1st Bag Pack of the Season

Hi All,

I would just like to say a big well done all the swimmers and grandparents who helped out at the Bag Bag held at Morrisons yesterday.  The bag pack turned out to be great fun and a brilliant success raising £800 for club funds.  Money from these fundraising days will be spent on events like the Welsh Nationals and also team buses to events such as Junior and Arena League .  

This is a great start to the season and the supporters committee would like to congratulate and thank everyone one who took part.

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B 

Junior League Tickets - Northern Final

Hi All,

Tickets to watch the Northern Final are now on sale.  They can be purchased from Emma Ferriman (Ellie & Eve Jones Mum) on the balcony at a cost of £4.  Due to limited seating there will only be 1 ticket per swimmer (of which there are 42 selected).  If you would like an extra seat please request to be entered in the lottery draw for one of the remaining 10 tickets.

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

Arena League Round 1

Date:  Saturday 12th October 

Venue:  Ponds Forge, Sheffield

Arrive:  4.30 pm

Warm Up:  5:00 pm

Start:  5.30 pm

Please can the following swimmers confirm their availability to Craig Robinson (craig.robinson@leeds.org.uk).

Regional 1

Jamie Broome

Charlotte Gibbs

Regional 2

Joseph Hawkins

Robert Shillito

Rebecca Clynes

Thanks

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

White Rose Junior League (Northern Final)

Date: Sunday 6th October

Venue:  John Charles

Arrive:  09:40

Warm Up:  10:00

Can the following swimmers please confirm their availability to Craig Robinson (craig.robinson@leeds.gov.uk) by Wednesday 25th September

Regional 1

Zak Moran

Nathan Russell

George Smith

Nealsen Orange

Matthew Walker

Charlotte Gibbs

Joanna Bingham

Eve Jones

Regional 2

Jonathan Milner

Joseph Hawkins

Robert Shillito

Jacob Braithwaite

Daniel Jones

Joseph Turner

Rebecca Clynes

Ella Cowan

Phoebe Dawson

Jessica Teale

Holly Anderson

Thanks

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

Bag Pack

Hi All,

Just a reminder that the the first bag pack of the season will take place on Sunday 29th September (11am - 3pm) at Hunslet Morrison's.

The February bag pack was great fun and a brilliant success raising over £1000 for club funds.  Fundraising is the best way to keep events like the Welsh Nationals affordable and also helps pay for team buses to events such as Junior and Arena League .  Last season the supporters committee donated £4000 to the cost of Wales from fundraising.  

If you are free on Sunday please get involved and help raise funds for future events .  We are asking for each child (with a parent) to give up just 1 hour to help.  

Places are limited so please register your support now.  If you would like to take part in the bag pack please sign your name on the form posted on the City of Leeds notice board.

For any additional information please contact:

Liz Rogers

07534467348

lizhrogers@hotmail.co.uk

Thank you

The Supporters Committee

Kicking & Ankle Flexibility

 Hi All,

Some of you may be interested in the following video showing what children can do to improve their kick.

Genetically some kids are better suited to kicking than others, but there are things that can help; and yes ankle and foot flexibility is a big part of that.

The following youtube link has the most basic stretch that can be performed on the living room floor whilst watching TV.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m271f0CTms

 

This video focuses more on ankle flexibility.  Foot flexibility is also important and can be done by simply reaching behind and pulling the toes upward whilst in the above stretch.  If you can't sit down fully without pain, then  you could place a cushion on the calves and sit on it.

 

This is one of those opportunities where parent's can get on board with helping with their children's kicking. These stretches should be performed at least 3-4 times per week. Any less and there will not be noticeable improvement over the coming months.

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

Junior League - Round 1

Well done to all swimmers who competed in the Junior League at Harrogate last Saturday.  After an exciting afternoon of racing we were crowned the winners of the first round.  The next round of the Junior League is the Northern Final which will be held at John Charles on Sunday 6th of October.   This is our fourth year in the competition and after winning three years in a row it would be great to storm through the next round and defend our title by winning the National Final. 

Round 1 Results

1st: City of Leeds = 320 Points

2nd: Borough of Kirklees = 252 Points

3rd: City of Sheffield = 216 Points

4th: Doncaster Dartes = 187 Points

5th: York = 150 Points

6th: Kingston Upon Hull = 145 Points

7th:  Harrogate = 108 Points

Swimmers who competed will need to make themselves available to swim again for the team at John Charles on the morning of Sunday 6th October.  

 
Well Done Everyone!
 
Keep focusing on great takeovers and finishes during training ready for the Northern Final.

