Super Sprinters!

Some really good sprinting by the Regional Squads last weekend and some amazing times.  You should all be very pleased with yourselves.  Three weekends of racing and all of them swum great, we are very proud of you all.  Lets keep up the hard work in training and start working towards the NER's, Welsh Nationals and Winter Yorkshires.

Regional 1

Overall as a group you achieved 79 PB's out of 96 Swims, 12 Final Swims and 1 Gold Medal.

Yorkshire Finalists (10)

Hannah B (2), Angelo (2), Charlotte (1), Jade (1), Tom J (1), Oliver (1), Matthew (1), Ella (1), Katherine (1), Sam (1)

Gold Medallists (1)

Charlotte (1)

BAG CAT POINTS (Top 10 Finishers)

Girls 9 Yrs

Hannah (6th) 968 points

Girls 10 Yrs

Charlotte (9th) 1328 points

Boys 10 Yrs

Angelo (10th) 829 points

Regional 2

Overall as a group you achieved 76 PB's out of 111 Swims, 26 Final Swims, 5 Gold Medals and 4 Silver Medals.

Yorkshire Finalists (13)

Jess (4), Jonathan (4), Joseph H (3), Tia (3), Phoebe (2), Sadie (2), Rebecca (2), Henry (1), Harvey (1), Ayesha (1), Stephanie (1), Hannah (1), Liam (1) 

Gold Medalists (4)

Jess(2), Stephanie (1), Joseph H (1), Jonathan (1)

Silver Medalists (4)

Jonathan (1), Jess (1), Tia (1), Liam (1)

BAG CAT POINTS (Top 10 Finishers)

Girls 9 Yrs

Jess (1st) 1176 points

Stephanie (4th) 996 points

Girls 10 Yrs

Tia (2nd) 1468 points

Rebecca (3rd) 1387 points

Boys 10 Yrs

Henry (8th) 871 points

Liam (9th) 862 points

Boys 11 Yrs

Nathan (10th) 1054 points

"Go into the sport because you have fun doing it, not because of "what ifs" and dreams of gold medals.  That way, no matter what happens, you win."
Shannon Miller (American Gymnast, two time Olympic gold medalist (Atlanta 1996)).

Keep up the hard work in training and the results will show in the upcoming meets.  

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark 

Easter Training Times

Hi All,

Due to pool closures over Easter, training will be as follows:

Regional 1 & 2

Friday 29th March - 07:00 - 08:30 am

(10 yrs & under both squads = Bottom Pool closest to diving pit)

(11 yrs & over both squads = Middle Pool)

Sunday 31st March - No Training (Armley Closed)

Monday 1st April - 07:00 - 08:30 am

(10 yrs & under both squads = Middle Pool)

(11 yrs & over both squads = 25 x 25 Pool)

Have a great weekend off and don't go too crazy on the Easter Eggs 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark   

Parents Meeting "The Floor is Yours"

Hi All,

There is a parents meeting in the stadium from 7.00pm on Monday 15th April if any of you wish to ask Head Age Group Coach Richard Denigan any questions.

Thanks

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

100m Time Trials Reminder!!!

Hi All,

 

The 100m Time Trials will take place during the Development Meet on 27th April.  Any swimmers who need 100m times to enter upcoming meets please send me an email by Thursday at the latest.   I cannot guarantee everyone will get to swim due to the small amount of spaces we have.  I will put a list on the blog over the next week of all the swimmers who get accepted to race.  Priority will go to swimmers who are close to Welsh National times who cannot swim at the Sports Aid and who have never swum a 100m in a competition before

 

Thanks

 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

100m Times

Hi All,

 

Any swimmers who need 100m times to enter upcoming meets please send me an email to register your interest ASAP.  We are looking into possible options of a time trial.

 

Thanks

 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Yorkshire Sprints & Teams

This weekend is the third round of the Yorkshires and it's time to get ready to Sprint!!!!!  Remember, in sprints it is vital to get all the elements of the race right.  If you get your start, transition and finish spot on this can be the milliseconds needed to move up a few places in the results.  Also in the 50m sprints it is your chance to shine and earn your place in selection for relays.
 
