News

With the weekends of March 29/30 and April 5/6 in mind swimmers are training hard, trying to get that extra edge that may make the difference between getting a medal or not. Everyone should be working hard on their starts and turns as well as maintaining the fitness they should have built-up over the winter months. Last weekend Douglas hosted the Lloyds TSB relay league match at the NSC. It was a great night with some good close and exciting races including the open 400m Individual Medley. This was a championship event and medals were presented on the night. Full report next week. Having had time to reflect on the Lloyds TSB distance Champs there were 128 personal best times and five championship records. For a meet that only has 16 events that makes the evening a resounding success. Swimmers who didn't necessarily get medals but took large chunks off their personal bests included Emily Wood and Mark Emery (both knocking off more than 60 seconds) Sarah Stannard, Alison Corkill, Mukunda Measuria, Aoife O'Donahue, Andrew Isaac, Hannah Kennish and Kate Bielich. Well done to all of them. It is by no coincidence that all the above names are always at training sessions. An Amateur Swimming Association National Teaching Plan seminar was held recently on the Island, funded by the Isle of Man Swimming Association in association with Manx Sport and Recreation. The seminar was well attended from every area of swimming on the Island, both at club and teaching level. Course organiser Mary Doyle thanked all the attendees for their interest shown and mentioned Douglas Swimming Club are introducing the plan from September of this year. The main aim of the plan is the teaching of all swimming across the board to a specified level. Belated birthday wishes to Kimberley Manley, Robert Moore and Katherine Stamp. Birthday wishes also go to Katie Wilkinson, Nigel Halsall and Lucy Johnson. Don't forget any birthday celebrations can be emailed for inclusion in this column along with any poolside news.