Seagulls break into GB water polo ranks
23 December 2009
Christchurch and New Milton Seagulls have ended 2009 on a new high. Following on from the swim team’s excellent performances culminating in their win at the Arena National Swim League Division 2 Finals, the club’s water polo squad have broken into the GB water polo set up for the first time in the club’s history.
Three young Seagulls water polo players have been selected for the GB Water Polo Talent Squad for boys. Charlie Roberts, Jackson Mullins and Sam Webber have all been chosen as part of a 60 strong squad following their success in a tournament at the end of the National Water Polo Academy held at Millfield School in the summer.
On hearing the news, Rob Webber, water polo coach at Seagulls said, ‘This is a fantastic result for the players and the club. It caps an outstanding season for all of our teams and players. To get 3 players into the 1995/96 talent squad – the youngest a player can be selected for GB Water Polo – is unreal. There are only 4 clubs in the whole of England and Wales with more players in the squad than Seagulls. When Barry Aldrick brought polo into Seagulls just 4 years ago, this wasn’t even part of our dreams. To be honest we didn’t even know that this existed!’
Every 2 years the GB Water Polo coaching set-up selects a 60 strong squad to target the European Junior Championships. The starting point is attendance at the Regional Training Centres throughout the UK – the three boys travel weekly to Exeter on Friday evenings with 5 of their Seagulls team mates. From here players are selected to train at the week-long National Academy each summer – this year 4 Seagulls players attended. The national talent squad is then selected from the players at the National Academy and from the coaches' knowledge of players around the country.
Webber continued, “This has been a true team effort. Charlie, Jackson and Sam couldn’t have made it this far without the support and help of many people. The coaches at Seagulls and the other clubs where they swim and train, the volunteers who run the Dorset Water Polo League and the county teams and the parents and helpers who make the club tick. But most of all from their Seagulls team mates who make sure that competition for places in our teams is fierce.”
‘In reality this is only the start for Charlie, Jackson and Sam. This is like reaching the foothills on a climb of Everest – a great achievement but the real work starts there. They will now attend monthly, weekend-long, training sessions with the GB Coaches. They will face regular tests, trials and tournaments, and will have to continuously compete for their places over the next 2 years. The talent squad will constantly change as it is trimmed to form an elite squad to compete for GB in the Junior European Championships in 2012.”
“For Seagulls it is also a new start. Now we have done something special at Seagulls – in swimming and water polo simultaneously. The challenge for the coaches and players alike will be to try and maintain this level of achievement. We have shown that we can open the pathway for talented competitive swimmers and turn them into some of the best young water polo athletes in the country. We have other talented players in our squads at this age group and below, who we hope to get into future GB talent squads. We are sure that there are other swimmers out there who could make the transition to this great sport and we are ready to help them achieve that goal. We think Seagulls has now earned the right to dream – 2016 is just 6 years away.”
Monday, 28 December 2009
Sunday, 27 December 2009
NATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE- 3 OUT of 3= PROMOTION
I would like to congratulate all of the Seagulls swimmers on achieveing the clubs highest ever ranking and position in the National Swimming League by leading the final gala from event 6 onwards making us Division 2 Champions.
Another solid team performance including a telling off from the referee to myself for our parents that would not be quiet after the long whistle - WELL DONE GREAT SUPPORT!
This has definately been the strongest team I have worked with and the support for each other was fantastic and we will definately be carrying this on into next years Division.
I have to particularly say a big well done to Megan Chapman, Alice Talbot and Ellie Kerslake due to the volume of events they completed gaining high positions in a range of age groups. Ellie claimed another double in the U13 and U15 Backstrokes, with Megan taking the U13 Breastroke and breaking the Club Record in the OPEN IM.
Alice also made it 3 out of 3 in each round by winning the U13 Freestyle.
