Qualification for National Age Groups

9 year old Jess Smith has qualified for the National Synchronised Swimming Age Group Championships to be held in Gloucester 1st/2nd December 2012. Jess passed her Skill 2 last Saturday which qualifies her to compete in the Figure section of the Championships in the youngest age group. Also competing at Gloucester in the 18/19 age group is Emma Holloway.

Skills Day Burnham-on-Sea 20.10.12

Skill 1: Rhian Mackintosh, Kara Mackintosh, Eloise Legg, Holly Adair

Skill 2: Jess Smith, Isobel Dodd

Chippenham Synchro success at Multi-regional Championships 2012 - Plymouth

Chippenham ASC entered two teams in the 12 and under section

The Lion King team (Lani Attiwell, Zoe Bird, Madeleine Bright, Soraya Chesworth,Eloise Legg, Kara & Rhian Mackintosh, Lauren Makepeace, Amy Mash, Jess Smith) finished in SILVER place a tiny 0.075 behind Bristol Central

The second team (Bethany Barnett,Alice Emerson Pink, Amy Gibbons, Madison Lavelle, Courtney Matthews, Charity Sugg) finished in 5th position

GOLD went to the 13/14 team (Marsha Burgess, Abigail Cross, Francesca Graham,Ciara Irwin, Chloe Makepeace, Hannah Mash, Rosie Sanders, Leah Thompson)

GOLD went to the 15/16/17 team (Holly Adair, Hannah Crocker, Kate Cummings, Abbie Drummond, Ellen Gaunt, Amelia Hall, Hannah Lawrence, Deborah Moore, Shona Moore)

Chippenham Club Championships - Distance events 6th Oct 2012

Chippenham swimming club opened its 2012 club championships with the 800 and 1500 metre events on Saturday night (6th Oct) at St Marys, Calne.

Age group winners in the 800m were Benjamin Birkett (11/12), Tegan Cairns (11/12), Bryony Cairns (13/14), Jessica Brown (15/16) and Emma Holloway (Over 17). Fastest on the night was Holloway in 10 mins 35.68 secs.

In the 1500 metres age group winners were James Tucker (13/14), Peter Holden (15/16) and Matt Cruse (over 17). Holden swam the fastest clocking 18 mins 54.2 secs.

Have you got what it takes to be a Paralympic Swimmer?

Disability Swimming Talent Identification Weekend - Highworth Recreation Centre, The Elms, SN6 7DD  1100 am – 2.00 pm.  Saturday 3rd November

Are you inspired  by the London 2012 Paralympic games? Would you like to get more involved in disability swimming?

Come along to one of the Disability Swimming Talent Identification sessions organised by British Swimming

For more information please email your name and contact details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Friday 19th October to book your place.

Chippenham swimming club finished 4th in the final round of the Wilts summer league ( Division 1) on Saturday night (16th Sept) at the Milton Road pool in Swindon.

Chippenham swimmers placed first in 3 races; Tegan Cairns winning the U12 butterfly, Matthew Hardick the U12 breast stroke and the team of Daniel Branston, James Tucker , Matthew Hare and George Claverley the U16 free style relay.

There were personal bests for Amy Hall and John Branston in the 100 m butterfly events, and Joe Bailey broke 60 seconds for the first time in the 100 metres freestyle.

James Wright, Michaela Sheppard and Ellis Bailey were all awarded blue caps in recognition of competing for the club in league gala for the first time.

Overall league positions were: 1. Trowbridge  2. Swindon Dolphins  3. Tigersharks  4. Chippenham

Chippenham’s full squad were:  Tegan and Bryony Cairns, Kathryn Robbins, Michaela Sheppard, Emily Fletcher, Natalie Pidgeon, Chloe May, Puruvi Ruperal, Amy Hall, Harriet Olgivie, Katie Smith, Chelsea Chard, Beatrice Moore, Maddie Harris, Emma Holloway, James Wright, Matthew Hardick, Luke Brown, John Davies, Andrew and Matt Hare, Henry Gaunt, James Tucker, George Claverley, Daniel and John Branston,  Peter Holden, Ellis and Joe Bailey.

