FEATURED

Home > FEATURED
C.

Cross Channel Challenge

By In FEATURED, Open Water0 Comments17 Views

CHANNEL PICA record breaking Channel Relay Swim has been achieved by Dorset coaches Barry Alldrick and Glenn Bailey, together with Poole SC’s Danni Callahan. Initially scheduled for mid-September, the challenge was put on hold due to unfavourable weather conditions until 3 October, when the three-person team were eventually able to take to the water at 3am on Shakespeare Beach, Dover.

Having trained in every stretch of water from Steamer Point to Sandbanks, and along with members of local associations including Poole Lifesaving Open Water Swimmers and East Dorset Open Water SC, the team clocked up an impressive 7.2 miles on the first round of swims. The main focus on the second leg was to minimise the tidal pull to the east so that the team could hit the midpoint and then return west, keeping the ‘arc’ to a minimum. After the second round of swims the team had passed the half way point and the third leg provided clear water, allowing some big distances to be achieved as the three swimmers were pulled west towards Cap Gris Nez. Finishing in 10 hours and 32 minutes, the team was finally rewarded with the fastest time ever achieved by a British three-person relay. Barry and Danni are now old hands at Channel swimming, having previously participated in a successful relay swim in 2008, but it’s a first (and hopefully memorable experience) for Glenn. Thanks to the generosity of family, friends and well-wishers, the charity swim raised £800 for Boscombe Lifeguards and £740 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The team also expressed their gratitude to Stuart Gleeson, pilot of the Sea Leopard support boat, and to Swans Goggles, Dry Robe and Reckless Clothing for provision of kit.
P.

Para-Swimming Pathway

By In Disability, FEATURED0 Comments18 Views
There is plenty of advice available about Para-swimming but if you only know where to find it, and tracking down relevant information has been a long-standing headache for disability swimmers and their families. However, help is now available on a wide range of issues from basic information for parents and links to Disability Associations to guidance for clubs and pool operators via a ‘help desk’ of useful links compiled by the ASASW’s Para-Swimming Pathway Officer, Dave White. For Para-Swimming newsletters and help desk visit Disability in the Sports section on the DCASA website.  
W.

Weyport Masters

By In FEATURED, Masters, Open Water0 Comments18 Views

linda1 Weyport Masters Linda Ashmore has completed her first ever IronMan competition at the age  of 68, finishing in first place in the 65-69 age group and earning a place in this year’s World Championships in Kona, Hawaii in October.

Held in Bolton on 17 July, Linda finished in a time of 15 hours and 19 minutes, completing a 3.8km swim, 180km hilly bike ride and 42km run. She was the oldest person in the race and ranked 1438 out of a total of 2157 competitors, many of whom did not make it to the finish line.

Linda has only been training in earnest for a little over a year, and this was the first time she had completed a marathon-length run or attempted the whole course at once. Already an accomplished swimmer, Linda became the oldest woman in the world to swim the English Channel in 2007 at the age of 61.

Linda’s focus is now on competing at IronMan Wales in September to qualify for the 2016 World Championships when she will be in the 70-74 age group.

A.

ASA National Summer Championships 2015

By In FEATURED, Swimming0 Comments19 Views
The ASA National Summer Championships 2015 ended with Dorset swimmers bringing home a total of 16 English Nationals medals – five gold, two silver and nine bronze. The six days of competition for swimmers ranked nationally 25-44 in their age group and event began on 4 August and Dorset clubs with swimmer competing were Bournemouth Collegiate SC, Christchurch Seagulls SC, Poole SC, Swim Bournemouth and Tornadoes of South Dorset.

Day 6:

The sixth and last day the ASA National Summer Championships 2015 produced three medals, all bronze, for Dorset swimmers. The first came in the 18/over 400m Freestyle with Emily Clarke (Poole) finishing in third place in both heats and final with times of 4:30.78 and 4:28.41 respectively. In the 50m Freestyle events, Max Weeks (Christchurch Seagulls) also placed third in both heats and final of the 12/13 age group with times of 26.79 and 26.58, while Jenny Scott (Tornadoes) in the 18/overs finished in fourth with a heat time of 27.55 and then third in the final with a time of 27.11. Other finalists were Finn Trehane (BCS) who finished in ninth place in the heats of the 12/13 400m Freestyle with a time of 4:33.48, and seventh in the final on 4:33.91, while Izzy Pryce (Swim Bournemouth) finished ninth with a heat time of 1:19.02 and eighth in the final on 1:19.33. Poole’s 17/over 400m Medley team of Emily Clarke, Naomi Vides, Madison Kemp and Inez Griffin placed fourth in the heats and sixth in the final with times of 4:34.20 and 4:34.70.