I thought the older boys showed great character and played great role models by providing the base to the Seagulls chants as well as supporting everyone in the team. even if the did throw me in). The boys also went three seconds quicker in the canon relay than the last round with exactly the same team as did the girls who also performed out of thier skins providing the high flying notes for our chant. Thats what I call stepping up!
Well done to the U11 (Andrew, Ben, Lewis and Peter, U13 boys (Chris, Peter, Cianan and Ben) and U13 girls (Megan, Elie, Alice and Rachael) who secured double relay wins.
A huge well done to Chris Gannaway, Ben Wickens and Andrew Botros who continued their winning form as they have in each round in individual events.
However, the most impressive things was the team. The club had done its homework with huge amount of preparation before the league began, then on every race day and stuck to its guns with regards to the team ethic it wanted. Which put simply ..... it worked.
The swimmers worked for every point and controlled what they could control with the outcome of their races producing over 100 Individual personal bests and 7 club records broken over all 3 rounds they definately deserved this promotion.
So next year we have 100m events for 13 year olds and an open 200IM, as well as a move up in age groups for half the swimmers. Lets aim for the promotion gala and continue putting Seagulls up the rankings!
WELL DONE!
Another solid team performance including a telling off from the referee to myself for our parents that would not be quiet after the long whistle - WELL DONE GREAT SUPPORT!
This has definately been the strongest team I have worked with and the support for each other was fantastic and we will definately be carrying this on into next years Division.
I have to particularly say a big well done to Megan Chapman, Alice Talbot and Ellie Kerslake due to the volume of events they completed gaining high positions in a range of age groups. Ellie claimed another double in the U13 and U15 Backstrokes, with Megan taking the U13 Breastroke and breaking the Club Record in the OPEN IM.
Alice also made it 3 out of 3 in each round by winning the U13 Freestyle.
I thought the older boys showed great character and played great role models by providing the base to the Seagulls chants as well as supporting everyone in the team. even if the did throw me in). The boys also went three seconds quicker in the canon relay than the last round with exactly the same team as did the girls who also performed out of thier skins providing the high flying notes for our chant. Thats what I call stepping up!
Well done to the U11 (Andrew, Ben, Lewis and Peter, U13 boys (Chris, Peter, Cianan and Ben) and U13 girls (Megan, Elie, Alice and Rachael) who secured double relay wins.
A huge well done to Chris Gannaway, Ben Wickens and Andrew Botros who continued their winning form as they have in each round in individual events.
However, the most impressive things was the team. The club had done its homework with huge amount of preparation before the league began, then on every race day and stuck to its guns with regards to the team ethic it wanted. Which put simply ..... it worked.
The swimmers worked for every point and controlled what they could control with the outcome of their races producing over 100 Individual personal bests and 7 club records broken over all 3 rounds they definately deserved this promotion.
So next year we have 100m events for 13 year olds and an open 200IM, as well as a move up in age groups for half the swimmers. Lets aim for the promotion gala and continue putting Seagulls up the rankings!
WELL DONE!
Monday, 16 November 2009
NATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE 2009- TWO OUT OF TWO WILL DO!
What a fantastic evening as we lead the National Swimmig League round 2 gala from start to finish! A huge thank you to the parents again who were undoubtedly gaining us extra points with their non stop support which was absolutely amazing in what can only be described as pool that should not be hosting National Swimming League Gala's. Ever heard the joke- how many swimmers and parent and officials could you fit in a phone box........
Nether the less appreciation and respect to the Officials team who ran a well organised and smooth gala with no room at the end or the sides of the pool and no pa system for announcing!
Down to our performances - first of all a BIG pat on the back to Lewis Hall who still competed under the stress of stomach cramps. This lead to the 11 and under boys gaining 35 out of 36 points. The next best age group was the 13 and under boys who gained 34 out of 36 points and then the 13 and under girls who gained 33 out of 36 points with some strong performances.