Chippenham Swimming Club results – Summer League round 3 (14th July)

Chippenham swimmers competed at Corsham in the 3rd round of the Summer League Division 1 fixture on Saturday night (14th July). Chippenham took 5 first places, 10 seconds and 14 thirds to finish 4th on 98 points.

Chippenham winners included George Claverley in the 100 metres freestyle (58.02 seconds), Tegan Cairns in the 50 m butterfly (36.02 secs) the U16 Boys medley and freestyle team, and the U12 Boys freestyle team.

After 3 rounds the overall points positions are:  Trowbridge 441, Swindon Dolphins 403, Tigersharks 368, and Chippenham 287.

Chippenham’s  team:  Jason Hall, Matthew Hardick, John Davies, Luke Collins, Luke Brown, Cameron Perkins, Henry Gaunt, Tom Tennant, Andrew and Matt Hare, James Tucker, George Claverley, Daniel and John Branston, Joe Bailey, Peter Holden, Henry Moore, Jack Cook, Emily Fletcher, Leona Lovegrove, Kathryn Robbins, Tegan and Bryony Cairns, Natalie Pidgeon, Amy Hall, Harriet Olgivie, Chloe May, Puruvi Ruparel, Emily Daulby, Katie Smith, Maddie Harris, Rachel and Beatrice Moore.

Developing our volunteers, coaches  and teachers.

As part of Chippenham ASC’s Swim 21 accreditation, all volunteers, coaches, teachers have a personal development plan.  There is a template on the ASA site at

http://www.swimming.org/library/document/swim21-personal-development-plan

The purpose of a PDP is to identify what new knowledge, skills & experience is needed to carry out the current role more effectively and in addition, to prepare for future roles/tasks. The PDP should clearly link into the club’s and the employee/volunteer’s objectives and values as well as the competencies required for the role. The PDP could involve training courses, spending time with others, mentoring & coaching, study & research. The overall outcome is that all parties are beneficiaries of the learning.

For example as a L1 Coach and L1 teacher I was keen to improve my stroke analysis and be able to improve swimmers technique in specific strokes.  I therefore took the opportunity to attend the butterfly and breast stroke clinics organised by the South West Network hub at Bath University.  I then looked for opportunities to use this new knowledge as part of the routine training programme for our swimmers.

Skill development can be met by other means e.g. by shadowing our more experienced coaches or shadowing a learning/teaching session.

Once coaches and teachers have identified their training objectives and the actions they could take to meet them, all coach and teaching plans are discussed and agreed with either the Head Coach (Nigel Butler) or Head Teacher (Heather Butler).

Stephen Miller

Chippenham ASC

Club members and parents often ask about the when and what of food and drink for swimmers.  Chippenham ASC have not developed any specific written guides on food and drinks for swimmers, but if parents wish to know more a good starting point is the publication Nutrition Guidance for Performance Athletes and Parents of Elite Swimmers  - Plymouth Leander Swimming

Key points from this guide

The 30 minute Window. All nutrient replenishment must take place within 30 minutes of a training session and preferably within 15 minutes

Speed killers. Savoury pastries, sweet pastries, crisps, burgers and sausages, chips, chocolate, sweets, cakes, biscuits, ice cream, deep fired anything, fizzy drinks, cooked English bkfast

Hydration and avoiding dehydration. One bottle per hr of training essential. Give a young swimmer a drink they like and there are few problems with re-hydrating.  Don’t arrive to training de-hydrated. Drink a variety of water, squash, fruit juice and milk during the day.  Avoid tea, coffee and all fizzy drink.

Sports drinks/Isotonic drinks.  Isotonic or sports drinks should be treated as liquid food – they will not do anything for re-hydration.  The quantity of carbohydrate in them will actually promote further dehydration.  If swimmers choose to use these then they also need a “drink”  bottle (water based) as well as the Isotonic/Sports  “food” bottle.

Is diet really important for a swimmer?  A balanced varied diet will help to achieve their swimming potential – all swimmers need to ensure that they have the correct amount of energy for growth and development, have the right foods to build and maintain strong bones, need to be fit and healthy and not ill as much as the time as possible, need to recover as quickly as possible, and be able to concentrate on training and school/work.

What are the best foods to eat before training/competing?  The pre training meal should be eaten 2 – 4 hours beforehand and should be low fat, high carbohydrates and low in fibre.  It should be reasonably filling but not cause any discomfort during training from over filling or gastrointestinal upset, and should include some fluid.  Most importantly the meal should be familiar.