As nearly everyone is racing over the weekend in Sheffield, training on Friday night will just be an hour.
 
There will be NO TRAINING on Sunday night.
 
The draft programme for the weekend can be viewed by using the link below:
http://www.yorkshireswimming.org/championships_files/2013%20Champs/MASTER%20PROGRAM%20GALA%203.pdf
 
If there is anyone down in the programme who cannot compete this weekend, can you please let me know by text or email so I can pass on the information to the team managers.  Please remember it is City of Leeds policy to arrive 30 minutes before the warm up and check in with the team manager.  Team managers have the right to pull swimmers out if they arrive late as the Club can be fined if a swimmer does not show for their race.
 
Saturday Am
Arrive: 07:30
Warm Up: 08:00
Start: 09:00
 
Saturday Pm
Arrive: 12:30
Warm Up: 13:00
Start: 02:00
 
Sunday Am Teams
Arrive: 08:30

Warm Up: 09:00

Start:  10:00
 
Sunday Pm Teams
Arrive: 12:30

Warm Up: 13:00

Start: 14:00
 
I am looking forward to seeing some fast swimming this weekend as some of you have achieved a PB in training within the last 2 weeks.  Get down that first 25m hard and keep picking up the effort every 10 metres.  Don't slow down into the finish, smash through the wall.  When swimming in the relays be careful on the takeovers, block out the background noise and concentrate on your team mate swimming in.  It is better to go late than early and get your team disqualified.
 
'Before the (Olympic) trials I was doing a lot of relaxing exercises and visualisation.  And I think that that helped me to get a feel of what it was gonna be like when I got there.  I knew that I had done everything that I could to get ready for that meet, both physically and mentally.'  Michael Phelps, 6 Gold medals, 2004 Olympic games

Good Luck Everyone! 
 
Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Training Changes

Hi All,

Here are a few changes to training over the next few days due to the Yorkshire Sprints & Teams

Regional 1

Friday 15th March - Earlier time 18:30 - 19:30 (Just an hour)

Sunday 17th March - No Training on due to Yorkshires

Regional 2

Friday 15th March - 18:30 - 19:30 (Just an hour)

Sunday 17th March - No Training on due to Yorkshires

Kevin, Tom, Elysha Josh & Mark

Team Photo

Hi All,

Just to let you know we will be having a team photo for those swimmers who are competing in a Yorkshire team this weekend. Can swimmers please wear team kit and meet by the middle boom at 1830 on Monday evening.

Thanks

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Success at a stroke as City of Leeds Swimming Club win 165 medals

Hi All,

Here is a newspaper article on the recent Yorkshire Championships for you all to see

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/success-at-a-stroke-as-city-of-leeds-swimming-club-win-165-medals-1-5481180

Well Done Everyone 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

National Qualifying Meet

Hi All,

Just a reminder for those of you that have qualified.  Entries for the National Qualifying Meet on 13th & 14th April will be taken tonight.

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Training Changes Reminder

The British International Open Meet will be taking place at John Charles between the 6th & 10th March which means there will be some disruption to training.  Here is a reminder of the session changes.

Regional 1:

Friday 1st March (Pm): Earlier time 6:30 - 8:00pm

Wednesday 6th March (Pm): Normal

Thursday 7th March (Am):  5:00 - 6:30am (Open to all ages)

Thursday 7th March (Pm):  No Training

Friday 8th March (Am):  5:00 - 6:30am (Open to all ages) with Elysha

Friday 8th March (Pm):  No Training

Sunday 10th March (Pm):  Normal

Regional 2:

Wednesday 6th March (Pm): No Training

Thursday 7th March (Am):  5:00 - 6:30am (Open to all ages)

