Great performances by Southampton Age-Groupers at Nationals Well done to ALL our National Age Group swimmers, you did yourselves, the City of Southampton Swimming Club and ME proud. These are the best National Age Group results and statistics City of Southampton Swimming Club have produced in over 15 years.
When I first arrived at the club in 2006 we did NOT have a presence at the National Age Group Championships, so to achieve 4 medals, 5 other finalists (Top 10) is nothing short of amazing in any coaches books. Knowing that all our swimmers at the National Age Group Championships are home grown is a fact that many of our rivals have recognised and respected, this is to say the least - most unusual! In comparison to many other clubs with or without 50m pools we are not a big club – we do not have any feeder clubs, yet despite these facts our Boys are now Age Group Ranked 13th Top Club in Great Britain – wow! However, as we all know it is not the pool or the size of the club our success comes down to THE TRAINING REGIME & PROGRAMME. | National Age Group Stats | 2006 | 2009 | | Gold | 0 | 1 | | Silver | 0 | 2 | | Bronze | 0 | 1 | | Finalist | 0 | 5 | | Individual swims | 0 | 23 | | Relays | 0 | 3 | | Swimmers attending | 0 | 10 | | Boys team | 0 | 13th |
11 year old Ben Stevens epitomises what I like to see in a competitive swimmer ‘Great Butterfly Technique, Steel, Determination and the important ingredient of ‘never give up/Great Fighting Spirit attitude.’ Ranked 14th in the 200m Butterfly with a qualification time of 2:45.84 I told Ben ‘He would have to drop at least 6 secs to make the final.’ With that news and the daunting prospect of first national swim Ben committed himself from the start, going through the 100m in 1:11.9, something that no other 11 year old swimmer had achieved over the 100m Butterfly this year, he continued to clock 2:33.61 a 12 second pb, turning the rankings upside down! In the Final Ben lead from the start knowing that National No1 Portsmouth Northsea’s Aaron Lloyd would come on strong in the latter stages of the race. Again Ben set the pace and despite lowering his time again was just over taken in the last 5m by Aaron. However, Ben had made City of Southampton SC history, he is the first 11year old boy to Qualify for National Age Groups and he is the first 11 year old boy to achieve a National SILVER medal in this event. However, Ben was upset/uptight that he had missed the gold, after the race I explained to Ben that this was not a bad thing and that in fact we could go one better in the 100m Final, informing Ben that he had made club history and that his time of 2:32.35 was 2.94 secs inside the 12years National Qualification brought a smile to his face.
With the knowledge that Ben had split 1:11.9 for 100m Butterfly in the 200m, Ben and I knew the others would chase him in the Heats of the 100m, this was true. Despite Ben clocking 1:11.4 and being ranked No1 for the Final, I informed Ben that I thought 1:09.5 would win the evening Final, Ben looked at me puzzled, but did fully understand. And so to the Final, once again up against the Ranked No1 Aaron Lloyd of Portsmouth. My race instructions were go out as fast as possible in 32.5secs-33.0secs and then pick up the kick at 75m. Ben did exactly what he was told, this is one of Ben’s assets, he will race to instructions, at 50m he clocked 32.91 (the fastest 50m 11 year old LC Butterfly this year) and went to his kick at 75m continuing through to 100m, he did not give up when under pressure at 40m and after the turn.
Ben Touched 1st winning GOLD in a time of 1:09.37 – NATIONAL CHAMPION, the only 11 year old to go under 1:10 this year (2nd place Aaron Lloyd in 1:10.), Ben’s time is under next years 12year old National QT. This swim is one of the best from a swimmer I have coached. ……And what were Ben’s first words when he came back from the medal ceremony – ‘Thanks Dave for all your coaching, because without you I would not have done this!’. All this from an 11 year old boy, such swimming maturity and gratitude. Ben you and I will never forget this swim.
On day 1 it was great to see our two 12 year old girls, Hannah Stevens and Katie Fryer, give it their best in what has to be one of the hardest events to qualify, the 100m Free. Whilst Katie was just outside her best, Hannah (older sister to Ben) made amends for missing the final last year (11th in 2008), when she swam a very impressive 1:02.66 to place her 9th going into the final, a time which would gain her entry into the event next year. Hannah swam well in the evening a little outside her heat time, but held onto the 9th placing.
12 year old Tom Diaper-Fox exceeded all expectations with his 1,500m Free race, knowing that he had to clock at least 10 secs inside his best for a medal, Tom displayed good determination going head-to-head with the No1 seed, constantly repeating 1:10’s – 1:11’s for 100m throughout his race, his 800m Split was a personal best that once again would gain entry at nationals in the next age group up. At one stage Tom drew level with the No1 seed, however in this case size did matter and despite all Tom’s efforts he just could not break through. Tom touched 2nd, winning the SILVER medal in a massive personal best time, a time that is 26 secs inside the 13yrs 1,500m time. Tom, competing in his first Nationals had a really good championship, he made the final of the 400m Free in a personal best time of 4:40.27 and was placed 9th. Despite Tom’s best efforts, probably down to sheer fatigue and other factors (see below) he was unable to replicate the form he showed in 1,500m during the 200m & 800m Free, however being placed 13th & 5th is still an amazing achievement. Like all our national swimmers Tom proved that he can mix it with the best and once again this is good progress.
14 year old Ashley Ball, who only 18 months ago did not have a county qualifying time, has demonstrated what can be achieved. This year (2009) he has become County BAGCAT Champion, SE Region 100m Butterfly Champion and now 6th Best 14 year old in GB for 200m Butterfly, all this from a boy, who 18 months ago could not do 25m legal butterfly - Wow! Ashley’s 200m Butterfly heat time was a massive personal best time of 2:12.60 some 5 secs faster than he had done previously it was inside his 15yrs National QT. Despite Ashley’s Final time being outside his heat time, he was placed 6th – once again what an achievement in 18 months. In the 100m Butterfly Ashley once again achieved a life time personal best time and inside the 15yrs National QT and was placed 14th.
12 year old Bas Burnel’s breaststroke goes from strength to strength, in the 200m Heats he lowered his personal best to be ranked 4th into the final, however I think Bas was mystified that I was not entirely happy with his swim, I knew then that we needed to correct his stroke and split times – and if he could - that he would have a sniff of the podium. Throughout Bas’s swim down and Final warm-up we corrected things and got Bas to concentrate more. This worked a treat in the final as he delivered the goods, better split times, more importantly a better stroke and yes – 3rd place, securing BRONZE in another personal best of 2:46.03 (inside next years 13year old National QT). In the 100m Breaststroke Bas again lowered his pb in the Heats to 1:19.29 and gained a very creditable 7th position in the Final, again lowering his time to 1:19.26.
To be very candid 14 year old Karl Heather did not have the best Nationals, unlike many other swimmers though Karl would be the first to admit this. Karl did have a ‘Stinker’ of a 200m IM and 400m IM – and yes I told him so and more importantly he understood why! Karl took the constructive criticism – he knows where he went wrong and how we can improve. However, one thing Karl does have in his arsenal is the maturity to understand the constructive criticism and the tenacity to come back and make a mends. Despite having 2 indifferent (stinker) swims Karl’s 800m Free was really well executed as he kept it together to record a personal best time of 9:05.19 a time that will make the 15yrs 800m Free National QT. In the 200m Backstroke Karl again over came the disappointment of the IM swims to record a pb of 2:19.32. Personally I still don’t believe we do know what Karl’s No1 stroke is – he has four good strokes, when he thanked me for coaching him I told him ‘Karl you could make a good distance Frontcrawl swimmer even an Open Water swimmer’ Karl’s face was very contorted!
And so to the relays, City of Southampton Swimming Club achieved qualification in 3 relays and in order for us to compete in these relays 3 swimmers India Bosley, Isobel Lyon-Maris and Indiana Shanker had to come up to Sheffield to make up the team, I want to take this opportunity to thank their parents in making this effort. It is an honour to swim at Nationals whether that be as an individual or in a relay team. These swimmers did themselves proud all 3 relay teams swam well, the Girls 4 x 100m Free Team leapt up 9 places in the Rankings as did the Boys 4 x 200m Free Team (from 30th best team in GB to 21st), without India, Isobel and Indiana this would not have been possible. I am sure these swimmers now appreciate the momentous task it is to achieve a National QT and the standard of the competition. Our last race of the competition saw our Boys 4 x 100m Medley Team hold it’s own gaining a very creditable 21st position.
There are several factors that can only serve to enhance our performance at a 3–5 Day Competitions many can be addressed in the training pool throughout the next season. However, one salient factor is that far too many of our swimmers eating protocols are completely wrong! Hot Dogs, Chicken Nuggets and Chips and other junk foods are not conducive to aid recovery or refuel. I remain amazed that we have to continue to re-learn these lessons. On each occasion of the Italian Training Camp, Swansea Open Meet and again National Championships these swimmers suffer a big dip in performance on Day 3 onwards, basically there is nothing in the fuel tank – Why? It is now very evident that some swimmers do not eat enough and when they do it is complete junk – I am afraid this is a factor the swimmer needs to address away from my coaching guidance on poolside and especially away from home in 2 or more day competitions.
I have had many favourable comments from the ASA through to other coaches on our performance and progress, I firmly believe we can achieve more in the coming seasons. As I mentioned previously - Well done to ALL our National Age Group swimmers you did yourselves, the City of Southampton SC and ME proud.
David Terry
Head Coach
City of Southampton Swimming Club |
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