News Spring Preston Swimming Club Where every swimmer counts. Editorial - My philosophy for coaching swimming

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1 Preston Swimming Club Where every swimmer counts Founded in 1888 News Spring 2017 Editorial - My philosophy for coaching swimming Samir Ahmed, Head Coach BE PROUD, SHOW PASSION, REALISE POTENTIAL Training & Competition in the early development Many clubs and coaches have varying approaches but we feel that young swimmers (development) who are exposed to training frequently and coached at the right level (i.e. low intensity and lots of skills and technique work) will be the ones who will develop the best. Whilst very few top level swimmers have made it all the way to international podium success with limited training background, it should not be that we feel we can mimic or have the same level of success as those who achieved very good results with training that was significantly less than the trend at that level. Water is a completely alien medium as humans are land based, so it takes a lot of time harnessing the technique and skills early on. At age group and youth level it becomes imperative to open up the aerobic engine. Swimmers should focus on training a multi stroke (IM) programme that is progressive in volume. Some of the issues that swimming faces with regards to competition: When young swimmers over compete causing them to under train. At PSC we have experienced coaches heading each section of the club who prescribe the competition calendar. It is important that swimmers adhere to this and enter only those meets that are agreed with the coach otherwise over competing or racing at the incorrect meets may regress the swimmer in the long run. Some of the issues that swimming faces with regards to training: When young swimmers (males 18 & under, females 16 & under approximately) deem themselves to be sprinters and have a misinterpreted or misinformed understanding of sprint swimming.

2 Middle distance and distance events are all essential in the early years. As age group swimmers training and preparing for racing the; 200 strokes, 400 medley and 400, 800 and 1500 freestyle events is critical for their longer-term development. Progression also comes in the form of the training intensity. In the A1 and A2 squads they will become more exposed to higher loads of aerobic/endurance work. Attendance It is common sense, and a well-known fact, that the more frequently and the more time we spend on a task, the better we become at that task and swimming is no exception. In addition, if we engage in the task with what s known as deliberate practise, where we continually receive and seek feedback (rather than just turning and up and going through the motions) the rate of learning and development is much higher. Although a certain amount of success can be achieved in swimming in the development years as a result of physical genetic gifts and early biological maturation, the majority of improvement comes as a result of the frequency, quantity and intensity of practise undertaken. Those winning races or with the best technical skills at 9-11 years of age may simply be the ones who have accumulated more total training hours. At PSC we are not aiming to produce early winners, although we do appreciate some will enjoy more competitive success than others due to a range of factors. But we are trying to produce swimmers who have fantastic technical skills at an early age as we know this will lay the best possible foundations for success in later or adult years (skill acquisition in any physical task becomes more difficult with increasing age). Some tips on attendance: We need swimmers in all squads maintaining a high attendance record Consistency throughout the cycle is key Squad coaches keep attendance records, this helps us form part of the decision when making squad moves The diagram on the next page highlights my philosophy.

3 Swimming

4 Club News Steve Heaps and Stephanie Slater honoured at Preston Sports Awards Steve Heaps was given a special recognition for services to sport at Preston Sports Awards. The award was given for going above and beyond. Steve has provided swimming opportunities to the masses, whether they just want to swim for fun or are talented athletes. Steph Slater was given a Pride of Preston award for inspiring the nation last summer winning both Gold and Silver medals at Rio 2016 in para-swimming. Breaststroke Clinic 28 th April 2017 A1 and A2 swimmers were lucky to have Preston s very own William Ritchie attend their Friday night session to deliver some breaststroke skills and drills. The swimmers had a chance to watch William over and under the water to look at his breaststroke, then try it for themselves. The focus for the evening was on catch and hip action within the stroke. At the end of the masterclass the swimmers had an opportunity to ask William questions about his training. William told the swimmers how often he trains and explained how much hard work and dedication it takes to reach your goals. The Age Group squads would like to thank William for coming along and congratulate him on his recent success at the British Championships.

5 Competition reports British Swimming Championships 2017 The British Swimming Championships, which took place at Ponds Forge, was the highlight of the national events calendar. The UK s top swimmers went head to head to vie for qualification for the FINA World Championships, World University Games, World Juniors, European Juniors and Commonwealth Youth Games. The competition saw British records tumble to the likes of Ben Proud, Duncan Scott, Max Litchfield and Georgia Davies and saw new talents, such as 16 year old Freya Anderson and Jocelyn Ulyett emerge. This was the first notable gala for the hugely successful Rio team, with Adam Peaty, James Guy, Siobhan-Marie O Connor and Jazz Carlin competing. The event featured three finals. The Open Final, the Target Tokyo final and the Junior final. The fastest swimmers compete in the Open Final. Target Tokyo is a final for younger swimmers expected to peak in time for the Tokyo Olympics. The Junior finals were fiercely competitive with so many events to qualify for. The finals were both televised by the BBC and well attended, creating a great atmosphere. 18 year old Will Richie competed in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, making Target Tokyo finals in both events. He came 7 th in the 100m in a time of 1:03.98 and then improved on this to come 5 th in the 200m event, in another new pb time of 2: This makes Will the fastest swimmer in the 200m breaststroke in the North West. Emily Lawrence, 16yrs, competed in the 50m and 100m breaststroke. In the 50m event she swam a season s best time. She surpassed this in the 100m event making the junior final and getting a 2 second pb of 1: This now ranks her as the North West s third fastest breaststroker and also third fastest within her own age group. Sprint squad s Kenan Yeung had a brilliant meet improving both his entry times. Kenan broke the 1:07 barrier for 100m breast to finish in a time of 1: Kenan raced a on the 50m event, another personal best. These achievements are a credit to the club which continue to help swimmers produce talent for British Swimming and steer swimmers to successfully compete at national level and above.

6 At the same event, PSC member, Kyo Tanner (Ellesmere College) was the youngest qualifier in his event, 50m freestyle and swam a super fast personal best time of Kat Greenslade (Edinburgh University) competed in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle and the 100m backstroke. She made open finals in all three of her freestyle events, gaining a superb silver medal in the 200m freestyle in a time of 1:59:39. Her first medal at the British Championships. This time was inside the Welsh Commonwealth Games qualifying time, though the British Swimming Championships is not in the qualifying window, which runs June to December She got a pb in her 100m free and a seasons best in her 400m free. She made the Target Tokyo final in her 100m backstroke and, much to her surprise, won it in a new pb time of 1:01.35 which puts her to within 1/100 th of the Commonwealth Games qualifying time for that event and was faster than many of the open final swimmers.

7 Harrogate Spa Town Meet gala April 2017 Over the weekend of the 8,/ 9 th April, the club were very well represented by over 30 swimmers at the Harrogate Spa Town Gala. The weather was glorious and was great for sitting on the lawn over lunch. Despite it being very hot in the Hydro, this was overshadowed by the fantastic performances of our PSC swimmers, there was a consistent pattern of medals and PB s all over the place! It was a great weekend that the parents enjoyed as much as the young swimmers! Well done to all involved and many many thanks to Paul Davison and Richard Miller for giving up their spare time this was very appreciated by all. Below are some of the achievements from the weekend; 9 Year Olds Evie Melia 4 PB s from 5 races. An A Grade Silver medal for 50m Breast Stroke with a brilliant time of 53.62! Emil Dawkins WOW! Incredible swimming from Emil. 5 speeding tickets, 2 A Grade Golds, PB s for every race. Total reductions in his PB s for races he had raced before was 28 seconds over 5 races! Taylor Griffiths - 9 races 7 PB s. Totalling 96 seconds! including 21 seconds off 200m Back, 19 seconds off 200m Breast and 15 seconds off 100m Back. Katie Mann Got 3 PB s totalling 15 seconds off the 3 races. Jessica Wafer 7 Races / 7 PB s! A Grade Bronze medal in100m Breaststroke. Total PB s reduction over 7 swims was 27 seconds! Including a great 12 seconds off 100m Breast. Douglas Quayle Achieved PB s in all races he swam!! Harvey Kinnear Grade A medals Gold in 200m IM and 50m Fly, Silver in 200m Freestyle and Bronze in 100m Fly! PB s in 6 races from 6 swims totalling 45 seconds!

8 10 year olds Ellie Burns 8 swims and 8 PB s totalling 45 seconds in total! Including 16 seconds off 200m Breast Stroke Martha Miller Speeding ticket for 400IM plus Grade A gold medals in 100m Breast and 200m IM, plus Grade A Bronze medal in 100m Backstroke, including 3 PB s! Hannah O Brien 3 PB s in the 50m Freestyle, Breast and Back! Jemma Davies 10 swims 8 PB s totalling 45 seconds and 2 new times recorded. Georgia Scott 1 A grade Gold medal and 3 x Bronze A Grade medals. Also PB s in 5 races. Aimee Martin 8 swims and 8 PB s! Totalling 41 seconds including 12 seconds off 100m Breast! Zahara Muhammad 5 PB s in 5 races totalling an astonishing 71 seconds across the 5 races including 15 seconds off 100m Freestyle, 21 seconds off 200m Breast and 28 seconds off 50m Fly!!! Zahara also received a bronze A Grade medal for 200m Breast and a Silver A Grade medal for 50m Breast. Skylar Beattie PB s in both 50m Freestyle and 50m Breast totalling a fantastic 10 seconds off both swims! William Murray 6 PB s totalling 20 seconds reduction in total off the 6 races, including 4 seconds off 50m Breast Stroke and 6 seconds off 200m Freestyle Harry Lee 12 races and 11 PB s!! Also won 1 Grade A Silver medal and 1 Grade A Bronze medal. All PB s totalled 64 seconds in total! 11 Year Olds Lauren Airey WOW! 9 PB s and 6 A Grade medals! 2 Gold A Grade medals, 2 sliver A Grade medals and 2 Bronze A Grade medals. 9 PB s from 9 swims, including 8 seconds off 100m Fly, 5 seconds off 200m IM and 6 seconds off 400m Freestyle. Lily Yau 7 PB s form 8 races. Totalling 20 seconds, including 5 seconds off 100m Fly! Francesca Armstrong 2 A Grade Gold Medals and 1 A Grade Silver medal, plus 5 PB s! Leo Jessop 4 Grade A medals! 2 A Grade Gold Medals in 100m Back and 200m Back. 2 A Grade Silver medals in 50m Back and 200m Freestyle. 5 PB s from 6 races including an 8 second PB in 200m Backstroke! Michael Mann Got 6 PB s from 6 races totalling 31 seconds off the 6 previous best times! Elizabeth Quayle PB s in all races swam!

9 12 Years and Over Amber Mann A Grade Medals in 7 races!!! Gold in 50m, 100m and 200m Breast, 100m Fly and Silver in 100m Freestyle, 50m Fly and 200m IM. Also achieved 4 PB s!! Nathan Thomas 5 PB s from 5 swims!! Totalling a reduction of 25 seconds for all 5 swims! Caitlin O Brien - 1 A Grade gold medal for 100m back, 1 A Grade Silver medal for 400m free and 3 A Grade Bronze 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle and 50m Back. Five PB's in 400m Freestyle, 50m Fly, 50m Back, 100m Back, 200m Breast Gabrielle Parker A very deserving 7 PB s out of 8 swims great performance. Totalling 15 seconds off the 7 swims. An A Grade Gold medal for 50m Back and A Grade Silver medal for 100m Fly. Khirstine Williams 5 PB s, 2 Grade A Gold medals, 1 Grade A Silver medal and 2 Grade A Bronze medals! Ella Newton 5 PB s, 2 A Grade Bronze medals and 3 County times achieved for next year! Spencer Beattie 1 Grade A Gold Medal for 50m Freestyle, 2 Grade A Silver Medals for 50m Fly and 100m Freestyle and a Grade A Bronze medal for 50m Back! Thomas Douglas 8 swims and 8 PB s!! Including 8 seconds off 200m Back! Total PB s over 8 races was 21 seconds! Awarded A Grade Gold medal in 50m Breast, A Grade Silver medal in 100m Back and A Grade Bronze medals in 100m Freestyle, 100m Breast and 50m Freestyle!! Overall a fantastic weekend of results that all the swimmers should be very proud of.

10 Sheffield Premier Meet PSC s swimmers had a superb meet in Sheffield, gaining 4 new GB championships qualifying times and a whole host of new personal best times. Will Ritchie led the swimmers with a win in the senior men's 200m breaststroke event. Will raced to a best time of 2:18:8 and posted 2:19 to win the open final. His time now qualifies for the GB Championships in April and sits within the Top 20 UK and Top 50 European in season long course times. On day two he also achieved the 100m breaststroke qualifying time with the fastest time in the North West so far this year - 1:04:72. Emily Lawrence raced an in season best long-course time on the 100 breaststroke going inside the British Championships time again. Emily was a whole 2 seconds faster than she was this time last year. The 16 year old demonstrated great focus and behaviours that are in line with top class swimming to battle through the afternoon session and post a lifetime best of 2:26 on the 200m medley. Emily then raced inside the British Championships qualifying standard on the 50m breaststroke. To finish Emily swam under the minute with a long-course best time of 59:4 in 100 freestyle. Elizabeth Woodcock competed in both the 50m fly and 50m backstroke recording a best time of on the backstroke event. Lizzie recorded the 4th fastest time ever from a 15 year old girl. She then dipped under the magical 60 second mark for the first time in the 100m freestyle! Recording a best time of 59:75 which ranks her number one in her age heading into the regional championships. The "Road to Podium" project looks even stronger after these performances from our age group girls team. Elizabeth Wafer, 14 yrs, continued her good form and competed in the 200 backstroke making the age group final. Elizabeth raced to a lifetime best on the 50m backstroke finishing 13th overall with She then qualified for the age group final of the 100 backstroke event finishing with a great best time of 1:07:03! Kenan Yeung is another swimmer preparing for the GB Championships in April and competed in both the 50m breast and 50m freestyle. Kenan Yeung had an impressive weekend having already bagged the 50 breaststroke qualifying time in February he also booked himself a spot to compete on the 100m breaststroke at the GB Championships. Nathan Smith raced the 50 & 200 breaststroke events. Nathan Smith also contested the breaststroke events, swimming a very good best time on the 100 event. Kyo Tanner was the third fastest 15 year old on the 50m freestyle and placed 7th on the 100m freestyle. Rio Quarry is another swimmer who is on an upward curve and is targeting to be amongst those qualifying for the GB Championships in The young 15 year old from Lancaster training out of West View competed in the 50m breaststroke. Similarly Chloe Cottam, 16 years, who travels from Chorley to train with the squad at West View competed in the 50m fly and shows good form for the more important 100 & 200 events for the forthcoming regional championships. Daniel Holmes competed on the 50m fly to record a best time of 29:7 on the 50m fly. George Robinson competed in the men's 100m breast. Rachel Ritchie contested the 50 & 100 freestyle events finishing with a lifetime best on the 100 event. Rachel also progressed her time from the FFN Golden Tour on the 50m fly event.

11 Meeting Open De Mediterranee (FFN Golden Tour) Marseille Lizzie Woodcock placed 8th in the junior girls 50 free final posting a time of 28:22, marginally missing the club age group record. She swam the second fastest 100 fly of her career to finish with a very creditable 1:08:68 and 6 th place. To complete the weekend, Lizzie constructed a tactically superb 200 free. Emily Lawrence just missed out on a medal in the junior girls 100 fly, finishing 4th in a new pb time of 1:07:58. She also produced lifetime best times on the 50 fly (30:31) and the 50m back (32:33). Elizabeth Wafer dropped eight seconds from the personal best time she set only one month ago at the County Championships in the 400IM, her new time of 5:24:52 now places her 7th in Scotland out of the 2002 born girls. In the junior final of the girls 100m backstroke she was also just out of the medals, placing 4th in a new best time of 1:07:76. The top three positions were occupied by French swimmers. In the heats, she went up against world famous Katinka Hoszzu otherwise known as the Iron Lady! To round off her meet Elizabeth finished in 6th in the 200IM after constructing an impressive backend (second half of the race) swim. Her time of 2:27:21 was a two second improvement from her heat swim. Rachel Ritchie who is into her fourth month in full training at Preston competed in the 50 fly, 50 breast, 50 free and 100 free getting some new personal best times. After such a successful age group career on breaststroke, she has now switched her focus to sprint freestyle. Will Ritchie placed 6th in the men's open B final with a time of 2:26:7 in 200m breaststroke moving closer to the magical 2:20 mark. In the heats he raced against German international and Olympic semi finalist, Christian Lehn. He went one better in 100m breaststroke, finishing 5 th in the men s open B final in a time of 1:06:43). Will also competed in the 200 IM and the 50m breaststroke Rob Hamer the former British age group champion was on top form producing a lifetime best on the 50 fly, finishing 47th in the senior age group overall. He also swam well on the 100 fly. Billy Dewhurst also displayed great form. In the 50m backstroke. Billy shaved almost half a second off his lifetime best, however he went into the 50 fly with minimal recovery time and was marginally off his best time, although posting a respectable 27:98. In his favoured 100m backstroke Billy put in an outstanding effort to place 8th with 1:01:61. In a packed programme, he also contested the 50 free, 200 back, 200 IM and 100 fly. Team staff said - 'The swimmers demonstrated behaviours and routines in every situation that are in line with top class swimming. They maintained consistently good throughout their heats and finals and even when at times their outcomes were not what they wanted. In the end this helped produce some fantastic results for the team and the swimmers will be stronger and better prepared at national competitions that they are fully focused on both for April and July. We know doing the extra work and doing the things that others may not be prepared to do will ultimately make our athletes stronger.'.

12 Prescot and Everton Spring Meet March 2017 A March weekend proved successful for PSC at the Prescot spring gala. During two days of competition, there were many PBs and medals for all age groups plus chasing down those Regional times. For the girls in the age 10 Category, Martha Millar achieved Gold (400 Freestyle), Silver (200 Freestyle) and Bronze (200 Backstroke). For the 11s, Laurent Airey won Silver (400 Freestyle) and Fran Armstrong, Bronze (50Fly). In the age 12 category, Amber Mann took Silver (50 Breaststroke). For the Age 13s, Caitlin O Brien won Silver (400 and 50 freestyle), Khirstine Williams won Silver (50 Breaststroke) and Bronze (200IM and 200 Freestyle) while Ella Newton achieved Bronze (400 IM). For the 14s Jess Millar took home a medal of each colour with Gold (100 fly), Silver (100 Freestyle) and Bronze (200 Fly). In the 15 years and older category, Emma Tabernacle won Gold (400 Freestyle) Rachel Ritchie won Gold (50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 100 Fly) and Silver (100 Backstroke). In the age 9 category, the boys were successful with Emil Dawkins achieving Gold (50,100 and 200 Freestyle), plus Silver (200 Backstroke), Harvey Kinnear winning Gold (50,100 and 200 breaststroke), and Silver (50 Freestyle). Johnny Gibbs was on form for the age 10s with Gold (100 and 200 Freestyle, 100 Fly). Oliver Covill achieved Gold (400IM) for the age 11s while Ben Rogerson in the age 12 category won Gold (200 Freestyle and 100 Breaststroke), Silver (200 Breaststroke and 100 Freestyle) and Bronze (50 Freestyle and 50 Breaststroke). Age13s were represented by Daniel Lilley with Silver (200 IM) and Nicholas Edwards with Bronze (50 Backstroke). PSC gained 40 medals from this meet 18 Gold, 13 Silver and 9 Bronze AGE GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL

13 Lancashire County Championships Lancashire County Championships took place over two weekends at the end of January/beginning of February this year. PSC swimmers came home with an incredible haul of 18 medals 5x GOLD, 5x SILVER and 8x BRONZE. County Champions: Johnny Gibbs 50m Freestyle Men s 10/11 year old age group Oliver Covill 100m Breaststroke Men s 12 year old age group Kyo Tanner 100m Freestyle Men s 15 year old age group Kyo Tanner 50m Freestyle Men s 15 year old age group Rio Quarry 50m Breaststroke Men s 16 year old age group 2 nd Place Johnny Gibbs 100m Freestyle Men s 10/11 year old age group Oliver Covill 50m Breaststroke Men s 12 year old age group Jack Howard 100m Breaststroke Men s 15 year old age group Dan Holmes 50m Freestyle Men s 15 year old age group Rio Quarry 100m Breaststroke Men s 16 year old age group 3 rd Place Johnny Gibbs 50m Backstroke Men s 10/11 year old age group Johnny Gibbs 50m Butterfly Men s 10/11 year old age group Nathan Holmes 50m Backstroke Men s 13 year old age group Nathan Holmes 100m Freestyle Men s 13 year old age group Imogen Moss 50m Backstroke Women s 14 year old age group Nathan Smith 50m Breaststroke Men s 15 year old age group Jack Howard 100m Butterfly Men s 15 year old age group Emily Lawrence 100m Freestyle Women s 16 year old age group FINALS The following swimmers also made the finals which is an amazing accomplishment: Harry Robinson, Rachel Ritchie, Kenan Yeung, William Ritchie, Ben Rogerson, Adam Tabernacle, Elizabeth Wafer All PSC swimmers competing at the County Championships have made us very proud; you all work really hard throughout the year to get your times so everybody who qualified, even if it was only in one race, should be extremely pleased with their achievements.

14 North West Region Masters Championships 13 of Preston s masters swimmers attend the annual North West Region Masters Championships which was held at Blackpool s Palatine Pool on Sunday 19 th February The swimmers really did perform well, especially when you consider the constraints these guys are under, with higher education and work commitments, indeed one of team came to compete straight from a 12 hr night shift. The club also entered the 6 relay events which produced more remarkable results. From an individual perspective the swimmers recorded a total of: 36 swims, these produced 19 first place finishes, 5 second place finishes and 3 3 rd place finishes. That s 27 podium places from 36 swims. If you then consider that from these 36 swims 10 of these recorded new regional records and a further 4 were all comers records. The relays also produced some excellent results: 6 Swims, 6 first place finishes, 6 new regional records and 5 new all comers records. Hopefully this is the start of bigger and better things for Preston Masters so continue to watch this space. Results: Byron Hall (25-29yrs): 1 st 50m Freestyle 26.12; 2 nd 50m Backstroke,30.34 Michael Peacock (30-34yrs): 1 st 50m Backstroke, 31.12; 1 st 100m Backstroke,1:05.46; 1 st 50m Freestyle, 27.24; 1 st 100m Freestyle, Luke Pool (18-24yrs); 1 st 50m Freestyle, (New Regional & All Comers Record); 1 st 100m Freestyle, (New Regional & All Comers Record), 1 st 50m Butterfly, Ethan Fielding (18-24yrs): 5 th 50m Freestyle, 26.76; 5 th 100m Freestyle, 58.40; 5 th 50m Butterfly, Patrick Hill (18-24yrs): 4 th 50m Freestyle 26.70; 6 th 100m FREESTYLE, 59.01; 2 nd 50m Breaststroke, Dean Heaps (25-29yrs): 1 st 50m Breaststroke, (New Regional Record), 1 st 100m Breaststroke 1:09.38 (New Regional Record); 1 st 200m Breaststroke, 2:36.22 John Rainford (25-29yrs); 2 nd 50m Breaststroke, 32.62; 2 nd 100m Breaststroke, 1:10.87 Rob Hamer (18-24 yrs): 1 st - 100m Butterfly, (New Regional & All Comers Record) Megan Green (18-24yrs): 8 th 50m Freestyle, 32.74; 3 rd 50m Backstroke Katie Hands (18-24yrs): 3 rd 50m Freestyle 29.78; 3 rd 50m Butterfly, Joanne Grime (30-34yrs): 2 nd 50m Backstroke, 35.51; 1 st 100m Backstroke, 1:16.33; 1 st 200m Backstroke, 2:43.98 Rosie Kincaid (18-24yrs): 5 th 50m Freestyle 30.76; 5 th 100m Freestyle, 1:08.49 ; 6 th 50m Butterfly, 34.36

15 Rachel Ritchie (18-24yrs): 1 st 50m Freestyle, (New Regional Record); 1 st 100m Freestyle, (New Regional Record); 1 st 50m Breaststroke, (New Regional & All Comers Record); 1 st 100m Breaststroke, 1:12.93 (New Regional & All Comers Record); 1 st 50m Butterfly, (New Regional Record) The relays produced the following results: Mens 4 X 50m Medley Team (72+yrs) Preston A (Byron Hall, Dean Heaps, Rob Hamer, Luke Pool), 1 st, 1: NEW Regional and All Comers Record. Preston B (Michael Peacock. John Rainford, Ethan Fielding, Patrick Hill), 4 th, 1:58.85 Ladies 4 X 50m Medley Team (72+yrs) Preston A (Joanne Grime, Rachel Ritchie, Katie Hands, Rosie Kincaid), 1 st, 2:11.88, NEW Regional and All Comers Record Mixed 4 X 50m Medley Team (72+yrs) Preston A (Rachel Ritchie, Dean Heaps, Rob Hamer, Katie Hands), 1 st, 2:00.18, NEW Regional and All Comers Record Preston B (Joanne Grime, John Rainford, Ethan Fielding, Megan Green), 4 th, 2:11.76 Mens 4 X 50m Freestyle Team (72+yrs) Preston A (Luke Pool, Byron Hall, Rob Hamer, Patrick Hill), 1 st, , NEW Regional and All Comers Record Preston B (Michael Peacock, Dean Heaps, Ethan Fielding, John Rainford), 4 th, 1:49.33 Ladies 4 X 50m Freestyle Team (72+yrs) Preston A (Rachel Ritchie, Katie Hands, Joanne Grime, Rosie Kincaid), 1 st, 2:00.36, NEW Regional Record Mixed 4 X 50m Freestyle Team (72+yrs) Preston A (Luke Pool, Rachel Ritchie, Byron Hall, Katie Hands), 1 st, 1:48.01, NEW Regional and All Comers Record. Preston B (Patrick Hill, Megan Green, Michael Peacock, Rosie Kincaid), 2 nd, 1:56.52

16 Back Row (From left to right): Ethan Fielding; Rob Hamer; Patrick Hill; Byron Hall; Joanne Grime; Rosie Kincaid & John Rambo Rainford Front Row (From left to right): Meg Green; Katie Hands; Rachel Ritchie; Dean Heaps; Luke Pool; & Michael Frodo Peacock

17 Sub-league The first sub league of the season saw 8 teams turn out to Darwen on a cold evening in February. Would the month of February work its magic and love would be in the air, or would old rivalries spur our teams to greater heights? Preston A and B were both swimming, and in adjacent lanes, would it bring the best out in our swimmers? Other lanes were taken by Carnforth Otters, Fleetwood, Blackpool Aquatics, Clitheroe Dolphins, Lancaster City and Leyland Barracudas. Warm up complete, score board working and we were off, the mixed medley was first and a great start was made, with third and fourth place secured. Both teams swam well and the interim scores were announced after 13 events, along with the Rugby updates. Preston B were sixth with 43 points and Preston A were in first place on 96 points, 19 points ahead of their closest rival, Clitheroe. The events continued and at the next score check (25 events) both teams were holding their place, with Preston B on 67 points and Preston A, with a very healthy lead, on 177 ½ points. More great swimming from both our teams as the evening drew to a close with the cannon. The final scores were Preston B holding their sixth position with a healthy 127 and Preston A, with a convincing lead of 71 ½ over 2 nd place Leyland, were the overall winners on 272 ½. In their second sub league, the A team came second and a creditable 6 th to the only B team in the top division. The final gala of the season will take place in Blackpool in June. Well done to all our swimmers, demonstrating the strength and depth of talent we have in our club. Micro-league Preston s Seals worked hard in a highly competitive micro-league in Blackpool and did PSC proud. The final scores were 1. Prescott Garstang Clitheroe PSC B 98

18 Competition Timetable May Manchester Open Meet Manchester Selected team 13 Micro League Sharks 3:30pm West View Selected team 21 North West Regional Championships Liverpool Age Groupers 21 Micro League Seals Leyland Selected team North West Regional Championships Manchester Age Groupers June PSC Summer Spectacular Darwen All Squads 10 Sub league A&B Blackpool Selected team 17 Micro League Seals 3:30pm West View Selected team 17 Micro league Sharks Accrington Selected team 25 Micro league Seals Knowsley Selected team July Micro league Sharks Trafford Selected team 8-9 Club Championships West View All Squads 7-9 Scottish ASA Summer Meet Edinburgh Qualifiers Rotherham Metrol A&B Short Course Sheffield Sprint British Summer Nationals Sheffield All Qualifiers August English ASA Nationals Sheffield All Qualifiers World University Games (Universiade) Taipei/Taiwan GBR team

19 Varsity News from LUSWP ROSES VARSITY (Lancaster Uni vs York Uni) Lancaster boys and girls teams beat York University in the Roses swimming and water polo varsity matches gaining the maximum 16 points from the pool. This is the first time in the club s history that it has successfully locked out all four wins. Final scores: Men s swimming, York 64 - Lancaster 76 Women s swimming, York 68 Lancaster 71 Men s waterpolo, York 10 Lancaster 17 Women s waterpolo, York 7, Lancaster 10

20 BUCS Team Championships Great news from Ponds Forge in the BUCS Team Championships, as the LUSWP Swimming Team gained promotion to the BUCS Team Championships Trophy Division for the 2018 Season with a brilliant 3rd place finish in the Shield Division Final this morning. The Championships got off to a great start on Saturday morning as the team finished in 1st place during the Northern Qualifying Round and recorded a series of quick swims with two University Records as they progressed to the Shield Division Final. Boosted by the arrival of Head Coach, Samir Ahmed, they really kicked on this morning and gave a brilliant account of themselves to finish a close 3rd behind Performance Centres Edinburgh 2 and Swansea 2. The whole team were able to pick up a wellearned bronze medal. The Captain's Swimmer of the Meet was freshman Will Beavan. Will added to his Saturday University Record in the 50m Freestyle with another top quality swim in the 200m Freestyle as he won the Shield Final race in a record-breaking time of Maisie Furneaux also had a fantastic meet as she broke the 50m Freestyle University Record in a time of and moved ever closer to the sub mark on the 100m Freestyle as work towards the upcoming Roses Varsity continues. Well done to all our swimmers for a great week of competing and a massive thank you to our coach Samir Ahmed and Preston Swimming Club for all of their help and support in the build up to the Championships.

21 Long Course Championships 2017 The LUSWP Swimming team had a successful weekend at the BUCS Long Course Championships in Sheffield. Maisie Furneaux was named Captain's Swimmer of the Meet as she broke the University Record in both 50m/100m Freestyle events and earned a good PB in the 50m Backstroke. Carl Smith also had a brilliant meet with PBs in 100m/200m/400m Freestyle and also a University Record in the latter event. Will Beavan earned an impressive 20th place finish in the 200m Freestyle, earning himself a University record for the meet. The LUSWP Men's 4x100m Freestyle team finishing 10th in the A Final and also saw the 100m Freestyle record being broken by lead swimmer Will Beavan. The Men's 4x100m Medley team also broke the University record in a fantastic performance from a team made up of freshmen. The Women's 4x100 Freestyle team also put in a very credible performance with lead off swimmer Cheyma Le Falher breaking the Long Course 100m FR University Record in the process. With a University first in making the A Final for the 4x100m Freestyle relay and great performances all round, this was a brilliant meet for the team and signs of definite progress through working with Preston Swimming Club. Also a massive thank you to Jess Wilkie of PSC for her hard work this weekend, leading the team at the meet with such experience and presence, and also our Head Coach, Samir Ahmed, for his work in the build up to the championships in training.

22 Thank you to all our contributors this month, both of photographs and narrative particularly HandsBeattie photos who provided the cover picture. If any parent has a swimming related story to share, such as a biathlon, charity or school event, or would like to help by covering any of the galas, then please send your contributions through to Mel Greenslade - mgreenslade65@outlook.com Contact Information Head Coach - Samir Ahmed Tel: headcoach@swimpreston.co.uk Head Age Group Coach - Jess Wilkie Tel: jess@swimpreston.co.uk Head of Junior Swimming - Paul Davison pmd_1983@yahoo.co.uk All lesson enquiries should be directed to Head of Teaching Kim Armston lessons@swimpreston.co.uk