Day 5:

A quieter day in the pool for Dorset with Zac Aitchison (BCS) making the finals of the 16/17 years 200m Breaststroke and finishing fourth with a time of 2:26.57 having placed second in the heats in a time of 2:27.32.

Day 4:

Today’s events produced four medal winners from Dorset, three of which came in the 14 years age group. In the 100m Freestyle, Ben Samuels (BCS) took gold in a winning time of 55.21 having also placed first in the heats in a time of 56.55. Izzy Pryce (Swim Bournemouth) collected a silver medal for a time of 34.95 after finishing in first place in the heats with a time of 35.13, while Christian Tai (BCS) won a bronze for a time of 28.00 in the 50m Butterfly having placed fifth in the heats on 28.54. In the 12/13 years age group, Max Weeks (Christchurch Seagulls) also took a bronze in the 50m Butterfly with a time of 28.61 having placed third in the heats on 29.11. In the 15 years 50m Butterfly, Matt Collins (Swim Bournemouth) was also a finalist placing tenth in both heats and finals on a time of 28.03 and 27.98 respectively.

Day 3:

The Male 200m Individual Medley produced two medal winners today for Dorset swimmers. In the 12/13 years age group, Finn Trehane (BCS) finished in silver medal position with an impressive 2:18.80 having placed fourth in the heats in a time of 2:23.24, while Christian Tai’s time of 2:19.15 in the 14 years age group earned him a bronze medal, having finished fourth in the heats on 2:21.71. In the 18/over 200m Breaststroke Inez Griffin (Poole) improved her placing of seventh in the heats with a time of 2:49.58 to finish in fourth place in the final with a time of 2:46.33.

Day 2:

Four Dorset swimmers produced medal-winning performances at today’s events. The first came in the 800m Freestyle with Emily Clarke (Poole) finishing first in the 18/over age group with a gold-winning time of 9:02.87 while in the 50m Breaststroke BCS swimmers Finn Trehane and Zac Aitchison both finished in the top three. In the 12/13 years age group Finn’s time of 32.49 earned him a gold medal after placing fourth in the heats on 34.04, while in the 16/17 years age group Zac’s time of 30.32 earned him a bronze medal. The last, and another gold, medal of the day came in the 14 years 200m Freestyle from Ben Samuels (BCS) with a time of 2:03.51 after finishing fourth in the heats in a time of 2:05.46. Other finalists were Madison Kemp (Poole) who placed tenth in the 16/17 years 100m Butterfly with a time of 1:05.39 and Matt Collins (Swim Bournemouth) who finished in ninth place in the 15 years 200m Freestyle with a time of 2:04.02.

Day 1:

Following on from successes at last week’s British Summer Nationals, Beth Aitchison (BCS) took another gold medal in the 18/over 200m Freestyle with a time of 2:03.83 having finished in second place in the heats in 2:06.10. Two BCS swimmers also featured in the finals of the 100m Butterfly with Finn Trehane winning a bronze medal with a time of 1:02.90 in the 12/13 years age group having placed second in the heats in 1:04.43, and Ben Samuels finishing in fifth place in the 14 years age group with a time of 1:02.72. Madison Kemp (Poole) placed fifth in the finals of the 16/17 years 50m Butterfly with a time of 28.97. A medal for Poole came in the 17/over 400m Freestyle team event with Emily Clarke, Inez Griffin, Katie Mills and Madison Kemp improving a heat time of 4:09.41 placing fifth, to 4:03.23 in the final and a bronze medal. Poole’s 14/16 years 400m Freestyle team of Leonie Wiehle, Thea O’Keefe, Teagan-Mae Graham and Jasmine Holmes placed tenth in both heats and finals with times of 4:05.73 and 4:05.48 respectively.  
B.

British Summer Nationals 2015

By In FEATURED, Swimming0 Comments16 Views
The British Summer Nationals 2015 at Sheffield ended on 2 August with Dorset swimmers bringing home nine British Nationals medals – three gold, four silver and two bronze – and with a total of 22 Dorset County Long Course Records having been broken (9 Senior, 13 Junior). Competitors at the British Summer Nationals are ranked nationally 1 to 24 in their age group and event. Dorset clubs with swimmers competing were Bournemouth Collegiate SC, Poole SC and Tornadoes of South Dorset. Below, l-r, are Dorset clubs medal winners Beth Aitchison (BCS), Jacob Peters (Poole) and Alice Tai (BCS). Summer Nationals 2015

Day 6:

Alice Tai and Beth Aitchison (both BCS) finished the last day of the British Summer Nationals 2015 with medal winning swims. In the MC 100m Butterfly, Alice finished first in the heats with a time of 1:08.35 and race home to a gold medal with a PB time of 1:07.00 in the final. Beth went into the final of the 17/18 years 100m Breaststroke in third place, and gained a silver medal in the final with a PB of 1:09.35, which also improved her existing Dorset Senior Long Course Record. In the 19 years 50m Freestyle Fiona Hardie (Poole) finished in tenth place in both heats and finals with times of 26.86 and 26.90 respectively.

