Dorset County ASA

 

PHOTO: Dorset Talent ID camp 2015

The Dorset County Talent ID age group camp was held again this year at Bath University on the weekend of 27/28 June with 30 swimmers having been selected from six Dorset clubs, and 28 of those swimmers attending. Coaches for the weekend were Barry Alldrick (Poole), Chris Beal (Tornadoes) and Dan Dew (Bridport) with along with Team Manager Sam Alderton (Swim Bournemouth). Keen to make this camp as much about team building as swimming, the swimmers were split into three teams aptly named Yellow Fins, Black Tips and Great Whites, with individual swimmers being awarded points over the weekend for working hard and helping others as well as developing aspects of their swimming. Teams also earnt points for winning activities both in and out of the pool. The first pool session saw an ice breaker/mobility session as part of the pre-pool routine, with development work on freestyle/backstroke rotation and underwater fly kick. The second session introduced further work on underwater fly kick along with breaststroke techniques and kick challenges. In between pool sessions, there was a talk on swim down and land based warm-ups at competitions, with each swimmer receiving a handout developed by England Programmes. Additionally, each swimmer was given a Learning Log to use to make notes during the weekend. Following overnight accommodation at the nearby YHA Bath, the swimmers returned the next day for a land-based training session focusing on mobility/stability and basic movement patterns. The third and final pool session included techniques on butterfly, especially breathing body position, as well as a key set to develop opening pace efficiency and 200m pace endurance. Lead Coach Barry Alldrick commented, “The format of this year’s camp was to reflect the skills that have been worked on at England Programmes training camps. By the swimmers having to put aside their friendly club rivalry to work to gain their ‘shark’ team points, it ensured the effort and concentration was very productive and these swimmers now know each other when they get selected to swim for their County. I am very impressed by the wealth of talent coming through on this camp. Dorset has a bright future”. Taking into account all events and activities, the winning team ended up being the Yellow Fins! Talent ID swimmers for 2015 were: Bridport Barracudas – Henry Wyrill; Bournemouth Collegiate – Anashe Chisadza, Nyasha Chisadza, Honor Davies, Alesha Gibson, Amy Mills, Ben Samuels, Christian Tai, Finn Trehane, Kayla Van Der Merwe ; Christchurch Seagulls – Abbie Peckham, Miles Ward; Poole SC – Lloyd Arnold, Kieran Duffy, Teagan-Mae Graham, Robbie Hemmings, Jessica Kelleway, Jasmine McCrea, Liam Openshaw, Summer Torkington ; Swim Bournemouth – Ella Bowman, Oliver Fairman, Izzy Hepburn, Rosie Holland, Abbie Manns, Drew McGregor, Issy Pryce, Abbie Quarrie, Josh Wickens; West Dorset – Finley Jarvis.  

In the early hours of the morning on 24 June an intrepid team consisting of Seagulls parents and friends will depart Dorset destined for Bonnie Scotland to undertake the highly respected 3 Peaks Mountain Challenge 2015. The team consisting of 18 climbers and four drivers will embark on a gruelling expedition, which will see them climb the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales consecutively within 24 hours. Overall, the team will cover a distance of 20 miles on foot, ascending and descending at total of just over 11,000 feet and 500 miles by road between the three mountains; this is no event for the faint hearted. The aim of the Club is to raise £10,000 with money raised being put towards purchasing new starting blocks for the Club. A very worthy resource indeed. The Seagulls Team are entering the event under the auspices of the Fire Services and are pleased to confirm that the event is their 44th Challenge to date. The intrepid Seagulls climbers are Glenn Bailey, Susie Donaldson, Wayne Ellis, Michelle Gormley, Zoe MacIntosh, Lee Mulholland, Theresa Oakley, Emma Peckham,Richard Porter, Chandy Rance, Kristina Razey, Louise Sharp, Nigel Sharp, Becky Ward, Tristan Ward, Pam Webb, Chris Williams, Jacqui Williams, along with the invaluable services of Kev Devereux and Nick Razey as drivers. If you wish to support the Seagulls 3 Peaks Challenge, visit the Seagulls website at http://seagullsswimming.club/3-peaks-challenge/.