A big well done to Izzy, Ellie and Alice who all gained wins swimming up in the U15 age groups and well done to Andrew who gained double wins in his age group events and to Peter Griffiths who gained 2 club records and Sam Webber and Alice Talbot who gained a club record each. Other individual wins came to Leana Galton Emma Garland, Megan Chapman, Melissa Bennison, Ben Wickens and Chris Gannaway. Including relays we gained 20wins all together!
It is an absolute pleasure to be part of such a fast developing passionate team!
The pressure is certainly on going into the last round as we top the Division 2 table.
Can our swimmers and parents perform even better?
Will we be able to hold of all of the teams we have annoyed with our constant cheering and loudness who will be pulling swimmers in left right and centre to beat us and shusssh us?
Will the swimmers stay a strong team and will the parents carry on cheering when the gala isn't going our way, which it may not at stages in the final round?
Can we achieve a top 3 finish to gain promotion?
ONLY FULL COMMITMENT TO TRAINING AND PERFORMING WILL TELL!
NEXT ROUND: DEC 12th HUTTON MOOR 5pm!
WATCH THIS SPACE TO FIND OUT WHETHER THE SEAGULLS FALL OR SEAGULLS SOAR!
Now to swimmers development....
Always one to nit pick and push for more..................
One thing I feel we do need to improve on is our mental attitude when lining up for races, there were a lot of our swimmers worrying about the size, shape, what costumes other swimmers were wearing before we raced, all I would like to ask is WHY?
YOU only can control how YOU swim, YOU only can control your race plans, YOU only can control your dives, transitions, break outs, turns, takeovers, finishes, stroke rates, stroke counts. YOU only can control how YOU are going to swim. NO one in the club and team is expecting YOU to do any more than YOUR best! YOU do not need to worry about other teams and swimmers - what we do need to do is focus on achieveing personal bests for the younger swimmers, and "time of the season" bests for the older swimmers with an improvement in the particular area of the race you are trying to develop at the current time you are racing.
Nether the less appreciation and respect to the Officials team who ran a well organised and smooth gala with no room at the end or the sides of the pool and no pa system for announcing!
Down to our performances - first of all a BIG pat on the back to Lewis Hall who still competed under the stress of stomach cramps. This lead to the 11 and under boys gaining 35 out of 36 points. The next best age group was the 13 and under boys who gained 34 out of 36 points and then the 13 and under girls who gained 33 out of 36 points with some strong performances.
A big well done to Izzy, Ellie and Alice who all gained wins swimming up in the U15 age groups and well done to Andrew who gained double wins in his age group events and to Peter Griffiths who gained 2 club records and Sam Webber and Alice Talbot who gained a club record each. Other individual wins came to Leana Galton Emma Garland, Megan Chapman, Melissa Bennison, Ben Wickens and Chris Gannaway. Including relays we gained 20wins all together!
It is an absolute pleasure to be part of such a fast developing passionate team!
The pressure is certainly on going into the last round as we top the Division 2 table.
Can our swimmers and parents perform even better?
Will we be able to hold of all of the teams we have annoyed with our constant cheering and loudness who will be pulling swimmers in left right and centre to beat us and shusssh us?
Will the swimmers stay a strong team and will the parents carry on cheering when the gala isn't going our way, which it may not at stages in the final round?
Can we achieve a top 3 finish to gain promotion?
ONLY FULL COMMITMENT TO TRAINING AND PERFORMING WILL TELL!
NEXT ROUND: DEC 12th HUTTON MOOR 5pm!
WATCH THIS SPACE TO FIND OUT WHETHER THE SEAGULLS FALL OR SEAGULLS SOAR!
Now to swimmers development....
Always one to nit pick and push for more..................
One thing I feel we do need to improve on is our mental attitude when lining up for races, there were a lot of our swimmers worrying about the size, shape, what costumes other swimmers were wearing before we raced, all I would like to ask is WHY?
YOU only can control how YOU swim, YOU only can control your race plans, YOU only can control your dives, transitions, break outs, turns, takeovers, finishes, stroke rates, stroke counts. YOU only can control how YOU are going to swim. NO one in the club and team is expecting YOU to do any more than YOUR best! YOU do not need to worry about other teams and swimmers - what we do need to do is focus on achieveing personal bests for the younger swimmers, and "time of the season" bests for the older swimmers with an improvement in the particular area of the race you are trying to develop at the current time you are racing.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Novice League Success
I was very proud and pleased with our swimmers during the final round of the West Hampshire Novice League, there have certainly been huge improvements with our swimmers through out the year. We have now won our last 7 galas in this competition, including all 5 rounds of the 2009 campaign.
This is a great competition for swimmers to start to becomeused and geaining the bug for competiting.
I though the whoel gala went really smooth and we can luck forwards to great results next year where we wil hopefully continue our success.
This is a great competition for swimmers to start to becomeused and geaining the bug for competiting.
I though the whoel gala went really smooth and we can luck forwards to great results next year where we wil hopefully continue our success.
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Seagulls Izzy to do the business for DORSET
Dear All
I am sure you will join me to wish Isabelle Frampton the best of luck when competing for Dorset County in the National Inter-County Championships on Sunday in Sheffield. (18th Oct)
Good Luck
I am sure you will join me to wish Isabelle Frampton the best of luck when competing for Dorset County in the National Inter-County Championships on Sunday in Sheffield. (18th Oct)
Good Luck
Monday, 12 October 2009
National Swimming League Round 1 Success
Dear All
I start this week feeling really pleased and proud of the swimmers and parents that represented Seagulls in the National Swimming League Round 1 at Keynsham on Saturday, we led the gala on every points total from start to finish.
I am pleased in many ways with the whole process that led to success.
This started with the NSL Hinton Oak Selection Gala where we fielded 3 teams against each other. I offer a big thank you for all the swimmers and volunteers that took part in this to allow us to find our strongest team. The swimmers competing on Saturday at Keynsham represented the whole club including the swimmers that did not make the team and did everyone proud.
It is often hard and I know from experience having been a swimmer, that if you are not quite the right age or you train more than other people who get selected for the team you can often feel a little downhearted and hopefully it will drive you on to gain the place. However you can be assured that we selected the fastest team who did not just perform for themselves but for all the swimmers, parents, coaches and volunteers in the club to show the in depth strength our club is starting to develop.
For the night I would also like to say thank you to everyone who purchased T-Shirts and without doubt we looked the smartest team. We had organised our warm ups both on land and in the water prior to the evening which showed professionalism and the support from the parents and swimmers with never ending chanting and cheering I also found outstanding!
This really showed that a strong team gains extra points.
With 33 personal bests, 38 top 3 finishes (out of 50) 16 firsts and 4 club records, finishing 31 points ahead of one of the fastest improving teams in the South West, Salisbury Stingrays showed a very dominating performance.
On the back of this result and with out creating too much pressure on the team, I feel it is realistic to push for promotion this season.
Although this is our best first round result in the last couple of seasons we will have our work cut out against some of the stronger teams in the division such as the combined teams from Swindon x 3, Bournemouth Dolphins and Ferndown Otters, 3 Towers Somerset and also against Bath and Bodmin who draft in swimmers on dual memberships, so I would urge all swimmers to keep training consistently and keep training cleverly to compete and wilfully beat these teams.
I start this week feeling really pleased and proud of the swimmers and parents that represented Seagulls in the National Swimming League Round 1 at Keynsham on Saturday, we led the gala on every points total from start to finish.
I am pleased in many ways with the whole process that led to success.
This started with the NSL Hinton Oak Selection Gala where we fielded 3 teams against each other. I offer a big thank you for all the swimmers and volunteers that took part in this to allow us to find our strongest team. The swimmers competing on Saturday at Keynsham represented the whole club including the swimmers that did not make the team and did everyone proud.
