News Item 64 - Positive start to Chesterfield Swimming Club season

The weekend of October 2nd saw Chesterfield Swimming Club start the new swimming season at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. The competition was strong at the Robin Hood Open meet with the likes of City of Peterborough Swimming club, now coached by former Chesterfield Head Coach Ben Negus and Wigan BEST in attendance.

From the start Chesterfield swimmers were impressive with Imogen Morris taking gold in 10 year olds 200m Breaststroke in a time of 3:19.84 and Lizzy Critchlow finishing just outside the medals in her first long course meet. Lizzy’s sister, Sophie, continued the strong start by collecting bronze in 12 year old 200m Breaststroke. Imogen Morris continued her medal streak by finishing 3rd in the 50m freestyle.

It was now time for the boys to collect their first medal of the meet with John Richards taking silver in the 50m freestyle. Imogen again showing her potential by posting a 200m IM time of 3:00.98 that placed her fourth missing out on bronze by half a second. Another medal was awarded to Chesterfield which Rebecca Haw taking bronze in 50m Backstroke and this was followed up by another female swimmer, Fran Anderson collecting silver in the 100m Butterfly.

Moving into the final session of the first day saw Oliver Wilkes finish in the bronze medal position of the 400m freestyle, with a time of 4:42.40, taking the medal tally to seven after day one.

Sunday morning saw the Chesterfield boys fight back by take gold for Chesterfield in the 50m Breaststroke, Matthew Mounsey the swimmer with a time of 39.51. This was quickly followed up by Will Richards taking bronze in the same event. Will’s sibling gave Chesterfield another medal by picking up silver in the 100m Breaststroke and Imogen Morris again showing her dominance in the water with gold, this time in the 100m Breaststroke. Sophie Critchlow picked up her second medal of the meet with a bronze in the same event.

At the end of the meet Chesterfield amassed a total of 12 medals and over one hundred long course personal bests. Chesterfield SC Head Coach, Dan Higgon, reflected back on the weekend “It is great start to the season especially this early on as it wasn’t expected. We are currently going through a technique phase of our season so we haven’t been pushing the swimmers as hard as we could and to come away with 12 medals and to have so many PB’s shows that our system is working. The swimmers and parents deserve credit for the hard work they have been putting in especially the early mornings and if they maintain the work rate and enthusiasm we will see even greater results later on in the season. A big thanks also has to go to Jake Golding & Carla Bickerstaffe for their hard work in producing the swimmers within the club so we can come to these meets and do so well”.

Dan Higgon
Head Coach

News Item 63 - Mike Ward

Dear All

It is with regret that I have to inform you that Mike Ward our Chairman for the last five years has unfortunately decided to stand down from this position.

During his tenure Mike has worked tirelessly for the club in his and the committees quest to move the club forward. Indeed his leadership has enabled the club to make significant progress both in and out of the water. In many areas beyond what was originally anticipated.

So on behalf of CSC committees past and present I would like to thank him for all his hard work and wish him all the very best for the future. I am sure you will all still see him regularly around our pools and will also wish him all the very best.

In terms of Mike's successor it is anticipated a Special General Meeting will be called in the near future to elect a replacement , details of which will be made available in due course.

In the interim I have agreed to cover the role as Acting Chairperson on a temporary basis. If you have any questions on any of this please feel free to ask a Committee Member.

In the meantime many thanks for your continued support.

Best regards

Nigel Butler
Treasurer
Chesterfield Swimming Club

News Item 62 - Additional Elite Land Training Times June - August 2010

Elite squad additional land training it will be at Dronfield 7-9pm on the following dates

4th June
11th June
2nd July
16th July
30th July
6th August

Regards

Daniel Higgon

News Item 61 - Training alterations Apr/May 2010

29 April 2010
Any female swimmers in JO1, JO2, Junior Elite and Elite attending morning training on Thursday 29th April will have to use the disabled changing facilities both before and after training as there will be workmen working in the female changing rooms. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.

29 April/6 May 2010
Due to coach absences Junior Elite's Thursday night training will be at Staveley from 6-8pm on both Thursday 29th April and Thursday 6th May.

1 May 2010
Due to the Midlands competition at the weekend there will be no Elite training on Saturday 1st May.

3 May 2010
There will be no morning training for Elite and Junior Elite on Monday 3rd May at Queens Park due to the bank holiday and there will be no training Monday night at Brookfield for Elite, JO2, Junior Elite or Club Squad and training Monday night at Queens Park for Masters and Junior masters.

Thanks very much.

Carla

News Item 60 - Boythorpe Road closure

Important - Road works are due to start in the next 24 hours on Boythorpe Road for approximately two weeks.

This will mean overnight road closures (7pm to 7am ) between the Chatsworth/Markham road roundabout and Queens Park Sports Centre. The bottom (North) car park will also be closed during this time, however any cars parked in this car park prior to 7pm will be allowed to exit the car park after 7pm. Although anyone doing this should be prepared for a possible delay.

The top (South) car park will not be affected and is recommended as the car park to use during this period.

Many apologies for any in convenience

CSC Committee & Queens Park Sports Centre Management

News Item 59 - Training Alterations Junior Elite, JO1 and JO2

Junior Elite training alterations due to City of Leicester meet

Friday 23rd April training at Brookfield will be only for 1 hour from 7-8pm

Sunday 25th April training at Queens Park is cancelled but an alternative session will be available on Saturday 24th April at Dronfield 7-9am with Elite.

There will be no land training for JO1 and JO2 at Queens Park on Sunday nights until further notice.

JO1 and JO2 training alterations due to Midlands and Rykneld open meet

Training on Saturday 1st May will be combined at Brookfield 1 hour land training 8.30-9.20am then 1 hour swimming 9.30-10.30am.

Thanks very much.
Carla.

News Item 58 - Head Coach update

Well the number and quality of the candidates applying for the position has been flattering to say the least and the decision to reach a shortlist not easy.

Under Julia Brown as Chair of the Selection Panel, the candidates have been whittled down to 4 all of whom will be invited to attend an interview, prepare a training schedule for a swimmer under set conditions and carry out a short practical in order that we can follow a clear process and deliver the right candidate to take the club through its next stage of development. These interviews will take place over the next week.

We will have a final decision shortly, at which time following their formal acceptance of the post we will notify everyone and introduce the New Head Coach of Chesterfield Swimming Club at the earliest opportunity.

Change is never easy but it is a fact of life and as parents we need to work as a team to support all the swimmers, coaches and teachers to allow this club assume the position it so rightly deserves within British Swimming.

Your help is very much required and appreciated.

Should you have any questions please direct them to Julia Brown, Nigel Butler or me.

Happy Easter.

Mike Ward
Chairman