Day 5:

Qualifying in sixth place for the 19/overs final of the 50m Backstroke in a time of 30.46, Jenny Scott (Tornadoes) improved her existing Dorset Senior Long Course Record in the heats and then again broke that record with a time of 30.39 in the final, finishing in seventh place overall. In the 15 years age group in the heats of the same event, Harriet Perfect’s (Poole) time of 31.06 earned her a new Dorset Junior Long Course Record, breaking a record previously held by Jessica Brown (Ferndown) since 1999.

Day 4:

Beth Aitchison (BCS) qualified in first place in the heats of the 50m Breaststroke, going on to win the gold medal in the 17/18 years final and break her existing Dorset Senior Long Course Record with a time of 31.16. In the 15 years 200m Backstroke, Harriet Perfect (Poole) broke Senior and Junior County records in both heats and finals by finishing third in the heats with a time of 2:17.92 and fifth in the final with a time of 2:17.30, taking a Dorset Junior Long Course Record that had been held by Jessica Brown (Ferndown) since 1999. Jacob Peters was again on fine form by finishing in first place of the heats of the 15 years 50m Butterfly with a time of 25.79 and improving his time to 25.61 in the final to win a silver medal, with both times breaking the Dorset Junior Long Course Record that had been held by Seth Chappels (Ferndown) since 1998. Alice Tai (BCS) achieved third place in the heats of the MC 50m Freestyle with a time of 30.09, finishing in fourth place in the final with a time of 29.79.

Day 3:

After finishing in fifth place in the heats of the MC 100m Freestyle, a time of 1:03.2 in the final secured Alice Tai (BCS) a silver medal while Beth Aitchison (BCS) qualified in sixth place in the heats of the 200m Breaststroke to win a bronze medal in the final with a time of 2:31.95. Jacob Peters (Poole) qualified for two finals in today’s programme, finishing in first place with PBs in both heats and final of the 200m Butterfly and finishing in seventh place in both heats and final of the 50m Backstroke, PB’ing in the final. Jacob’s 200m Butterfly time of 2:05.70 knocked over three seconds from his Dorset Junior Long Course Record while his time of 28.36 for 50m Backstroke also broke his existing Dorset Junior Long Course Record.

Day 2:

In the heats of the Multi-Disability 100m Backstroke Alice Tai (BCS) qualified in fourth place to win a place in the final, holding on to that placing in the final with a time of 1:08.69. In the 15 years age group, Harriet Perfect (Poole) finished in tenth place in both  heats and final of the 100m Backstroke with a heat time of 1:05.87, breaking her existing Dorset Senior and Junior Long Course Records in that event.

Day 1:

Beth Aitchison (BCS) qualified in first place for the final of the 17/18 years 200m Individual Medley, breaking her existing Dorset Senior Long Course Record. Jacob Peters (Poole) also qualified in first place for the 100m Butterfly 15 years’ age group final, breaking the Dorset Junior Long Course Record held by Nathan Theodoris since 2011. In the 13/14 years age group, Jasmine McCrea (Poole) qualified third for the finals of the 50m Butterfly, improving her entry ranking by 12 places and breaking the Dorset Junior Long Course Record held by Leanne Studley since 2003. In the final of the 200m Individual Medley, Beth’s time of 2:15.81 was a second faster than the heat swim, earning her a bronze medal and a further improved County Record. In the 100m Butterfly final, Jacob’s time of 56.59 was also a second faster than his heat swim, earning him a silver medal as well as an improved County Record. Jasmine swam a second PB of the day in the final of the 50m Butterfly with a time of 28.93, earning her sixth place and a further improvement on her new County Record.
T.