Why is hydration so important to performance?  The human body is 60% water.  During exercise some of this essential water is lost as sweat; therefore extra fluids must be drunk to replace it. If a swimmer fails to replace these losses, the body may overheat.  Dehydration is a swimmers worst enemy!  Even mild dehydration reduces strength and stamina. Water should consider an essential part of healthy eating for performance.

There are many more tips, eating plans, Q and A in the guide which can be found at: http://www.plymouthleander.co.uk/images/library/advice/Rudd%20&%20Booth%20Nutrition%20Guide.pdf

A very successful afternoon was had by Chippenham ASC at the South West Novice Figures Competition held at Hengrove Pool on 7th July 2012.

4 Gold medals, 3 silver and 1 bronze.

9/10 years

1st  Jessica Smith        2nd    Lani Attiwell        3rd   Rhian Mackintosh

11/12 years

1st Eloise Legg

Skill 1

13/14 - 1st Isobel Dodd

15 & over - 2nd Shona Moore

Skill 2

13/14 - 2nd Marsha Burgess-Omelchenko, 3rd Ciara Irwin

15 & over - 1st Rachael Lawrence

AQUAE SULIS NETWORK - SWIMMING COACHES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2012.

Fundamental movement skills for a swimmer commencing land training.

Venue:

University of Bath Sports Training Village.

Lecture Room 1 (along the Tennis Court balcony)

Date/Time:

Thursday 27th September 2012

7.00 pm – 9.00 pm.

Workshop Speaker:

Liz Sinton.  Strength and Conditioning coach.  English Institute of Sport.

The evening will include a theory session of approximately 1 hour and a 45+ minute practical session in the Elite gym using young age group swimmers.

There is no cost to the candidates or clubs due to funding through Aquae Sulis PSC/South West Region.

Chippenham attendee nominations are through Stephen Miller and no later than Thursday 20th Sept .

Chippenham Swimming Club results – Summer League round 2 (30th June)

Chippenham swimmers competed in Swindon in the 2nd round of the Summer League Division 1 fixture on Saturday night (30th June). Despite having swimmers competing in the SW Region sprints on the same day travelling straight from Gloucester to Swindon to compete again, Chippenham took 4 first places, 10 seconds and 12 thirds to finish 4th on 94 points.

Chippenham winners included the U16 Boys medley and freestyle team,  and the U12 Boys freestyle and medley team.

After 2 rounds the overall points positions are:  Trowbridge 307, Swindon Dolphins 266, Tigersharks 238, and Chippenham 189.

Chippenham’s  team:  Ben Stephen, Matthew Hardick, John Davies, Luke Collins, Luke Brown, Cameron Perkins, Henry Gaunt, Andrew and Matt Hare, James Tucker, George Claverley, Daniel and John Branston, Joe Bailey, Peter Holden, Henry Moore, Emily Fletcher, Leona Lovegrove, Kathryn Robbins, Tegan and Bryony Cairns, Natalie Pidgeon, Amy Hall, Harriet Olgivie, Chloe May, Puruvi Ruparel, Sapphire Randerson, Katie Smith, Chelsea Chard, Emma Holloway, Evie Preece and Beatrice Moore.

Chippenham ASC had a 100% pass rate at the recent Skills Day at Burnham on Sea on 23rd June.

Jessica Smith - Skill 1, Elise Bright - Skill 2, Rachael Lawrence - Skill 3, Liberty Moore - Skill 3, Emma Holloway - Skill 5.

Chippenham ASC entered the Reading Novice Competition last weekend.    Chippenham entered 37 swimmers.   There were 198 girls entered for figures and 13 teams.

Chippenham took their share of the medals:

Novice 9-12 year olds

3rd Jessica Smith (Special Congratulations to Jess at 9 years old who was one of the youngest competitors in this age group)

Novice 13 & over

2nd Rosie Sanders

3rd Hannah Mash

Skill 1 13 & over

2nd Isobel Dodd

Skill 2 13 & over

1st Rachael Lawrence

3rd Abbie Drummond

8-10 year old TEAMS:

1st Reading Royals, 2nd Portsmouth Victoria, 3rd Chippenham

9-12 year old TEAMS:

1st Reading Royals, 2nd Bracknell, 3rd Chippenham

13-19 year old TEAMS:

1st Witney, 2nd Chippenham, 3rd Bracknell

Chippenham ASC results at South West Region sprints – 30th June.

7 Chippenham Swimming Club members competed at the South West Region Sprint Championships held at Gloucester on Saturday (30th June). Swimmers raced in all four strokes over 50 metres and in a 100 metre individual medley. Points were awarded for each swim and accumulated for overall positions.

In the boys points competition Andrew Hare (12) was 9th, Matt Hare (14) 6th, Peter Holden (15) 16th, and Joe Bailey (17) 20th.

In the girls points competitions Katie Smith (16) was 12th, Beatrice Moore (17) 10th and Tegan Cairns (11) 21st.

All swimmers set personal bests in all events.

Chippenham Swimming Club Results – Wilts County Sprints – 24th June

Chippenham ASC swimmers came home with a hatful of medals from the County sprints held at Milton Road pool, Swindon on Sunday (24th June).

Top swimming performance on the day by a Chippenham member was by Matthew Hardick (9) who set a County of Age group best time in the breaststroke (BS) of 30.22 seconds (36.67 yards). Hardick took home 2 silvers and 2 golds from the 4 sprints.

Boys medal winners were Henry Moore (2 silvers and bronze and 2nd in the senior back stroke (BC), 3rd in the senior butterfly (BF)), Peter Holden (2 silvers, 2nd in the Junior BS and 5th in the senior BS), Matt Hare (gold, silver and bronze – 3rd in the junior BC, 2nd in the junior BF and 5th in the senior BF), James Tucker (gold and 3 silvers – 5th in the junior BS), Nathan Coupland (bronze), Andrew Hare (2 gold, silver and bronze) and Henry Gaunt (bronze). Benjamin Stephen, Luke brown and Jon Davies all swam well.

Girls medal winners were Beatrice Moore (gold and bronze, and 2nd in the senior butterfly), Emily Daulby (gold and bronze, Junior champion in BS and 2nd in the senior BS), Amy Hall (silver and bronze and 2nd in the junior BF, 5th in the senior BF and 5th in the junior freestyle), Bryony Cairns (silver), Puruvi Ruparel (gold), Natalie Pidgeon (silver and bronze), Tegan Cairns (gold and silver). There were also strong swims from Chloe May, Lauren Newlands and Rachel Hare.

Three members of the Bailey family took part in the great north swim on Sunday 24th June 2012.

Despite racing being cancelled on the Saturday due to extremely poor weather, Sunday allowed both Ellis and Phil to each successfully complete the half mile open water event. Joe competed in the full mile and although the field was reduced due to the appalling weather on the Saturday, Joe was placed 23rd in a field of over 2,000 in a time of 24:09.

Congratulations to both.

SW Region Age Group (10-14yrs) Championships at Millfield 16/17 June.

Two brothers from Chippenham swimming club reached the finals of the 200 meters butterfly event at the South West Region Championships on Saturday (16th June).

Matt Hare (14) was 8th in his age group in a personal best 2 minutes 33.45 seconds and Andrew Hare (12) 7th in his final in 2.56.96, also a pb.

Matt Hare also swam in the championships on Sunday (17th June), swimming the 100m butterfly (19th in 1.07.62), the 200m back stroke (19th in 2.33.54) and the 400m freestyle (20th in 4.44.69). Hare was 22nd in his age group points competition.

Chippenham Swimming Club results – South West Regional Age Group Champs 9/10 June

Two Chippenham swimmers competed at the first week end of the Regional Age Group (10-14 years) Championships held at Millfield at the weekend.

Matt Hare (14) started his championships by coming 18th in the 100 metres back stroke in 1 min 10.74 seconds and 11th in the 400m Individual Medley in 5 mins 24.77 secs.

Tegan Cairns (11) was 28th in the 100m back stroke in 1 min 23.81 secs.

The Age group championships concludes next weekend (16/17 June).

Breast Stroke Analysis Clinic – Thursday 28th June 2012 at Bath Uni.

The Aqua Sulis Network Hub has organised a coaching Breast Stroke Analysis session on 28th June at Bath University Sports Training Village (1900hrs - 2100hrs).

Graeme Antwhistle, Assistant Coach British Swimming Bath ITC (2008 Olympic Coach) will run a theory and practical session using local age group swimmers. Chippenham ASC has 3 guaranteed places for this fantastic learning opportunity.

If anyone is interested in attending this golden opportunity to learn more about breast stroke could they please see me (Stephen Miller) poolside. Places need to be confirmed by 18th June.

Wiltshire County Council are supporting monthly training sessions for swimmers with a disability.  I (Stephen Miller) helped out at the latest event held at Devizes on 19th May.

We had 8 swimmers and 4 coaches attend,   four S14 classification swimmers and 4 younger swimmers.  There is no age limit for this training and as long as swimmers can swim a length of the pool without a helper in the water they can come along.  The scheme is supported by coaches from Swindon Dolphins, Trowbridge and Chippenham.

I usually help out with the S14 swimmers and get an hour with them to concentrate on specific stroke improvements, starts and turns and diving.  If any club members want more information on this monthly training opportunity please contact me.

On 19th May Chippenham travelled to Cheltenham Leisure to take part in the Walsall Trophy.

Results:

Novice Duet:  Jessica Smith & Rhian Mackintosh - 3rd place

Skill 1 Duet :  Abigail Cross  & Soraya Chesworth - 2nd place

Skill 2 Duet :  Marsha Burgess & Ciara Irwin  -  5th place

Skill 3 Duet :  Abbie Drummond & Liberty Moore - 1st place

Novice Team:  4th place

(Jessica Smith, Rhian Mackintosh, Natalie Dodd, Madeleine Bright, Lauren Makepeace, Lani Attiwell, Kara Mackintosh, Isobel Dodd, Elise Bright, Chloe Makepeace)

Senior Team: 5th place

(Abbie Drummond, Liberty Moore, Kate Cummings, Rachael Lawrence, Amelia Hall, Deborah Moore, Shona Moore, Hannah Crocker, Harriet Byrne)

All the results are added up and given points and out of the 8 teams competing from the South West the winners of the Walsall Trophy 2012 were:

1st Exeter

2nd Cheltenham

3rd Chippenham

ALSO,

Isobel Collings, one of our synchro swimmers, is carrying the Olympic Torch through Calne on Wednesday 23rd May.

Chippenham Swimming Club 4th in Division 1

Newly promoted Chippenham Swimming Club held their own in the first round of the Summer league on Saturday night (12th May) at Trowbridge.

Competing in the top division and swimming against strong teams from Trowbridge, Swindon Dolphins and Tigersharks, Chippenham finished 4th on the night.  There were wins for the U14 boys medley relay team (Tom Tennant, Andrew Hare, Henry Gaunt and Cameron Perkins), the U12 boys free style relay team (Luke Collins, John Davies, Matthew Hardick and Luke Brown) and Maddie Harris in the open 100metres freestyle. Chippenham also had 10 second places.

Head Coach Nigel Butler said “I was really pleased with our new swimmers (Collins, Hardick, Jason Hall, Kathryn Robbins, Emily Fletcher, Lani Attiwell and Leona Lovegrove). They all did really well for the team and thoroughly deserve their blue caps (the blue caps are awarded to swimmers representing Chippenham at galas).  I am looking for the whole team to push on from this result and turn some of the close finishes into more points on the board”

The points position was Trowbridge 162, Dolphins 128, Tigersharks 111, Chippenham 95.

Chippenham’s  team:  Jason Hall, Matthew Hardick, John Davies, Luke Collins, Luke Brown, Tom Tennant, Cameron Perkins, Henry Gaunt, Andrew and Matt Hare, James Tucker, Daniel and John Branston, Joe Bailey, Peter Holden, Henry Moore, Matt Cruse, Jack Cook, Jack Crow, Emily Fletcher, Lani Attiwell, Leona Lovegrove, Kathryn Robbins, Tegan and Bryony Cairns, Natalie Pidgeon, Amy Hall, Harriet Olgivie, Chloe May, Puruvi Ruparel,  Emily Daulby,  Jessica Stafford, Sapphire Randerson, Katie Smith, Chelsea Chard, Emma Holloway, Evie Preece and Maddie Harris.