|
Fitness, Fun and Friendship |
|
PRESS RELEASE DAWLISH SWIMMING CLUB, 01/02/07: Top individual performer on the day was the consistently-excellent Sally Whybra with two splendid second places across both 13 and 15 age groups. Team mate Lauren G also recorded a second place in the Open age group. Connie Fearnley sparkled in both 13 and 15 age groups with two third places and a fifth; her brother George, in the 11 years competition, registered a third and fourth place. RI, another immensely strong 13 year old girl also clinched a third place. Liam Spruce, swimming in the 13 and 15 years boys’ events, achieved three outstanding top-six finishes, with a best-place third. Other top-six individual placings went to Hollie Swann and Nickie Hesford, with fourth places and Rhianne Wreford and Adam Wells with sixth places. The strength of Dawlish has for many years been its team spirit, as expressed by battling relay performances; Sunday’s performance was no exception, as big points were amassed to secure their fourth place. Predictably the 13 years mixed team of Connie Fearnley, Liam Spruce, Sally Whybra and Adam Wells was highest placed, finishing second, and easing out the hugely powerful Barnstaple on a finger tip finish. The fifteen years team comprising: Rhianne Wreford, Sally Whybra, Liam Spruce and Dan Mather was on top form to record a fourth place, whilst the Open team: Barnaby Geary, Dom Garros, Lauren G and Nickie Hesford, finished fifth, Alex Smith and Paul Wilson also performed individually in this age group. The youngest competitors: AC, Emily Gale, George Fearnley and JG, recorded a fine seventh place in the 11 years mixed relay. Everything came down to the final “Cannon” relay, as representatives of all ages and both sexes competed in the same team to decide the final placings; in a magnificent race featuring: AC, George Fearnley, RI, Liam Spruce, Rhianne Wreford, Dan Mather, Nickie Hesford and BJ Geary, Dawlish clung on, finishing fifth, to secure their over-all position. Final placings: 1st. Plymouth Leander; 2nd. Barnstaple; 3rd. Dinnaton; 4th. Dawlish; 5th. Kingsbridge; 6th. Newton Abbot; 7th. Torridgeside; 8th. Tiverton; 9th. Exmouth; 10th. Tavistock; 11th. Devonport; 12th. Oddicombe; 13th. Ilfracombe; 14th. Paignton; 15th. Honiton; 16th. Torquay. This was a day of top-quality sport and exciting competition, whetting the appetite to remain high in the Devon County rankings; but with so many fine clubs snapping at the heels of such giants as Plymouth Leander, the competition seems likely to grow hotter, year on year. |
|
PRESS RELEASE DAWLISH SWIMMING CLUB, 19/12/07:
Rhianne Wreford, aged 13, of Dawlish Swimming Club has been rewarded for recent outstanding performances in Open Meets and County Development Galas by being called-up by Devon County. This is a fine Christmas present for the shy “club swimmer”, and just rewards for a series of splendid results. It seems strange to talk of 13 year olds as “late developers” but that’s the way it is with swimmers; so many children peak around puberty and are waning in their early teens, the rigours of murderous early-morning training schedules having dampened their hunger to win.
Rhianne has quietly plodded along in the team, biding her time, steadily improving before her recent quantum leap. She recently “clean-swept” every event at the Torquay Leander Open Meet, to finish “Top Girl”. Rhianne then followed this up with two first and two second places at the Devon Development gala, once more being named “Top Girl”.
Also competing at the Torquay Open meet was team mate George Fearnley, aged 10; he scooped four gold medals and a silver, also being named “Top Boy”. George had already received his County call-up bringing to five the number of Dawlish swimmers currently being groomed by Devon for further honours. Michael Spurway was appearing in his first Open meet and was pleased to record two personal-best times. Cerys Bowen and Ben Rogers also had a good series of events at the Meet.
On the same day as the Torquay event, four team mates travelled much further, to Wolverhampton, to compete in the prestigious Stafford Apex Open Meet. Competing against the cream of the country’s swimmers Sally Whybra, Connie Fearnley, Liam Spruce and Lauren G competed in the longer distance events that can only be realistically offered in such “designated” events. No medals, but heaps of personal-best times, and experience beyond measure was gained. Dawlish Swimming Club is a busy “can do” set-up; new Club Coach Sam Greensitt has much to build on. |
|
PRESS RELEASE DAWLISH SWIMMING CLUB, 22/01/07:
Dawlish Swimming Club celebrated a year of achievements at Dawlish Leisure Centre last Saturday evening. The ceremony saw Chris and Jo Chappell, Club Coach and Principal Swim Teacher, hand over the reins, and present “Club Colours” to new Club Coach Sam Greensitt. It was an emotional evening for the out-going team, Jo Chappell has been teaching at the club since 1983, before that she swam for the club. Chris Chappell has been Club Coach since 1997, and has seen the team rise from “non-league” through 3rd., 2nd., and now first division; in short he has presided over a revolution. Presenting the prizes was Norman Storey, Club Coach from 1971 to 1997, President of the club, and still swimming for Dawlish. It is stability and continuity such as this that has provided the bedrock of Dawlish Swimming Club’s success over recent years, a rich heritage that Sam Greensitt inherits.
Special awards were presented for: Most Improved Boy, Michael Spurway; Most Improved Girl, Maggie Lundh; Fastest Learner (The Chappell Cup), MH; Endeavour Award, Jamie New; Club Swimmer of the Year Award, Lauren G; Outstanding Athlete, Ben Rogers. Half Mile Competitions: Ladies, 1st. Connie Fearnley (in a new U12 record time), 2nd. Rhianne Wreford, 3rd. Cerys Bowen. U16 girls’ half mile championship: 1st Cerys Bowen, 2nd. Stephanie Evans. U14: 1st Rhianne Wreford, 2nd. Maxine Dean, 3rd. Melody Barnes. U12: 1st. Connie Fearnley, 2nd. Millie Brookes, 3rd. Britta Zeltmann. U10: 1st. Mia Wreford, 2nd. Daniella G, 3rd. SR. Men’s half mile: 1st. Alex Smith, 2nd. George Fearnley, 3rd Dominic Smith. U16 winner, Dan Mather; U14: 1st. Robert Brown, 2nd. Michael Spurway. U12: 1st Dominic Smith, 2nd. Jamie New, 3rd. Alistair Stone. U10 1st. George Fernley (new club record), 2nd JG, 3rd. Alastair Brown. Open Water Club Champions: Men: Robin Shute; Girls: Lauren G; Boys: Ben Rogers.
The Club Championships saw unprecedented entries and personal-best performances, most notable that of Ben Rogers in the U14 boys’ events; entering 10 events he won 10 gold medals, every one in a club record time. “These were not “soft records” said an admiring club coach, “and Ben is also a county rugby player. His rugby is better for his swim fitness, and his sheer power is the product of his rugby; deservingly, he wins the club’s outstanding athlete of the year award”. But there were so many other outstanding performances, that to pick out one swimmer would be to minimise the whole club’s achievements. Other gold medals went to : Paul Wilson and Connie Fearnley, 8 each (6 records for Fearnley); George Fearnley, 7 (5 records); Ross Wreford, Liam Spruce and Lauren G, 6 each (2 records for Spruce, 4 for Glindon); Rhianne Wreford, Dom Smith and Clea Zeltmann, 5 each ( 4 records for Wreford, 2 for Smith 1 for Zeltmann); Mia Wreford, Daniella G, AC, Amy Reed and Lianne Hammett, 4 each (1 record for Hammett); Joe Crispin, Alistair Brown, Alex Lewis and Marie Downey, 3 each; AT, SR, Michael Dean, Ella G, Alex Smith and Roger Fearnley, 2 each: and Alana Cram, JG, Sally Whybra and Britta Zeltmann.
Silver medals were won by: Cerys Bowen and Harry Oliver, 7 each; Jasper Golding, George Oliver and Alex Smith, 5 each; Mia Wreford, Amy Reed, Emily Gale, Michael Dean and Britta Zeltmann, 3 each; Alana Cram, George Stone, James Horrell, Rachel Taylor, George Fearnley, Alec White-Cheshire, Jasper Barnes, Connie Fearnley, Sally Whybra, Dom Smith, Alistair Stone, RI, Rhianne Wreford, Liam Spruce, Bernie Sharp and NC, 2 each; and GA, Freddie Fearnley, Charlie Badham, SR, Daniella G, Tammie Dean, Amelia McIlroy, Ross Wreford, Becky Bernstein, Millie Brooks, Tom B, Seb Smith, Maxine Dean, Rosie Chappell, Clea Zeltmann, Stephanie Evans, Daniel Mather, Paul Wilson, Alex Lewis, Robin Shute, Robin Thorp, Jo Bowen, Kelly Crawley, Mark Crispin and Roger Fearnley.
Bronze medals went to: Stephanie Evans, 6; Alec White-Cheshire, 4; Benjamin B, Bronwen Bernstein, Jasper Barnes, Dom Smith, Alistair S, Maxine Dean and Cerys Bowen, 3 each; Alistair Brown, Becky Howells, Emily Gale, Michael Dean, Jack Downey, Becky Bernstein, Rhianne Wreford, Michael Spurway, Bernie Sharp and Daniel Mather, 2 each; and: GA, Paiton Crawley, Joe Crispin, SR, Daniella G, George Fearnley, AC, Tammy Dean, Maggie Lundh, AR, Ross Thomson, Ross Wreford, Sally Whybra, Britta Zeltmann, Tom Bailey, Seb Smith, RI, George Oliver, John Reed, Liam Spruce, Clea Zeltmann, Matt Reed, Joss Chappell, Paul Wilson, Alex Lewis, Robin Thorp, Jo Bowen and Ian Bowen.
Competitors awards were awarded to: Gold, Matt J, Mark Everton and Jamie New; Silver, Matt Reed and CO; Bronze, Harvey Barnes, Tom Brooks, Alex Carpenter, Stefan Thomas, Joshua B, Paris Crawley, IM, Harry Sculpher, Zoe Horrell, Harriet Stevens and Jessica Bourne.
Dawlish swimmers are enjoying their biggest successes since 1902, when they were County Champions; new coach Sam Greensitt has a thriving squad of swimmers to work with. Continued success takes hard work in and out of the pool, the set-up at Dawlish is gearing-up to deliver further advances. |
|
Press Archive |
|
PRESS RELEASE DAWLISH SWIMMING CLUB, 11/02/07:
The youngest swimmers at Dawlish Swimming Club competed in this year’s Club Championships under the tutelage of a new regime of swim teachers. Having recently appointed new Club Coach, Sam Greensitt, the club is using a “new broom” approach to build anew from bottom to top, as no less than seven new swim teachers qualified simultaneously. Sports Clubs have a pyramidal configuration with comparatively few lasting to reach the pinnacles in their chosen sport. The height of the pyramid is dependant on the breadth and quality at the bottom; Dawlish have decided to lay good foundations to secure their future.
Medals in the width races went to: Miri Levinson-Young, Kati Squirrel, MH, Holly Squirrel, CA, Maddie S, Daniel Hill and Harry Scrope-Howe. Certificates for swim teachers went to Liz Hegarty, Alex Smith, Kellie Crawley, Richard Apps, Jennie Apps, Jo Bowen and Anthony Golden. Teaching the teachers was instructor Richard Dutton of Paignton and 7Xtreme Swimming Clubs.
For a swimming club to thrive there needs to be as much effort out of the pool as in it. Preparation and attention to detail in planning and coaching helps produce the race results that matter. Everyone at Dawlish Swimming Club is working hard.
PRESS RELEASE DAWLISH SWIMMING CLUB, 11/02/07:
At the opening round of this year’s Devon County Swimming Championships, Dawlish Swimmers featured often on the rostrum. The 13 year old girls were pre-eminent with two fine gold medal performances: winning her first ever County gold medal was Connie Fearnley in the 100 metres individual medley, whilst Sally Whybra, who at 13 has already scooped so many golds, lifted yet another, in the 100 metres butterfly event, and with it recorded a national qualifying time, an outstanding performance. These were not their only medal successes as Sally Whybra went on to take silver in the 200 metre backstroke event, and a bronze in the gruelling 800 metres freestyle race, with every event completed in a personal-best time. Connie Fearnley picked-up an additional bronze in the backstroke event and had two other “top-eight” finishes, all but one in personal-best times. Wins such as this across all strokes with consecutive personal-best times, do not come easily. This is the culmination of countless hours of training and application; both girls train additionally with the Dawlish-based 7Xtreme Team, as do many other Dawlish swimmers also featured in this year’s County Championships.
Liam Spruce picked up a bronze medal in the 13 years boys’ 100 metres breaststroke event. Alex Lewis produced a remarkable 82 second personal-best time in the 1,500m event to finish in fourth place. Lewis is one of a number “multi-eventers” training at Dawlish. Rhianne Wreford recorded two “top-eight places” in the 14 years‘ events, as did George Fearnley in the 11 years age bracket, each swimmer producing personal-best times, a testament to training and preparation. Lauren Glindon recorded a fourth place in the ladies’ open individual medley, but after fighting a shoulder injury for many weeks was just off her best times.
This was a bright start to the season’s championships, all these swimmers, and more will be looking to emulate these successes in the weeks to come.
|
|
PRESS RELEASE DAWLISH SWIMMING CLUB, 13/03/07: BUSY DAWLISH SWIMMERS There is no “close season” in swimming, no quiet time. Whilst the Devon County Championships seem to dominate successive weekends, team fixtures clash and present difficult choices for swimmers and officials. Dawlish swimmers have had team fixtures on successive weekends whilst “resting” County competitors and have thus seen many individual triumphs, particularly amongst the younger competitors, whilst the team has not enjoyed the almost “customary” successes of recent seasons.
As defending champions in the East Devon League, many expected Dawlish to dominate the opening fixture in this season’s campaign. This was not to be, as a rampant Newton Abbot, on home ground, deservedly ran away with the fixture ahead of Exmouth in second place, then Paignton just a solitary point ahead of Dawlish in fourth place, with Torquay trailing. There were excellent first places for Paul Wilson in the 16 and under age group, Alastair Brown in the 10 and under age group and Millie Brooks who performed magnificently across all age groups. Second places went to SR, Rosie Chappell, Paul Wilson, JG, John Reed, Tom B, Joss Chappell, AR and James New. These individual swimmers joined in relays by: Daniella G, Mia Wreford, Rachel Taylor, Alec White Cheshire, AC and CO.
The following Saturday, those not competing in the County Championships travelled to Okehampton, taking on the Home team, Tavistock and Honiton. This was a tense and close gala, eventually won by Okehampton with just a handful of points between all four teams, and amongst which Dawlish came-out with a good second place.
Maxine Dean, for the second week running, was a great club stalwart, and recorded 4 excellent first places in individual events. Millie Brooks again sparkled with two “top-spots” as did Britta Zeltmann, AR and JG. Other individual wins were recorded by Tammy Dean, Melody Barnes, Tom B and Alex Smith. Additional swimmers achieving first places in relays were: SR, Mia Wreford and AC.
This is a season of seismic changes at Dawlish Swimming Club. The team needs to stay sharp and competitive and to allow new talent to emerge; with so much good competition, they should do just that.
|
|
PRESS RELEASE DAWLISH SWIMMING CLUB, 04/04/2007 RED LETTER DAYS FOR DAWLISH SWIMMING CLUB
Dawlish Swimming Club wound up their season of Devon County Swimming Championships with a glorious weekend of relays and individual sprints in Plymouth. The season started a month ago with gold medals for Connie Fearnley and Sally Whybra; it ended with crocks of gold for Connie Fearnley and Ben Rogers. The jewels in the crown were double national qualifying times for Sally Whybra, who is in the “national world class potential squad”, and a national qualifying time in the 100metres freestyle for Ben Rogers, aged 14, and also a county rugby player. To have two swimmers with national qualifications in such a small club is quite outstanding.
Top individual medal winner was Ben Rogers with four sprint gold medals, making him top boy in Devon in the sprints. Connie Fearnley was top girl in the sprint gala, finishing the season with a medal haul of three gold, one silver and five bronze. Sally Whybra, without entering the sprints, still recorded two gold, four silver and two bronze medals. George Fearnley picked-up two silver medals and an additional bronze; being very young in his age group, he was also delighted to record a western counties qualifying time and finish overall runner-up in the county sprint rankings. Rhianne Wreford, enjoying a great season, won two silver medals and recorded three western counties consideration times. Liam Spruce took silver and bronze placings as well as achieving six western counties qualifying times and finishing fifth over-all in the county. Rachel Irvine won an individual silver medal, finishing fourth over-all in Devon, and Mia Wreford won a bronze medal in the nine years age group, and was fourth over-all in the county.
The sprint gala alone saw a huge contingent of 29 Dawlish swimmers record an astounding 61 personal-best times. Some personal-bests were quantum leaps into a different class, notably by: Amelia McIlroy, Lucy Tovey, Bronwen Bernstein, Daniella G, Joe Crispin and CO. Club Coach Sam Greensitt was “in clover” seeing such a vibrant team on pool-side.
Relay medals went to Dawlish ladies 13-14 years team of: Sally Whybra, Connie Fearnley, Rhianne Wreford and RI; they picked-up bronze in both freestyle and medley events. The open ladies team of Hollie Swann, Lauren G, Nickie Hesford and the ever-present Sally Whybra recorded third and fourth places. With Dawlish Swimming Club having already finished in fourth place in the Devon County inter-club championships earlier in the year, Sam Greensitt as in-coming coach, has inherited a good young squad; he has ambitions to push much higher. |