Kevin, Tom S, Elysha, Josh, Scott & Tom B

City of Leeds October Grand Prix Meet (25m)

Hi All,

Entries for above meet held at John Charles on the 26 & 27 October will be taken on Monday 16th September and Monday 23rd September by Ophelia in the Denison Suite.

This meet is on the Regional Squad calendar and all squad members are expected to enter.  Swimmers are advised to enter all 50m events, 200 IM, 100 Fly & 100 BR plus any events of your choice which you do not have Yorkshire or North Eastern Qualifying times in.  If you have already achieved a Yorkshire or North Eastern time in these events do not enter them again at this meet, pick a race you have not qualified in.

Information can be found below by clicking on the link;

Event Schedule & Entry Form

Please remember this is a short course meet.  Times can be converted using the online converter below.  If you are entering a converted time please state so in brackets on the entry form.

Course Converter

Any new swimmers who do not have an entry time for a particular event can get one by following the instructions below;

Standard Times Formula

Coaches will start signing forms for this meet from Wednesday night.

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

Thursday Am Training

Hi All,

From this Thursday onwards Regional squads will have the pool available until 7am.  Any swimmers that attend Thursday am and would like to stay in until 7am are welcome to do so from this week.  When moving up from Regional to National Age Group all mornings will be 5am - 7am, taking up the offer will provide a great opportunity to practice swimming 2 hours long course on a morning before you move up. 

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B 

BAG PACKING!

Let's give this Year's Fundraising a Kick Start

Sunday 29th September 11am - 3pm

Hunslet Morrison's

Penny Hill Centre, Church Street,

Hunslet, LS10

The February bag pack raised over £1000 for club funds so let's start raising earlier in the season.  Places are limited so please register your support now.  If you would like to take part in the bag pack please sign your name on the form posted on the City of Leeds notice board.

For any additional information please contact:

Liz Rogers

07534467348

lizhrogers@hotmail.co.uk

Regional Staff

I am sad to inform you that Elysha Wallis will be leaving the City of Leeds at the end of the month due to work commitments.  Elysha has coached with the City of Leeds for 8 years and has been a great asset to the Regional groups over the last 2 seasons.  I would like to thank Elysha for all her help and hard work and I am sure she will be missed.

I would like to welcome to the team Scott Sanderson who will be assisting on Regional 1.  Scott is a Lifeguard and Swimming Teacher at John Charles and also coaches the Masters.  Also joining us will be Tom Braginton who will assist Regional 1 & 2.  Tom has swum with the City of Leeds for many years and has just started coaching.  I hope you will all make them feel very welcome.

Kevin, Tom S, Josh, Scott & Tom B

Yorkshire Championships Entries

Entries for the Winter Yorkshire Short Course Championships at Ponds Forge will be taken by Ophelia on Monday 9th September.  Swimmers should enter all the events they have qualified for.  We will be available to sign forms after training on Thursday am, Friday pm, Sunday pm and Monday am.  Please remember to get all entry forms to us before Monday pm as we will be coaching from 4.30pm.
 
Yorkshire Championships Entry Form

Yorkshire Championships Event Schedule & Qualifying Times

Thanks

 

Kevin, Tom, Josh & Elysha

National Junior League - White Rose Gala

Date:  Saturday 7th September

Venue:  Harrogate Hydro

Arrive:  04:50pm

Warm Up:  05:20pm

A kind reminder that the Team needs to be at Harrogate Hydro on Saturday 7^th September for 5:00pm. It is essential we have everyone together on time to minimise disruption to team changes. Once a team change has been made because of a late arrival or absence it is improbable that the team can be changed back.

Please ensure your child has Team Kit for the event, not only is this effective for our management of the team but we like to blind our enemies with a blaze of yellow. Therefore if you have not purchased any team kit yet, please ensure you do so from the club shop on Monday 2nd September.

As with all City of Leeds Team events, please respect that we are there as one, and children should, win or lose, remain at the end to cheer their team… as should you.

Supporting parents please remember your hats, wigs, horns, face paints etc. The louder you cheer the faster the swimmers will go.

Kevin, Tom, Josh & Elysha

Sunday Training

Just a reminder that from now on Sunday's training for both Regional Squads will be at JCC 1600-1800 (Long Course).

Kevin, Tom, Josh & Elysha

Welsh Summer Nationals Photos

Hi All,

For those swimmers that went to the Welsh Summer I have uploaded the photos for you all to have a look at.  A big thankyou to Lizzie Coombes for taking them all.

Please click the link below to view.

Enjoy!

Welsh Summer Nationals 2013

Kevin, Tom, Josh & Elysha

Welcome Back!