Thursday 7th March (Pm):  Normal

Friday 8th March (Pm):  Normal

Sunday 10th March (Pm):  Normal

Thanks

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Yorkshire Teams

Hi All,

The following swimmers still need to confirm if they can swim in the Yorkshire teams ASAP

Sunday 17th March 2013 at Ponds Forge, Sheffield

9/10/11/12 year age groups please email craig.robinson@leeds.gov.uk                                                                                                                    

13/14 year age groups email richard.denigan@leeds.gov.uk

Regional 1

 

Sam Knowles

Angelo Placido

Jade Adams

Rebecca Fisher

Viktoria Gnandt

Ciara Schlosshan

Matthew Enright

Huzayfa Kayani

 

Regional 2

 

Daniel Jones

Hannah Bradshaw

Eve Bannon

Jessica Teale

Thanks

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Regional Squad SMASH the Yorkshire Championships!

So after two hard weekends of competing, Regional 1 & 2 performed outstandingly posting some fantastic times on the board.

Overall,

Regional 1 achieved 102 PB's out of 134 Swims, 16 more NER times, 37 final swims, 3 Gold Medals, 5 Silver Medals and 5 Bronze Medals.  Great Stuff! 

Gold Medalists (3)

Viktoria (1), Charlotte (1), Sam W (1)

Silver Medalists (4)

Tom (1), Shaheen (2), Ciara W (1), Amber (1)

Bronze Medalists (5)

Shaheen (1), Tom (1), Viki (1), Charlotte (1), Lauren (1)

Yorkshire Finalists (12)

Sam W (3), Shaheen (5), Helena (2), Ciara S (4), Amber (7), Viktoria (6), Tom (2), Matthew (1), Jade (2), John (1), Lauren (2), Rebecca (2)

Regional 2 achieved 84 PB's out of 113 Swims, 18 more NER times, 17 final swims, 6 Gold Medals, 5 Silver Medals and 3 Bronze Medals.  Well Done! 

Gold Medalists (4)

Tia (2), Jess (2), Steph (1), Rebecca (1)

Silver Medalists (3)

Hannah A (1), Tia (2), Liam (1), Rebecca (1)

Bronze Medalists (3)

Maisy (1), Jess (1), Tia (1)

Yorkshire Finalists (6)

Aaron (5), Joe S (3), Nathan L (2), Nathan S (4), Jonny (1), Aimee (2)

Hopefully we will have another successful weekend at the Yorkshire Sprints, especially as some of you have already beaten your 50 m PB's in the first leg of your races this weekend.

Results can be seen using the links below:

Yorkshires (16/ 17 Feb 2013) http://168.144.72.108/championships_files/2013%20Champs/YSA%20Champs%20Gala%201%202013%20results.pdf

Yorkshires (23/ 24 Feb 2013) http://168.144.72.108/championships_files/2013%20Champs/YSA%20Champs%20Gala%202%202013%20results.pdf

Squad Promotions
On Friday 1st March we will say goodbye to some of our team mates who have been selected to move on to the next stage of the swimming ladder.  They will be missed.  Good luck guys and keep focused.  Hopefully some of you will be joining them in the summer. 
 
Well Done to the following swimmers on their promotion to National Age Group Squad, 
Lauren (Reg 1), Ciara S (Reg 1), Helena (Reg 1), Amber (Reg 1), Shaheen (Reg 1), Rebecca (Reg 1), Kit (Reg 1), John (Reg 1), Nathan L (Reg 2), Aaron (Reg 2) & Joe S (Reg 2).

Enjoy your last week in Regional, take the skills you have learnt with you and show those older swimmers how it is done!

We will have 17 swimmers from the Development squads joining our group (14 to Reg 1 & 3 to Reg 2)  on Sunday 3rd March.  Please make them feel welcome and introduce them to the Regional spirit.  They maybe a little nervous at first as moving up can be a scary experience.  

Keep training hard and be ready to storm the Yorkshires in 3 weeks time!  Lets show the other clubs what you we are made of.  

'Winning the gold medal was undoubtedly the biggest day of my career, mostly because I won the way I had prepared to run it.  It was a totally satisfying experience.'

(Frank Shorter.  American athlete, Olympic gold medalist, Munich 1972)

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Yorkshires 2nd Weekend & Training Changes

Just a reminder of the arrival times at John Charles this weekend.  A fantastic weekend of racing last week, now lets finish it off in style.

Am Sessions

Arrive: 07:30

Warm Up: 08:00

Start: 09:00

Pm Sessions

Arrive: 12:30

Warm Up: 13:00

Start: 02:00

The programme of events for the weekend can be viewed by clicking the following link:

http://168.144.72.108/championships_files/2013%20Champs/Yorkshire%202013%20Draft%20Program.version3.pdf

Please remember that there is no training on Sunday and everyone has got Monday am off to have a lie in after two weekends back to back hard racing.

Good Luck Everyone!!

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark 

Performance Enhancing Recipies

I have uploaded some recipes under the Nutrition section of the blog which were given to me by our Performance Nutritionist.  Some of you may be interested in giving them a try before the upcoming meets.

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Yorkshire Team Championships

Sunday 17th March 2013 at Ponds Forge, Sheffield

Could the following swimmers please confirm their attendance to;

9/10/11/12 year age groups please email craig.robinson@leeds.gov.uk                                                                                                                    

13/ 14 year age groups email richard.denigan@leeds.gov.uk

Am Session

Arrive: 07:30

Warm Up: 08:00

Start:  09:00

Regional 1

Sam K

Jack

Angelo

Rebecca

Viktoria

Eleanor

Amber

Lauren

Katherine

Ciara S

Helena

Jade

Regional 2

Liam

Joseph H

Daniel

Joseph T

Henry W

Hannah B

Aimee

Joe S

Pm Session

Arrive: 12:30

Warm Up: 13:00

Start:  14:00

Regional 1

Charlotte

Danielle

Shaheen 

John

Matthew

Huzayfa

Sam W

Regional 2

Hannah A

Eve

Maisy

Rebecca

Ella

Jenna

Jess

Tia

Stephanie

Aaron

Nathan L

Jake H

Jonathan

Nathan S

Isabel

Ayesha

Emelye

Carl

This is a City of Leeds team event so swimmers will be required to stay until the end of their session to support the team.

Thanks

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark 

Welsh Summer Nationals 2013

Hi All,


I have printed a copy of the Welsh Summer National times for you all to start chasing. The trip is open to Boys aged 11 + and Girls 10 yrs+ who have a minumum of 4 qualifying times.

We will depart on Friday 26th July and return on Saturday 3rd August. The total cost of the trip is £290 per person (£36.50 per day). This includes: 8 days accomodation; Bed, Breakfast, Lunch & Evening Meal and Coach return to Swansea. To register your child's interest please amail Craig Robinson at craig.robinson@leeds.gov.uk by April 30th 2013.

A copy of the qualifying times can be viewed by clicking the link below;
Qualifying Times 2013

Welsh Nationals is a fantastic trip and encurages swimmers to become more independent athletes. Pictures from the last 2 years can be seen below;

Welsh Summer Nationals 2011 
Welsh Summer Nationals 2012


Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Yorkshire Championships

I am looking forward to seeing some fast racing this weekend.  The turns are looking great at the moment, make sure you transfer them into your race.  Remember use the walls to pick up speed not loose speed, every millisecond counts.  I know some of you have got close to your pb's in training over the last few weeks which suggests you are ready to smash the Yorkshires. 

Just a reminder of the arrival times at John Charles this weekend.

