone swallows one. If you are using one of these bottles, you must remove the top (put in a bin!) before going poolside and take it away with you when you leave the pool to dispose of safely. Please help the Leisure Centre Staff reduce the amount of rubbish by using a durable sports bottle.
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Information Officer: Lesley Rimington. Please contact me if you have a news item which you would like included in a future newsletter.
e-mail: rimington@tinyworld.co.uk
SWIM REPORTS
Dolphins Win Speedo League Promotion
The six top teams from the North and South divisions were competing for promotion to Midlands Division 2 at Stechford, Birmingham on Sunday. The Droitwich Dolphins squad continued their impressive performances with 8 first places and 12 Personal Best times, to secure promotion.
Director of Coaching, Simon Hillson said afterwards “The swimmers have worked hard over the last 12 months and the result on Sunday was as a direct result of their efforts. I am very proud to be associated with the team and the club, and am confident that we will continue to grow stronger on the back of this promotion”.
It was a tightly contested gala, but the strength of the Dolphins relay teams once more helped them to a comfortable second place overall. The girls under 13’s team of Helen Nutter, Sophie Cave, Roxanne Sweeney and Tamlyn Williams won both the medley and freestyle relays, whilst the boys in this age group, James Morrison, Josh Deacon, Elliott Hall-Annison, Ben Rimington and Alex Stubbs won the freestyle relay and clinched second place in the medley relay.
In the older age groups there were second places for the mens open freestyle and medley relays with Robin Williams, Jon Hunter, Mark Williams, Lee Hall-Annison, Liam Ginty and Nick Houlston. The ladies also secured second place in the freestyle relay with Lauren Hall-Annison, Fiona Watt, Rachel Roberts, Charlotte Llewellyn, Amy Piper and Emma Houlston. The girls under 15’s team of Lauren Hall- Annison, Sophie Jenkins, Katherine Llewellyn, and Emma Houlston also managed second in the medley relay.
Robin Williams, the senior boys’ club captain was in awesome form winning the individual open backstroke, fly and freestyle events, whilst Rachel Roberts won the ladies open Individual Medley, and was second in the breaststroke. Roxanne Sweeney swimming up an age group comfortably won the girls under 15 backstroke, and was second in the U13’s fly event. Other individual second places were Amy Piper in the open backstroke, Lauren Hall-Annison under 15’s breaststroke, and in the boys under 13’s, James Morrison backstroke and Alex Stubbs freestyle, and Ryan Holmes the under 11’s breaststroke.
Worcester winter League Round 1
Droitwich Dolphins were narrowly edged into third place finish in the first round of The Worcester Winter League, behind Perry Beeches ‘A’ and Worcester ‘B’ in an exciting and closely fought gala, but well ahead of Orion, Oldbury and Broadway.
There were first place individual wins for Robin Williams in the open backstroke, fly and freestyle events, whilst in the 15years age group Emma Houlston won the freestyle. In the 13 and under age group Helen Nutter claimed first place in the backstroke, Georgina Buck the fly and James Morrison the boys backstroke .In the under 11’s team Anthony Redfern was first in the freestyle event as was Ryan Holmes in the breaststroke. Individual second places were secured by Michelle Jenks in the open backstroke, Alex Stubbs and Amy Piper in the boys and girls under 15 freestyle events, Sophie Cave under 13 girls breaststroke, and James Morrison in the under 13’s boys fly event.
In the mixed relay teams there were second places in the under 15’s medley event with Tom Christie, Nick Rimington, Alex Stubbs, Sophie Jenkins, Helen Nutter and Emma Houlston, whilst the under 13’s team of Jess Lloyd, Tamlyn Williams, Sophie Cave, Josh Deacon, Ben Rimington, James Morrison and Elliott Hall-Annison were second in both the medley and freestyle relays.