Hi All,

Welcome back to training, hope you all had a nice restful break.  The hard work will start again very soon. 

At the moment we will be working hard on perfecting the skills and stroke techniques, like they were just before we broke up.  The quicker the skills are in place again the quicker we can get to the hard stuff. 

It was great to see so many of you at the first morning session of the season, we were very impressed.

Just a reminder that land training will start tonight with Regional 1.

Kevin, Tom, Josh & Elysha

New Season

Overall this season has been fantastic!  We have had some amazing results and I am looking forward to the start of next season.  Training will commence on Monday 19th August.  We will have 15 new swimmers from the Development squads joining us from the start of the new season.  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.

Just a few reminders........  

Land Training

Land Training will start on Monday 2nd September with Regional 1

Mornings

Mornings will be back to normal for our squad on Monday 2nd September.

Regional 1 (Friday's)
Training will be a the earlier time of 6.30pm - 8.00pm until further notice.

Bank Holiday

There will be no training on Sunday 25th & Monday 26th August due to the Bank Holiday.  

Enjoy the rest of your Summer Break and make the most of no Swimming whilst you can. Come back feeling fresh ready to train hard again.

Kevin, Tom, Elysha & Josh 

Welsh Summer Nationals

If any of you wish to relive your time in Wales and watch race back you can do using the link below;

http://www.youtube.com/user/QUIPUTV

Enjoy

Welsh Summer Nationals

Well done to everyone who attended the Wales meet.  The trip was a brilliant success with lots of fast swimming and a great experience for the swimmers whose first time it was away from home by themselves.  

Regional 1 achieved 43 PB's out of 59 Swims, 8 Final swims and 1 Bronze Medal over the week.  

Bronze Medallist (1)

Charlotte (200m BR)

Finalists (5)

Zara (50m BR, 100m BR, 100m BK)

Huzayfa (50 Fly, 100m Fly, 200m Fly)

Katherine (50m Fly)

Charlotte (200m BR)

Jade (200m BR)

Regional 2 achieved 77 PB's out of 102 Swims, 12 Final Swims, 1 Gold Medal, 2 Silver Medals and 1 Bronze Medal over the week.

Gold Medallist (1)

Tia (100m Fly)

Silver Medallists (1)

Tia (200M Fly, 400m Fc)

Bronze Medallists (1)

Tia (200m Fc)

Finalists (5)

Tia (50m Fly, 100m Fly, 200m Fly, 50m Bk, 100m Bk, 200m Bk, 200m Fc, 200m IM)

Harvey (50m Bk)

Abbey (100m Fly)

Rebecca (200m Fly)

Isabel (50m Fc)

For some of you this was your last competition in Regional Squad.  We hope to follow your progress as you move on through the scheme.  I hope you are all looking forward to joining your new squads and I hope you will work as hard for your new coaches as you have done for us.  We will definitely miss you all.

Excellent Swimming!!! A great way to finish off the season. 

200m Max Kick Test

I have added the results of the 200m Max Kick Test onto the blog for you all to see.  We will continue to do this test next season and hopefully you will see quite large progressions.  At the moment you will be able to see where you rank against other swimmers in the Regional Groups and the National Age Group Squad.  Next season we will hopefully get all squads performing this regularly so you can see where you are ranked within the club.

200m Max Kick Test Results

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Mark Leaving

Hi All,

I am sad to inform you all that we will be losing Mark at the end of this week.  Mark is leaving us to go to Loughborough University in September.  Mark  has done a great job whilst working on the Regional Squads and have had some great results with his help.  I would like to thank him for all his effort and hard work.  He will be missed.  His last session will be Thursday 25th July.  Mark will not be leaving coaching all together, he hopes to continue to coach swimming whilst he is studying at University.

I will be circulating a card during the week for everyone to sign.

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Wales

We are aware some swimmers are not travelling back after the final session, please could you confirm asap and no later than Wednesday 24^th July at 12 noon if you are intending to pick your swimmer up (even if you have already informed someone). We can then make a list of who to expect on the bus for the journey back to Leeds.

Thanks

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Welsh Summer Nationals Supporters

Food/ Refreshments

If you are joining us down in Wales to support there is a Cafe located to the right of the reception area providing a range of food options and vending machines. 

LIVE STREAMING/ MEDIA

Swim Wales will be live streaming this event for the full 7 days to enable friends, family and loved ones to watch you compete if they have had to stay at home. To watch go to www.swimwales.org and click on the banner to view.

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Welsh Summer Nationals 2013

Hi All,

I hope you are all now getting excited and raring to go.  Below are just a couple of reminders before we depart.