Team Managers Course L1

By In Courses, FEATURED0 Comments15 Views
A Level 1 Team Managers Course with tutors Emily Taylor and Sam Woodward is scheduled for Thursday 22 October (18.45-21.15) at the Dorford Centre, Dorchester DT1 1RR. The course is funded by Dorset County ASA and all resources will be provided. Team Manager training is designed to ensure any volunteers who are taking groups of athletes to competition or camps, locally or abroad, are fully equipped to do their role. This training will ensure that volunteers have all the necessary skills and knowledge to do this with confidence. Team Manager training is ideal for those who are already doing the role of a Team Manager or who are considering taking on the role. There are no pre-requisites for the workshop but the minimum age for attendance is 16 years,  although it should be noted that an individual cannot take the role of a Team Manager fully until they turn 18. The Level 1 course is designed as an introduction to team managing at a club/local level. It is intended to be a basic and informative workshop to give participants the confidence and knowledge to effectively manage a team at a local level. Level 2 training is designed for Team Managers who have attended the ASA Team Manager Training – Module 1 and have gained some experience in team managing at a local level, at overnight stays or travel abroad. For further information refer to the Good Team Manager Guide on the ASA website at http://www.swimming.org/assets/uploads/library/good_club_guide_plain_version_Team_manager.pdf and information on the Team Managers course at http://www.swimming.org/asa/volunteering/team-manager-training/. To reserve a place on the course on 22 October, contact the County Secretary at digibbs@talktalk.net.  
Y.

Young Volunteers 2015-2016

By In FEATURED0 Comments11 Views
The Dorset County ASA Young Volunteers Programme is for 14–25 year olds seeking to develop leadership, communication and organisational skills and who wish to become involved in the administration, teaching, coaching or general official duties of aquatic activity. If that is you, then it’s for you. The 2015-2016 Young Volunteers Programme will include two Workshops covering a range of modules including Team Managers for those 16 and over, Club Timekeepers progressing to Judge 1 for those old enough to do so, as well as the Young Aquatic Organiser Award, which will encourage and enable our YVs to organise and run their own aquatic event. YVs are also required to provide 25 hours of volunteering within their own club and at various County events. Workshops are held at Canford Sports Centre and are scheduled for 15 November 2015 and 13 March 2016. A presentation of awards for those YVs who have successfully completed the 2015-2016 Programme will be held at the Dorset Development Competition in July 2016. Anyone interested in taking part in the forthcoming programme should apply via their club to the County Secretary.
D.

Dorset County Talent ID 2015

By In FEATURED, Swimming0 Comments17 Views
  DORSET TALENT
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.  
A.

ASA South West Region ASA/NSCPP

By In County News, Courses, FEATURED0 Comments15 Views

Time to Listen Workshops

The Time to Listen programme provides the opportunity to consider the role and responsibilities of the Club Welfare Officer and action taken should any incident occur. The course aims to support the Welfare Officer to acquire core knowledge and develop essential skills to fulfil their role and responsibilities, adopt a child-focused approach to safeguarding and share good practice and learn from others in the same role. All participants need to have attended a Safeguarding and Protecting Children workshop prior to attending a Time to Listen course. Dates are: Tuesday 9th June 2015 at the SASP Offices, Castle Road, Chelston Business Park, Junction 26 M5, Taunton TA21 9JQ; Wednesday 15th July 2015 at the WASP Offices, Richmond House, Epsom Road, White Horse Business Park Trowbridge BA14 0XE; Thursday 20th August 2015 at the Dragon Leisure Centre, Bodmin, PL31 1DE. All workshops will be presented by Jane Wilson and run from 6.30pm-9.30pm. There is no cost for attending the Workshop but a booking form should be completed and sent to Bryony Gibbs at bryony.gibbs@swimming.org or ASA South Division, Castle Business Centre, Castle Road, Chelston Business Park, Wellington, TA21 9JQ. To download a booking form click here. TTL workshops booking form 18 May. For queries, contact Paul Shergold, ASA South West Club Development Officer on 07583094412 or at paul.shergold@swimming.org.  
D.

Dorset County ASA Volunteer Awards 2015

By In FEATURED, Volunteers0 Comments13 Views
testimageOn Saturday 28 February, the annual DCASA Volunteer Awards were presented to this year’s winners during the 2015 Dorset County Championships at Littledown. The seven category winners were as follows: Club Volunteer of the Year – Steve Meter, Weymouth SC; Outstanding Contribution by a Young Volunteer – Starr Sams, Tornadoes of South Dorset; Outstanding Contribution to Swimming in the Community – John Gibbs, Swim Bournemouth; Outstanding Contribution at County/Regional Level – Gordon Smart, Poole SC; Services to Officials Development – Wendy Hooper, Poole SC; Volunteer Teacher/Coach of the Year – Karen Yendole, Bournemouth SC; and finally a joint award for Celebrating Excellence in Club Volunteering – Marissa and Kevin Roberts, Seagulls SC. Many congratulations to all these winners! PHOTO (courtesy of DE Photo): L to R – Gordon Smart, Karen Yendole, Wendy Hooper, John Gibbs, Starr Sams, and Steve Meter.