Dear Swimmers & Parents,
As you may already know, we are very privileged to be welcoming both the Chinese and Dutch Olympic Swimming Teams to Leeds during the period of their holding camps before they move to the games village in London. The Chinese and Dutch teams have some of the very best swimmers in the world who will be challenging for medals in London and we are delighted that they have chosen Leeds as the venue for their final preparations.
There will be however, some disruption to our own training programme during this period (25th June-22nd July). The timetable has changed very little but we are nonetheless faced with the challenge of working with a moderate reduction in pool space. This will have some implications for the programme as a whole and for squads preparing for the National Age, National Youth and Welsh National Championships in particular.
However, because both the Chinese and Dutch Olympic Teams have taken the unprecedented decision to share the facility and train with us side by side during their holding camp, the initial fears of the potential for disruption to our own preparations have allayed and we are very confident that there will be no impact on our performances at the National Championships. On the contrary, to have the opportunity to train along side athletes of this calibre should be an inspiration to everyone!
Because of security measures during the holding camp period, access to the John Charles Aquatic Centre will be restricted to swimmers and coaches only and parents will not be able to access the building during this time. There are measures in place however, to make facilities available in the stadium adjacent to the pool for parents who would normally wait for their children.
Security procedures will be in place for swimmers and staff for this period and ACCESS WILL BE DENIED TO ANY SWIMMER OR STAFF MEMBER WHO DOES NOT FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES. Further information will be sent out shortly which will confirm the detail of the procedures which we will be required to adhere to.
I have listed any changes to our groups training times below. You will see as mentioned that there is very little change to the timetable but it makes it clear what the arrangements will be during this period.
Monday 25th June (AM) - Normal
Monday 25th June (PM) - 18:30 - 19:30 (LC) Lanes 7, 8 & 9 (Land - Normal)
Wednesday 27th June - Normal
Thursday 28th July (AM) - Normal
Thursday 28th July (PM) - Normal
Friday 29th July - Normal
Sunday 31st July - Normal
Monday 2nd July (AM) - Normal
Monday 2nd July - 18:30 - 19:30 (LC) Lanes 7, 8 & 9 (Land - Normal) Wednesday 4th July - 18:30 - 19:30 (LC) Lanes 0, 1 & 2
Thursday 5th July (AM) - Normal
Thursday 5th July (PM) - 19:00 - 20:30 (LC) Lanes 0, 1 & 2
Friday 6th July - Normal Sunday 8th July - Normal
Monday 9th July (AM) - Normal
Monday 9th July (PM) - 18:30 - 19:30 (LC) Lanes 7, 8 & 9 (Land - Normal)
Wednesday 11th July (PM) - 18:30 - 19:30 (LC) Lanes 0, 1 & 2
Thursday 12th July (AM) - Normal
Thursday 12th July (PM) - 19:00 - 20:30 (LC) Lanes 0, 1 & 2
Friday 13th July (PM) - Normal
Sunday 15th July - Normal
Monday 16th July (AM & PM) - No Training
Wednesday 17th July (PM) - No Training
Thursday 19th July (AM) - No Training
Thursday 19th July (PM) - 19:30 - 21:00 (Armley with Sharon)
Friday 20th July (PM) - 18:30 - 19:30 (Armley with Lyn)
Welsh National Swimmers
Monday 16th July (PM) - 19:15 - 20:45 (LC) Lanes 0, 1, 2 & 3
Tuesday 17th July (PM) - 19:15 - 20:45 (LC) Lanes 0, 1, 2 & 3
Wednesday 18th July (PM) - 19:15 - 20:45 (LC) Lanes 0, 1, 2 & 3 Thursday 19th July (PM) - 19:15 - 20:45 (LC) Lanes 0, 1, 2 & 3
Friday 20th July - Travel to Wales
The Summer Break will commence Friday 20th July (after evening session) and return Monday 13th August.
I am away from Saturday 11th August - Sunday 2nd September in the USA, I will provide more information of who is covering in my absense nearer the time.
Kevin
