Hertford Swimming Club

 

 Welcome to Hertford Swimming Club

 

     

 
Text Box: CLUB CHAMPS R1 The first round of this year’s Club Champs took place on a sweltering evening at Hartham on 28th June. Apologies for the non existent air conditioning—we have been assured by SLM that it will be fixed by next weekend along with the missing lights on one side (Lee swum in these lanes on Thursday and found it didn't effect him spotting the wall for turns and finishing so there wasn't any disadvantage swimming in these lanes). We are also liaising with SLM to try & provide better toilet facilities for spectators next week. Despite the difficulties there was plenty of exciting racing. Congratulations to Ben Ransome, Philip Murphy, Brett Harding, Sophie Thomson & Harriet Cook on new Event Best Times. Brett also lowered his Club records in the 50 & 200 Free and there was a new junior record for Philip Murphy in the 100 Breast. Link to Girls Boys Results. CLUB PICNIC We are intending to hold a club picnic with organised games at Hertford Meads (playing fields behind Hartham) on Saturday 11th July from 16.00 (weather permitting). Everyone is welcome. Please bring your own picnic. BUNTINGFORD TRIATHLON Congratulations to those of you who competed in the Buntingford Triathlon on Sunday. There were plenty of medals for our boys. Brett Harding won gold in the 15+ age group & Luke Rawlinson gold in the 8 years group. There was a silver for Sam Ditchfield in the 13/14 year group and a bronze for Philip Murphy in the same group. There was also a bronze for Ryan Powell in the boys 9/10 year category. SECOND WEEKEND AT REGIONS Ashley & Ben Ransome & Sophie Thomson represented the club at the second weekend of the East Region BAGCATS. They all swam superbly well producing PB’s & gaining long course experience. Sophie & Ben both managed a faster long course time than their existing short course PB’s! Many thanks to Lee for being on poolside with them. Link to results. ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHANGING AT HARTHAM The building work has now started at Hartham which has led to a change in the Changing arrangements. Swimmers should use the temporary changing rooms (through old club changing rooms then turn right once on poolside). The showers in the old club changing room can still be used but please don’t change in this area. Parents should NOT enter the changing rooms. NEWS FROM REGIONS Congratulations to Luke Plant, Ben Ransome, Joe Cook & Katie Burr who all represented the Club admirably at the recent East Region BAGCATS held at Norwich on 6/7 June. Luke managed to smash his own Junior Record for the 400 Free despite the fact that the event was held in a 50m Pool. MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETING Here TEAM FOR PEANUTS FINAL The Final Round for this year’s Peanuts League will be held on Sat 4th July at HITCHIN 18.45 for 19.15 start. Team selection here. If you have been selected to swim for the Club please make every effort to attend the gala and try and train as often as possible until then. For the 3rd successive year we have qualified for the Top 6 Final in Peanuts Div 1 which is a great achievement for a small club ! USE IT OR LOOSE IT ! IMPORTANT message for Seniors/Age Group Squads from Steve One of the criteria for being invited to train with these squads is that you attend a prerequisite number of sessions per week. Looking through the attendance registers there are a number of swimmers that are not fulfilling this squad membership condition. Training with the Performance Squad on Monday evenings is not a qualifying session and is offered as an additional training session to our Regional and County (potential) qualifiers. Simon Balle pool is now fully operational but the Tuesday and Friday attendance levels are disappointing. Please make every effort to train the required minimum number of sessions per week otherwise positions in squads might be withdrawn. If you foresee problems attending minimum number of sessions a week then please speak to your coach. PEANUTS R2 A second successive 3rd place finish in R2 of the Peanuts League Div 1 has ensured Hertford a place in the Top 6 Final to be held on 4th July. Hertford are in 5th place, just ahead of Bishops Stortford going into the final round. The team managed 9 First place finishes. These went to Brodie Caress (U11 Free) Joe Cook (U11 Fly) Sophie Thomson (U12 Free) Ben Ransome (U13 Breast) Aimi de Rosa (U13 Back) Boys U11 Medley & Free Teams (Daniel Hood, Axel Metz, Elliot Rowe, Brodie Caress, Joe Cook, George Penn) and the Boys U12 Free & Medley Teams (Patrick Tarry, Andrew Burr, Joe Cook, Ben Ransome, Harry Yates). Full results SUCCESS AT STEVENAGE 20 Swimmers ably represented the Club at the Stevenage Open Meet held on 10th May winning 12 gold medals, 10 silvers and 10 bronzes along with 2 Club Records & 3 Junior Records. The biggest medal haul went to Harriet Cook with 4 golds and a silver followed by brother Joe with 2 golds, a silver & 2 bronzes. Katie Burr won 2 golds, Patrick Tarry a gold, 3 silvers & a bronze, Emma Lythaby a gold, silver and bronze, and there were golds for Gabrielle O’Brien & Elizabeth Withers. Sam Ditchfield claimed 2 silvers, Bethany Fitzsimmons and Philip Murphy a silver & a bronze, Judith Stephenson 2 bronzes and a bronze each for Emilia Somers & Sam Halston. Judith Stephenson lowered her club record in the 200 Fly & Philip Murphy reclaimed the Club & Junior record in the 200 Breast. There were also junior records for Sam Halston in the 200 Free & Sam Ditchfield in the 200 Back. Link to Results EAST REGION YOUTH RESULTS Emma Lythaby, Harriet Cook & Jade Abernethy competed at the East Region Long Course Youth Championships at Norwich last weekend and put up some fine performances amongst the best swimmers in the 6 counties that make up the East Region. This was a great opportunity for our swimmers to compete in a 50m pool. Steve was impressed by their superb performances and said it was a privilege to be on poolside with them. Link to results. EXCELLENT START IN PEANUTS The Junior Squad made an excellent start in Round 1 of the Peanuts League Div 1 at Barnet on Saturday. In a very close fought competition, Hertford finished in an excellent 3rd place just behind Stevenage & Hemel Hempstead (who finished 2nd & 3rd in last year’s league). There were 6 first places and 29 PB’s. Elizabeth Timpson took home the Hertford Teddy. First places went to Brodie Caress (U11 Free) Joe Cook (U11 Fly & U12 Fly) Sophie Thomson (U12 Free) Boys U11 Medley Team (Daniel Hood, Axel Metz, Elliot Rowe, George Penn) and the Boys U12 Free Team (Patrick Tarry, Joe Cook, Brodie Caress, Ben Ransome.) Gala result: 1st Hemel 110 2nd Stevenage 122 3rd Hertford 142, 4th Berkhampstead 162, 5th CoStA 177 6th Hertsmere 178 Link to results. APPEAL FOR OFFICIALS The club are always looking for parents to help at a number of “home” galas that we host throughout the year. At the moment we are short of “Starters”. Full training & use of equipment will be provided—it is very easy. A familiarisation session of about 30 mins is all that is necessary. If you think you could help YOUR club at our home galas either as a starter or in any other role (door, drinks, whipper in, raffle, scorer, announcer etc) please contact Paul Fitzsimmons or speak to him on Wednesdays at Hartham. LATEST NEWSLETTER HERE ANYONE FOR WATER POLO? Did you know the Club has a water polo division? The Water Polo section are looking for new members. You must be male (unfortunately) & over 16, pretty fit and swim to competitive standard. If you are interested contact Jason or Neil IF YOU WEAR A HAT MAKE IT A HERTFORD ONE! Please would all swimmers remember that ONLY Hertford hats should be worn at Galas & Open Meets when members are representing the club. Poolside staff will have a few spare hats for swimmers to borrow. Anyone wearing a non Hertford hat will be asked to stand down from their event.

 

                                                       SWIMMING THIS WEEK

 

           SUN 28th June    HARTHAM Club Championships R1 Sign in from 16.45 to 17.15

           MON 29th June   St JOHN’s HALL  AGM  19.00  (No swimming)

           TUE 30th June    SIMON BALLE 19.00 to 21.00 Age Gp/Seniors

           WED 1st July       HARTHAM 19.00 to 20.45  Everyone

           THU 2nd July      HARTHAM 19.30 to 21.00 Seniors 20.00 Age Group

           FRI 3rd July         SIMON BALLE 18.00 TO 20.30 Juniors up

           SAT 4th July        HITCHIN 18.45 PEANUTS LEAGUE FINAL

           SUN 5th July       HARTHAM Club Championships R2 Sign in from 16.45 to 17.15

          

     

 

 

 

 

           

Text Box: Swimmers of the Week Lucy Fitzsimmons Ryan Powell Most improved Swimmers Emilia Somers Harry Yates