It is often hard and I know from experience having been a swimmer, that if you are not quite the right age or you train more than other people who get selected for the team you can often feel a little downhearted and hopefully it will drive you on to gain the place. However you can be assured that we selected the fastest team who did not just perform for themselves but for all the swimmers, parents, coaches and volunteers in the club to show the in depth strength our club is starting to develop.
For the night I would also like to say thank you to everyone who purchased T-Shirts and without doubt we looked the smartest team. We had organised our warm ups both on land and in the water prior to the evening which showed professionalism and the support from the parents and swimmers with never ending chanting and cheering I also found outstanding!
This really showed that a strong team gains extra points.
With 33 personal bests, 38 top 3 finishes (out of 50) 16 firsts and 4 club records, finishing 31 points ahead of one of the fastest improving teams in the South West, Salisbury Stingrays showed a very dominating performance.
On the back of this result and with out creating too much pressure on the team, I feel it is realistic to push for promotion this season.
Although this is our best first round result in the last couple of seasons we will have our work cut out against some of the stronger teams in the division such as the combined teams from Swindon x 3, Bournemouth Dolphins and Ferndown Otters, 3 Towers Somerset and also against Bath and Bodmin who draft in swimmers on dual memberships, so I would urge all swimmers to keep training consistently and keep training cleverly to compete and wilfully beat these teams.
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Next weekend, you all have a Saturday night off (whilst I am training in Plymouth) so make the most of it and organise to meet up with each other for some social fun and activities before the club champs the weekend after.
All the best from a very proud HEAD COACH!
Barry
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Start of Weekly Blogs!
Dear All
It is time to get up to speed with technology and cyberology to update this on what I aim to be a weekly basis for all (or none) that are interested.
The Seagulls swimmers have hit the ground running (or the pool swimming) this season, with very early success all ready achieving a win in the Novice League meaning we have won the league only having to turn up to the next round due to winning the previous 3 rounds.
We also became runners up of the Hants and South Coast Junior Cup Division 2 our highest position so far.
The Seagulls under 14 water polo team also spread the clubs success further afield by finishing runners up in the Basinsgtoke Red Cross Tournament competing against a range of teams across the country. A big well done to the players and the two Rob's on this achievement.
Over the summer we had our first National Age Group Finalist in Isabelle Frampton a big well done, report below.
Coming up next weekend is the first round of the National "Arena" Swimming League where I am positive to gaining a good first round result. Having compared our team to last year we are quicker in every event upto the Open Age Group where we are very similar on times. I am looking for a great team spirit and for our swimmers and parents to really get behind the team.
I wish for our supporters to be the loudest and our swimmers a strong close supportive team.
That's all for now, will update next week.
Nationals Report 2009
Below is an in depth report of how our two National swimmers performed at the Nationals in where we have gained some great results, however it is also interesting to see what can be learned from the two swimmers from the club that have gained the best results.
Izzy Frampton
A very nervous Isabelle Frampton at her first Nationals started her account with the 200m Butterfly in which she had a very realistic chance of qualifying for the final. In the heats I told her to take it out strong to blast the nerves out of her for which she did hitting a 1.10.64 for the first 100m, a lot quicker than what both of us expected (and perhaps wanted), considering her 100m pb was a 1.10.03, she then returned in the 2nd 100 in a 1.23.24 to record a PB of 2.33.88, a club Record and a 5th place ranking going into the Final. A great achievement for her first ever race at the National Championships.
Going into the Final we had spoken in detail about the splits that we hoped for before the championships, which best case scenario was to go a 34,38 (1.12) 38,38 (1.16) which would have given an overall time of around 2.28-2.30. Showing guts and determination Izzy went out even harder than she did in the heats and turned in 2nd place in a 1.10.48. I was 95% sure this was too fast to come back hard, but still 5% of me was holding out for something special. The second half of the race took its toll and a split of 1.23.33 secured 8th place and another PB and Club Record in a 2.33.81. An amazing achievement, and the clubs first swimmer since I have been in position to make a final and to be 8th in the whole of the country is a great fete.
The lesson Isabelle learned here was to stick to her race plans and work on pacing. She said she likes to go out strong and for her to do this and hold on to a pace she believes she has to be even fitter to cope with the drop off on the second 100m.
The 100m fly on the following day was looking like she could produce a time to make the final based on the two first half race splits of the 200m fly which were both 0.61 and 0.45 outside her 100m pb. If she went a 0.5 second pb she had a good chance to make the final. If she went a full one second pb she would make the final in one of the middle lanes, which was how close the girls in her age were. The first 50m looked good turning in a 32.86 and then on the second length when butterfly swimmers need to keep there head down especially for the last 10m, Isabelle was breathing too much, in-fact 4 times in the last 10m which cost her a place in the final and ensured she finished in 13th place (where she qualified), the time slower than both of her 100m split times of the 200m the day before was a 1.10.98!
An upset Isabelle said she had lost concentration in the last half of the race and was emotionally tired and her shoulders were aching from the two races the day before. There are two lessons to be learned in this respect with the first coming from experience. This was her first experience of the highest level of age group swimming competition and the nerves and the experience had taken its toll, in just a day. Isabelle has said she needs to be able to cope with up-to 5 days of competition and is going to aim to qualify for more events in 2010, which will enable her to plan out and pace her races at the top level. The second lesson where she has said she is going to improve is to train harder and longer so physically her body can cope with two to five days of flat out racing.
In my opinion racing at a high level does require the confidence to race how you have prepared and not get carried away with what anyone else is doing. Izzy has said she wants to go back in 2010 knowing she is the fittest, knowing she has worked the hardest to be there, knowing her race plans inside out and knowing mentally what she has to prepare for and what she has to push her body through.
Nether the less with lessons to be learned at this level, Izzy can walk away from these championships knowing she has a stroke and a stroke rhythm that can match the very top Butterfly swimmers in her age group. A wonderful confidence boosting thing to know, with a few things outside of her stroke to work on- I would not bet away from her chances of doing something special in 2010.
Peter Griffiths
After a 7 hour journey to Sheffield the previous day before his event, Peter arrived and was luckily able to take part in the cool-down of this days finals where he had a lane to himself to practice his stroke and become used to the pool. This went well and confidence was super-high as it was after the warm up on the day of the event. We (both Peter and I) were convinced after the Westerns that we could shave a lot of time off his turns; by not slowing down into the turns which had been the case in his previous race where going into every wall his stroke rate had dropped under 37 where during the rest of the length it had been 42-44. We also felt we could save time in the breakout where his streamlining what was poor and a breath ensued before any stroke was swum. We had also worked hard on maintaining a 6 beat leg kick. In both the light swim the on the previous days and the warm up on race day, Peter had done all of these things throughout and everything was looking good.
Having had a previous years experience of Nationals Peter had settled nerves and had felt on good form, until he had the unfortunate experience of being in the lane next to a Marcus Baker a British swimmer who trains in Dubai, who took it on himself that he would ruin Peters confidence and race plan and blast out the first 100m in a 1.03.8. Bearing in mind the fastest Peter has ever swum a 100m is a 1.04.67 he panicked and said he lost his head. He reverted back to a stroke I had not seen him swim in a month, where his legs do a 4 beat leg kick (which is not good enough at this level), he again slowed down into each turn, Dolphin kicks were non-existent coming off the wall and a breath took place on the first stroke of every turn from 150m onwards.
After the race a close to tears Peter said he just saw this boy go off and he did not believe in his own stroke and what he had to do, what he had practised, because in his mind if he got all these things right he should be up there, he should have been one of the leaders of the heat and all odds were on him to make the top 10 overall. When Marcus went off, Peter lost all his belief in his training and what he had practised during the build up to the Nationals because by rights he should have been up there, but his fear of losing got the better of him and he struggled through the rest of the race swimming with no particular control, this can be seen with the splits when Peter is well known for being able to hold 50m splits with in 0.4seconds of each other during distance races. His splits in this race had a difference of being as big as 3.3seconds. (not including the first 50m where he has a dive).
Peter still performed only 6 seconds outside of his personal best and finished 19th in a 9.55.07. However he will be wondering what he could have done had he not panicked, had he not let a fear of losing overcome him. He has all ready said he will put this behind him and come back stronger with more events and a clear plan to stick to in his events. He also understands that he is the only who can control his race and what he does in a race. He understands that 800m and 1500m swimming is about control and he will never be out of control again.
A tough lesson to be learned, but strength and progress is in standing up admitting mistakes and doing everything in your power to move on and learn from them and knowing Peter he will follow up his statement of coming back for more events and proving the talent he has a the top level.
It is time to get up to speed with technology and cyberology to update this on what I aim to be a weekly basis for all (or none) that are interested.
The Seagulls swimmers have hit the ground running (or the pool swimming) this season, with very early success all ready achieving a win in the Novice League meaning we have won the league only having to turn up to the next round due to winning the previous 3 rounds.
We also became runners up of the Hants and South Coast Junior Cup Division 2 our highest position so far.
The Seagulls under 14 water polo team also spread the clubs success further afield by finishing runners up in the Basinsgtoke Red Cross Tournament competing against a range of teams across the country. A big well done to the players and the two Rob's on this achievement.
Over the summer we had our first National Age Group Finalist in Isabelle Frampton a big well done, report below.
Coming up next weekend is the first round of the National "Arena" Swimming League where I am positive to gaining a good first round result. Having compared our team to last year we are quicker in every event upto the Open Age Group where we are very similar on times. I am looking for a great team spirit and for our swimmers and parents to really get behind the team.
I wish for our supporters to be the loudest and our swimmers a strong close supportive team.
That's all for now, will update next week.
Nationals Report 2009
Below is an in depth report of how our two National swimmers performed at the Nationals in where we have gained some great results, however it is also interesting to see what can be learned from the two swimmers from the club that have gained the best results.
Izzy Frampton
A very nervous Isabelle Frampton at her first Nationals started her account with the 200m Butterfly in which she had a very realistic chance of qualifying for the final. In the heats I told her to take it out strong to blast the nerves out of her for which she did hitting a 1.10.64 for the first 100m, a lot quicker than what both of us expected (and perhaps wanted), considering her 100m pb was a 1.10.03, she then returned in the 2nd 100 in a 1.23.24 to record a PB of 2.33.88, a club Record and a 5th place ranking going into the Final. A great achievement for her first ever race at the National Championships.
Going into the Final we had spoken in detail about the splits that we hoped for before the championships, which best case scenario was to go a 34,38 (1.12) 38,38 (1.16) which would have given an overall time of around 2.28-2.30. Showing guts and determination Izzy went out even harder than she did in the heats and turned in 2nd place in a 1.10.48. I was 95% sure this was too fast to come back hard, but still 5% of me was holding out for something special. The second half of the race took its toll and a split of 1.23.33 secured 8th place and another PB and Club Record in a 2.33.81. An amazing achievement, and the clubs first swimmer since I have been in position to make a final and to be 8th in the whole of the country is a great fete.
The lesson Isabelle learned here was to stick to her race plans and work on pacing. She said she likes to go out strong and for her to do this and hold on to a pace she believes she has to be even fitter to cope with the drop off on the second 100m.
The 100m fly on the following day was looking like she could produce a time to make the final based on the two first half race splits of the 200m fly which were both 0.61 and 0.45 outside her 100m pb. If she went a 0.5 second pb she had a good chance to make the final. If she went a full one second pb she would make the final in one of the middle lanes, which was how close the girls in her age were. The first 50m looked good turning in a 32.86 and then on the second length when butterfly swimmers need to keep there head down especially for the last 10m, Isabelle was breathing too much, in-fact 4 times in the last 10m which cost her a place in the final and ensured she finished in 13th place (where she qualified), the time slower than both of her 100m split times of the 200m the day before was a 1.10.98!
An upset Isabelle said she had lost concentration in the last half of the race and was emotionally tired and her shoulders were aching from the two races the day before. There are two lessons to be learned in this respect with the first coming from experience. This was her first experience of the highest level of age group swimming competition and the nerves and the experience had taken its toll, in just a day. Isabelle has said she needs to be able to cope with up-to 5 days of competition and is going to aim to qualify for more events in 2010, which will enable her to plan out and pace her races at the top level. The second lesson where she has said she is going to improve is to train harder and longer so physically her body can cope with two to five days of flat out racing.
In my opinion racing at a high level does require the confidence to race how you have prepared and not get carried away with what anyone else is doing. Izzy has said she wants to go back in 2010 knowing she is the fittest, knowing she has worked the hardest to be there, knowing her race plans inside out and knowing mentally what she has to prepare for and what she has to push her body through.
Nether the less with lessons to be learned at this level, Izzy can walk away from these championships knowing she has a stroke and a stroke rhythm that can match the very top Butterfly swimmers in her age group. A wonderful confidence boosting thing to know, with a few things outside of her stroke to work on- I would not bet away from her chances of doing something special in 2010.
Peter Griffiths
After a 7 hour journey to Sheffield the previous day before his event, Peter arrived and was luckily able to take part in the cool-down of this days finals where he had a lane to himself to practice his stroke and become used to the pool. This went well and confidence was super-high as it was after the warm up on the day of the event. We (both Peter and I) were convinced after the Westerns that we could shave a lot of time off his turns; by not slowing down into the turns which had been the case in his previous race where going into every wall his stroke rate had dropped under 37 where during the rest of the length it had been 42-44. We also felt we could save time in the breakout where his streamlining what was poor and a breath ensued before any stroke was swum. We had also worked hard on maintaining a 6 beat leg kick. In both the light swim the on the previous days and the warm up on race day, Peter had done all of these things throughout and everything was looking good.
Having had a previous years experience of Nationals Peter had settled nerves and had felt on good form, until he had the unfortunate experience of being in the lane next to a Marcus Baker a British swimmer who trains in Dubai, who took it on himself that he would ruin Peters confidence and race plan and blast out the first 100m in a 1.03.8. Bearing in mind the fastest Peter has ever swum a 100m is a 1.04.67 he panicked and said he lost his head. He reverted back to a stroke I had not seen him swim in a month, where his legs do a 4 beat leg kick (which is not good enough at this level), he again slowed down into each turn, Dolphin kicks were non-existent coming off the wall and a breath took place on the first stroke of every turn from 150m onwards.
After the race a close to tears Peter said he just saw this boy go off and he did not believe in his own stroke and what he had to do, what he had practised, because in his mind if he got all these things right he should be up there, he should have been one of the leaders of the heat and all odds were on him to make the top 10 overall. When Marcus went off, Peter lost all his belief in his training and what he had practised during the build up to the Nationals because by rights he should have been up there, but his fear of losing got the better of him and he struggled through the rest of the race swimming with no particular control, this can be seen with the splits when Peter is well known for being able to hold 50m splits with in 0.4seconds of each other during distance races. His splits in this race had a difference of being as big as 3.3seconds. (not including the first 50m where he has a dive).
Peter still performed only 6 seconds outside of his personal best and finished 19th in a 9.55.07. However he will be wondering what he could have done had he not panicked, had he not let a fear of losing overcome him. He has all ready said he will put this behind him and come back stronger with more events and a clear plan to stick to in his events. He also understands that he is the only who can control his race and what he does in a race. He understands that 800m and 1500m swimming is about control and he will never be out of control again.
A tough lesson to be learned, but strength and progress is in standing up admitting mistakes and doing everything in your power to move on and learn from them and knowing Peter he will follow up his statement of coming back for more events and proving the talent he has a the top level.
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