Emergency Contact Number:  07900 861 121 (This number will be available 24hrs during the competition)

The Wales Travel Itinerary:

Meet at JCCS Aquatics Centre: 09:00 

Coach Departs: 09:30

Arrive in Swansea: 15:00 (approximately)

Depart Swansea 3rd August: 10:00 (approximately)

Arrive at the JCCS Aquatics Centre: 16:00 (approximately)

 

Kit List

2 x Club T Shirt

Club Tracksuit (or plain blue/ black tracksuit trousers)

Club Hoodie

Club Shorts (or plain blue/ black shorts)

Welsh Summer Nationals 2013 T Shirts

2 x Towel

2 x Swim Kit

2 x Drinks Bottle

Bottle of Cordial

Cereal Bars/ Snacks for poolside

Mobile Phone and Charger

Alarm Clock

Suncream

Sun Hat/ baseball cap

Games, Puzzles, Cards etc

Welsh Summer Nationals T-shirts will hopefully be distributed this evening.  

Swimmers are required to travel in Welsh Summer Nationals 2013 T-Shirt and full Club Kit.  Swimmers should not wear shorts to travel. Please label all clothing and possessions clearly with swimmers names.

Medicine  

All medicine should be clearly labeled with the swimmers name and dosage requirements in a small plastic food bag and given to David Broome before departure.

Money

Swimmers will need a packed lunch or money (please keep on you) to be able to get lunch on the journey down and will need money for the lunch on the return journey.  You may leave money for emergency and food on the return journey with Jolene Larner.  If you wish to do this please put the money in an envelope with the swimmers name and amount clearly written on the envelope.

Good Luck to everyone competing in Wales!  Have a fantastic trip and finish the season off in style. SMASH IT!!!

"I wouldn't say anything is impossible.  I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and put the work and time into it" (Michael Phelps; American Swimmer, 14-time Olympic Gold Medalist (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008)

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Training Changes

Hi All,

Below are a couple of changes to training due to Welsh Nationals and School Holidays.

Thursday 25th July Am - Open to all ages.  We will for those who can stay behind have a team breakfast in the cafe after training until 7.15am

Friday 26th July Pm - As half the members from each squad are travelling to Welsh Nationals on Friday morning, Pm training will be 18:30 - 20:00 at Armley for both squads with Tom.

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

 

National Junior League - White Rose Gala

Date:  Saturday 7th September

Venue:  Harrogate Hydro

Warm Up:  05:30pm

 

Can the following swimmers please confirm your availability to Craig (craig.robinson@leeds.gov.uk) by Friday 19th July.

 

Boys 12 Years

Liam Birrell

Jacob Lambert

Nathan Larner

Jonathan Milner

 

Girls 12 Years

Leah Crisp

Sophie Hobbah

Emily Johnson

Ellie Jones

Ciara Schlosshan

 

Boys 11 Years

Stephen Cooper

Matthew Enright

Jospeh Hawkins

Benjamin Rayner

Robert Shillito

 

Girls 11 Years

Rebecca Clynes

Victoria Gnandt

Eleanor Howcroft

Katherine Russell

Charlotte Gibbs

 

Boys 10 Years

Daniel Jones

Zak Moran

Nathan Russell

Jospeh Turner

 

Girls 10 Years

Ella Cowan

Phoebe Dawson

Jessica Teale

Tia Ward

 

Boys 9 Years

Louis Ainley

Jack Harris

Edwin Munoz

Nealson Orange

Matthew Walker

 

Girls 9 Years

Holly Anderson

Joanna Bingham

Grace Coagan

Isabelle Goodwin

Eve Jones

 

Thanks

 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Welsh Nationals

Just a reminder for anyone going to Welsh Nationals.  Please return your lunch orders back to me ASAP.  Please tick two sandwich choices per day. 

Anyone who has no already received a menu can collect one from me at Sunday's session.

Thanks

Kevin  

Welsh Summer Nationals

Due to a significant increase to last years entries with over 1200 swimmers wishing to take part some swimmers have been rejected from some of their races.  Any rejected entries will be refunded by Wales during the next week. 

 

Any swimmers who are a reserve for a race will be put on a waiting list for that event and will be moved into a space if there are any withdraws etc. Wales will contact the relevant swimmer if a place becomes available pre meet. If swimmers have not been contacted about a place becoming available they should still attend the session ready to take the place of any 'no show' swimmers. Any swimmers placed as a reserve who do not get a swim during the meet will receive a refund.

 

REJECTIONS

Regional 1

Jade - 200IM, 100 Fc, 200 Fc

Jamie - 200 Bk, 100 Fc, 200 Fc

Charlotte - 400 Fc, 100 Fc, 200 Fc, 200 Bk

Thomas J - 200 IM, 100 Fc

Huzayfa - 100 Br, 400 Fc, 1500 Fc, 200 IM, 200 Bk

Zara - 200 IM, 100 Fc, 200 Fc

Katherine - 200 IM, 400 Fc, 200 Br, 200 Bk, 100 Fc, 200 Fc

 

Regional 2

Hannah A - 200 IM, 100 Fc, 200 Fc

Maisy - 200 Br, 100 Br, 100 Fc, 200 Fc

Abbey - 200 Br, 100 Fc, 200 IM

Rebecca - 400 Fc, 200 Bk

Ella - 100 Br, 100 Fc, 200 Fc, 200 Br, 200 Bk

Joseph H - 200 IM, 200 Bk, 100 Fc, 200 Fc, 100 Br, 400 Fc

Harvey - 200 IM, 100 Fc, 200 Fc

Jenna - 200 IM, 100 Br, 200 Br, 200 Bk

Jess - 200 IM, 200 Br

 

RESERVES

Regional 1

Thomas J - 200 Fc

 

Regional 2

Hannah A - 200 Bk

Maisy - 200 Bk, 200 IM

Abbey - 200 Fc, 100 Br

Harvey - 100 Br

Jess - 200 Fc

Tia - 100 Br

 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

 

 

 

 

City of Leeds Summer B Grade Meet

Well done to everyone who competed over the weekend, most of you annihilated your PB's.  We are very proud of you all.

Regional 1 achieved a whopping 165 PB's out of 197 Swims, 32 Gold's, 31 Silver's and 38 Bronze Medals.  Great Job!

Gold Medallists (13)
Eleanor (6), Hannah (5), Matthew E (5), Angelo (4), Jack (3), Charlotte (2), Jade (1), Ben (1), Jake (1), Hollie (1), Huzayfa (1), Danielle (1), Thomas J (1)

Silver Medallists (17)
Jack (4), Katherine (3), Huzayfa (3), Ciara (3), Zara (3), Jade (2), Danielle (2), Matthew E (2), Eleanor (1), Jamie (1), Ben (1), Ella (1),  Timur (1), Jake (1), Tiegan (1), Abigail (1), Angelo (1)
 
Bronze Medallists (22)
Jake (4), Abigail (3), Ciara (3), Danielle (2), Jade (2), Jamie (2), Hannah (2), Ella (2), Timur (2), Hollie (2), Tiegan (2), Thomas J (2), Huzayfa (1), Kimberley (1), Sam (1), Joanna (1), Oliver (1), Eleanor (1), Jack (1), Katherine (1), Zara (1), Angelo (1)

Regional 2 achieved a fantastic 134 PB's out of 205 Swims, 47 Gold's, 37 Silver's and 28 Bronze Medals.  Brilliant!

Gold Medallists (20)
Nathan (4), Emelye (4), Jess (4), Jonathan (4), Steph (3), Aimee (3), Harvey (3), Tia (3), Carl (2), Ella (2), Megan (2), Hannah A (2), Jake S (2), Jake H (2), Ayesha (2), Alice (1), Liam (1), Maisy (1), Joseph T (1), Abbey (1), 

Silver Medallists (18)
Steph (4), Hannah A (3), Harvey (3), Jess (3), Abbey (3), Joseph T (2), Jake H (2), Eve (2), Liam (2), Jonathan (2), Hannah B (2), Aimee (2), Nathan (2), Jake S (1), Emelye (1), Megan (1), Ayesha (1), Maisy (1)
 
Bronze Medallists (18)
Hannah B (4), Harvey (3), Ayesha (3), Alice (2), Ella (2), Hannah A (2), Jake S (1), Robert (1), Aimee (1), Nathan (1), Steph (1), Niamh M (1), Emelye (1), Joseph T (1), Jake H (1), Jess (1), Henry (1), Carl (1)

Keep up the hard work and keep focused on achieving those Yorkshire and North Eastern times.  Not long to go now until our Olympics (Welsh Nationals).  Try to attend every session between now and then to give you the best possible chance of success.  Lets smash it!!!!!! 

Try to always practice Olympic starts, turns and finishes in training and then transfer this into your race.

Lack of concentration on skills in training only means you will be getting great at performing poor starts, turns and finishes.

Remember............

Speed + no skill = only good until the skilful swimmers catch up

Skill + no speed = looks pretty but can't quite manage to achieve the qualifying time

Speed + Great Skills = recipe for success

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark