Blog 1113:Leicester League

Well done to all the swimmers who swam at the Leicester League gala at Loughborough on Saturday. As Spencer said, this is a very important year for the club, as we strive to build on the success we enjoyed last year. The performance at this gala was very encouraging, I was very impressed with the competitive spirit shown which lead to us winning the gala by a convincing margin. Winning sixteen individual races and twelve of the seventeen relays illustrates the talent we have at the club. Equally important was the way that all swimmers battled to secure points for the team, both in the relays and individual races.

Thanks to all the officials who helped at the gala, and to the team managers who did a great job on a very crowded poolside. Their job was not made any easier by the fact that some swimmers wandered off to either be with parents or talk to other people. Please make certain that team managers are aware of where you are at all times. Swimmers should stay with the team until the last race has finished.

We now need to continue to work hard in training in readiness for the up and coming galas that fall over the next few weeks.

Gala Results:

Loughborough A: 157 Leics Neptune A: 108 Swadlincote: 122 Leics Sharks A: 238

Leics Penguins C: 169 Long Eaton: 267

Bob

Blog 1105: Welcome Back

Happy New year to you all and welcome back,

Its now time to work off those mince pies and get fit for a brand new year of swimming. Whilst 2011 was the most successful year in the clubs history we cannot sit back on our heels. Now is the time to push on and have an even greater year this year. With the first half of the year being dominated by the Championships - County/Regional and National and British masters, along with Diddy league and Leicester league, then there is the small matter of the Olympics World Masters and Club Championships in the middle of the year, finishing up with Arena league (hopefully another trip to the final and maybe more) National Masters and Midland short course.

Goal setting for these events is easy for a coach to do - more more more, but it is down to you the swimmers to achieve these goals. The main focus for any swimmer should be to obtain the qualifying standards for the big three, County, Regional and National in what ever age group you compete at.

Everyone in Development upwards should be looking at county qualification in multiple events so hopefully this year we will have close to 100 entries, please speak to your coach and club rep about entering. This year for the relays I will be entering a maximum of 3 teams per event, the swimmers who have entered will be picked first and teams will be picked initially on the PB database and then adjusted on performances at the Championships.

My goal for Midlands is to get 20 qualifiers who enter excluding our DX swimmers and relays, which means age group 11-14 (2010 2 qualifiers 2011, 3 qualifiers) 2012? Youth/Senior (2010 1 qualifier, 2011 3 qualifiers) 2012 already 5 qualifiers (the previous figures are based on those that entered).

Nationals, as most of our swimmers who are this standard train at DX we have had only 1 national qualifier for the last 2 years, 1 at age group in 2010 and 1 at youth in 2011. This year we have 2 swimmers who have made the standard for the senior nationals albeit in non qualifying meets so lets see if we can get a few more there.

Good luck to all in achieving your goals and remember you can do them so long as you work hard and attend regularly.