Am Sessions

Arrive: 07:30

Warm Up: 08:00

Start: 09:00

Pm Sessions

Arrive: 12:30

Warm Up: 13:00

Start: 02:00

The programme of events for the weekend can be viewed by clicking the following link:

http://168.144.72.108/championships_files/2013%20Champs/Yorkshire%202013%20Draft%20Program.version3.pdf

Below is also a great guide for recovery snacks to take with you at the weekend:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4svjySWr-LRVVNLMW5XYzBTSG8/edit?usp=sharing&pli=1

Hopefully you all now have a copy of the North Eastern times which I printed out for you, if not they can be found on the right hand side of the blog under qualifying times.  Get chasing those times!!!  I have also added the Welsh Summer National times for those of you who are interested in going.

'If you win something and you haven't put everything into it, you haven't actually achieved anything at all.  When you've had to work for something and you've got the best you can out of yourself on that given day, that's where you get satisfaction from'  Ian Thorpe, Australian swimmer, five-time Olympic gold medallist (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004)

Please remember Training Changes due to the Yorkshires:

Regional 1

Friday 15th February 2013 - Earlier time, 6.30 - 7.30 pm (Just 1 hour due to Yorkshires)

Sunday 17th February 2013 - Training Cancelled due to Yorkshire Championships

Friday 22nd February 2013 - Earlier time, 6.30 - 7.30 pm (Just 1 hour due to Yorkshires)

Sunday 24th February -  Training Cancelled due to Yorkshire Championships
Monday 25th February 2013 - Everyone has a morning off

Regional 2

Friday 15th February 2013 - 6.30 - 7.30 pm (Just 1 hour due to Yorkshires)

Sunday 17th February 2013 - Training Cancelled due to Yorkshire Championships

Friday 22nd February 2013 - 6.30 - 7.30 pm (Just 1 hour due to Yorkshires)

Sunday 24th February -  Training Cancelled due to Yorkshire Championships
Monday 25th February 2013 - Everyone has a morning off

Best of luck to you all 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Skipping Ropes

Hi All,

In the next few weeks we will be introducing skipping into the land work.  Could you all please make sure you bring a skipping rope and your rubber tubes to Land Training.  If you do not have a skipping rope they are now available to purchase at the swim shop on a Monday evening.  

Thanks

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Training Changes

Hi All,

Below are a couple of session changes for your diaries over the next few weeks......

Regional 1

Friday 8th February 2013 - Earlier time, 6.30 - 8.00 pm

Friday 15th February 2013 - Earlier time, 6.30 - 7.30 pm (Just 1 hour due to Yorkshires)

Sunday 17th February 2013 - Training Cancelled due to Yorkshire Championships

Friday 22nd February 2013 - Earlier time, 6.30 - 7.30 pm (Just 1 hour due to Yorkshires)

Sunday 24th February -  Training Cancelled due to Yorkshire Championships
Monday 25th February 2013 - No Morning Training

Regional 2

Friday 15th February 2013 - 6.30 - 7.30 pm (Just 1 hour due to Yorkshires)

Sunday 17th February 2013 - Training Cancelled due to Yorkshire Championships

Friday 22nd February 2013 - 6.30 - 7.30 pm (Just 1 hour due to Yorkshires)

Sunday 24th February -  Training Cancelled due to Yorkshire Championships
Monday 25th February 2013 - No Morning Training

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

A Message from Ian Thorpe

I'd like to share with you an extract from Ian Thorpe's recent Autobiography "This is Me". These are not the words of a coach but the words of one of history's greatest Swimmers who won 5 Olympic Gold Medals; 

 "The Olympic final that year [Sydney 2000] was another matter altogether. As I dived in, all I remember – apart from the noise in the stadium – is that the water felt cold and that I swam the first 50 metres probably a little too quickly, spurred by the excitement. If I look back at the race, which I'm sometimes forced to when making presentations…

I notice all sorts of little mistakes, like breathing as I came into the turns and lazy kicks off the wall…

They're both habits picked up at training – when you swim a ridiculous number of lengths day in day out, you tend to look for moments of rest…

The problem is when those bad habits creep in to the race itself."

 …The moral of the story as I have tried to emphasise many times; do in training always, as you need to do in the race. Keep the skills constant throughout  all our sets.

Keep up the Hard Work!!!

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark