Dear Swimmer and family
By now most members will know that our head coach Gavin Povall will not be returning from South Africa in the near future, where his father is critically ill. He has decided to stay on and support his mother. Our thoughts go out to him and his family at this difficult time.
Following interview we have appointed Lee Richards as head coach. This will be for an initial six-month period being reviewed at 3 and 6 months.
During his interview Lee outlined his vision for the club, and his plans and ideas to take the club forward. We were impressed by his enthusiasm and passion for ‘all things swimming’, and also his qualifications and experience ranging right through from learn to swim to top level coaching with British Swimming. I hope you will support him in anyway you can, share your ideas, thoughts, concerns, but most of all talk to him.
Paul has done a terrific job covering the performance squad over the past months and I thank him for this, I know he will continue to be a valuable coaching asset within the club. Thanks too, go to Martin for covering those early mornings…enjoy your lie in!
Our own coaches will cover the advanced development squad whilst we look to secure a permanent coach. Lee will continue to prepare the training sessions for this squad to ensure continuity of training.
AsI said in my last article communication within the club must improve. Lee will be working
with all the coaches to ensure their views are heard and shared; he will also attend the committee meetings and therefore ensure a two way flow off information. Lee and Neil Gillespie will be working together to build the yearly plan that will be ready in September to drive the club forward at the beginning of the next swimming year. The plan will incorporate plans for each squad built around the key galas, county, regional and national events.
To further improve communication across the club I have asked Alison Hollis to be our press secretary and try to get the newsletter out at least every month. But this can only happen with members sending in their stories, gala reviews etc.
So all swimmers please start sending in your news articles and any other things you may like us to include.
Anyway lets allpull together to ensure a bright future for club and all swimmers.
An introduction to Lee Richards
Hi everyone,
I am very pleased to have been appointed to the position of temporary head coach. I wanted to start this article by telling you what I
want to achieve within the club, but the ‘editor’ has told me I must provide a little background information first!
Since a very early age I have been involved in all sports, and at the age of 18 I was employed as a youth worker by ILEA working with children in a variety of active roles. In about 1988 (it seems so long ago!) I became involved with triathlons competing alongside Simon Lessing, Spencer Smith and Robin Brew (now Head Coach at Kelly College). This was a great time and anyone involved in the triathlon scene will know exactly what I mean! My last triathlon was in 2001 following which I turned to road running, competing in anything from 5k to Marathon distance, successfully competing the London Marathon in the year of my 40th birthday. I then moved onto to track and field events and once Kirsty and Alex started swimming I realised this was where I wanted to specialise. I started coaching with the old Redbridge club, becoming involved with their C squad on a Friday night. I then moved onto the Learn to Swim at Fulwell Cross and in many of the local schools. I continued with my coaching qualifications and was finally ‘head hunted’ by EPDSC! I have never looked back since!
I am now a fully qualified Level 3 club coach and will be working towards my Level 4 as soon as the ASA can decide what the process will be. Since working at EFDSC and with our DSE swimmers I have become heavily involved with British Swimming and have been selected as one of the World Class development Coaches and also coach to the ASA English Talent programme. I must be doing something right as I have just been asked by British Swimming to go as one of two volunteer coaches on their world-class programme camp in Slovakia!
So enough about me, lets get onto the really important stuff, the club and you the swimmers!
My mission is to provide a clear vision for the club and a pathway that will send us on the journey to the national podium!
This journey will start with our learn to swim groups and will continue right through the club to the very top! I make no apology for stealing the following words from British Swimming as I truly believe in them: the journey is fully inclusive, swimmers delivering in the water, coaches delivering on deck and the support team (the parents and committee) supporting the delivery!
I believe we have a very strong coaching team and I will do my best to support them and ensure we maintain the excellent reputation that they have. I am passionate about what I do, and I am committed to providing the opportunity for swimmers at all levels to develop and realise their potential. We will get swimmers to AB Nationals and DSE swimmers to represent their country on the International scene at a major meet; I don’t doubt it for a moment. But I can’t do it alone, and no matter how much I try I will not always get it right first time. So I ask you all for your support and most of all please talk to me! If you have any issues or concerns about a decision I have made or a course of action I have taken, then please speak to me. Don’t let it fester or become the topic of the ‘gallery gossip!’ I undertake to keep you updated on all water issues that may affect swimmers.
The congratulations and support I have received from many swimmers and parents in my first week has been amazing and very much appreciated.
Thank you
Lee Richards Head Coach
Gala Reports
The British International Disability Championships were held at Ponds Forge Sheffield 18th-20th May 2007.Both Lauren Smith and James Hollis achieved the qualifying times in the same seven events and competed over the three days. (Emma was forced to stay at home …GCSE time!) Day 1 saw 400 freestyle and 100 breast, both Lauren and James achieving PB’s in the breast and progressing through to the finals. Day 2 was 50m free and 100 fly. James achieved an excellent pub in his free improving on his recent improvement at East Region Youth (DSE) and knocking 2 secs. off his long course time in his heat and a further second in the final! This despite spending 21/2 hours in the play pool during the interval!!!!. Lauren too had a fabulous day obtaining good PB’s in her fly on both the 50split and 100m times. Day 3 included 100free, 100 back and 200IM.This was a good day for Lauren who achieved improvements in both her back and IM. James, although now exhausted, managed a good Pb in 200IM again making it through to the final.
It was a very exciting competition with all the biggest swimming nations being represented including Canada, Australia, Denmark, and China etc. A number of World, European and British records were broken. Apart from the excellent swimming, sharing of knowledge and experience between coaches, many new, international friendships were forged. We are now looking forward to the ASA Nationals in July!
2007 Youth Championships – East Region.
Five swimmers competed at the 2007 meet held at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. Amy Goillau, Michael Coles, Melissa Seeley and Emma and James Hollis had a successful weekend at this well organised meet.
Amy achieved good times in all races making it through to the 50m back finals where she achieved an overall 7th place. Michael had a number of good swims (despite the intrusion of exams and study!) but was placed in a very ‘unhelpful’ heat in the 200m free! Melissa too had an excellent weekend, the highlight being her 100m free heat where only 3/100ths separated Melissa and the other top places.
Emma and James swimming under the multi disability flag had a very good meet, with James walking away with 3 gold’s, 1 silver and two bronze medals, and Emma achieving two bronze medal places. James also achieved a reserve finalist place in the 15/16 yrs AB backstroke final (…….not sure how that works), and an overall 7th position in the 15/16yrs AB 400IM!
This is such a well-organised event in a superb location – we are all looking forward to Bagcats- and good luck to all those swimmers taking part!
Colchester Open Gala
Many swimmers travelled up the A12 last Saturday in the pouring rain and gales to attend the Colchester Open. Always a fun gala to be involved with especially when the weather is good! But never say our swimmers are put off by a bit of extra water, they performed to what has become their usual high standard walking away with some 34 medals. The winners of the Reg Baines trophy for the best visiting club were Braintree, with 161.5 points, who narrowly pipped Epping Forest (156.5). Harwich (109) were third Hosts Colchester scored 456.5. Epping lead the girls' competition with 108.5 points, ahead of Braintree (94.5) and Harwich (83). However, they couldn't match this in the boys' competition, where Braintree (67) and Clacton (65.5) battled it out. Colchester boys scored 254.5 and girls 202.
Waltham Forest Olympic Development Meet
Whilst most of you were at Colchester a few of us were at Waltham Forest Pool.
It was a good to see Alex Jameson in action doing 24.51 seconds for 50meters freestyle and 1.01.36 for 100meters butterfly. He only did 11 arm pulls for 25 meters freestyle and 12 arm pulls for 25 meters butterfly (AMAZING). Overall this was a fun experience at a Level 1 meet. We brought lots of medals back. Well done to all swimmers, Bonnie, Jessica, James, Michael, Melissa, Megan, and myself but more importantly thank you Paul for your support and Alison for trying out her new 'super dooper' camera.
By Abi Whiffin
Candida returns home!
As you will all be aware Candida Tomy has been swimming with the club in the Advanced Development squad under the eye of coach Lee Richards. Candida returns home to Southern India this weekend having learnt much from training with the squad, both technique and fitness. Both Candida and her mum Frank, and her sponsor for the trip Helen have asked me to thank Lee and all the swimmers in the squad, indeed club, for welcoming Candida into the club and for their friendliness. Although a little overwhelmed by the Club Champs she thanks us for the gifts that were presented on the night.
Club Shop
After many successful years Suzanne Peddle has decided to hang up her costumes, goggles and drag pants! So, we need a volunteer, or two, or even a small team to take over the running of the club shop! The club shop is a vital part of the club providing quality items at reduced prices. It is also the only stockist of the club gear so it’s crucial to keep it up and running! Hours to suit, full training provided.
Any questions please speak to Suzanne Peddle or Alison Hollis.
The Social Life
Our chairman Gary has been reminiscing (bless him) back to the old days when he was chair the first time round. He talks of trips to the seaside and the fun fair, ice creams on the beach, kiss-me-quick hats and donkey rides. Well not quite, but he believes we should try and resurrect the social side of the club. So all have a think and let us know what type of trip(s) you would be interested in. Theme parks are always a good one, but there are so many to choose from! Drop us a line on the usual e-mail address and let us have your ideas!
And if there is any brave adult or adults out there that would like to take on the role of social organiser then we would love to hear from you. It does not require you to be on the Committee!
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