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Our first major
long course meet involving the top Junior and Age Group swimmers
in Great Britain was held at Stockport on the weekend of 23rd-25th
November 2001. For the swimmers who represented our club this
was to prove a very tough weekend both mentally and physically.
The weekend began with training at Tollcross from 5.30-7.30am
followed by breakfast at the pool and then a 6 hour coach trip
to the hotel in Stockport. The Friday evening session finished
by 10pm. Saturday's session began at 7.30am and finished by 9pm.
Sundays session ran from 7.30am to 7.00pm, followed by a 4 hour
coach journey back to Tollcross.
Friday evening involved our 800 metre girls and 1500 metre boys
and the heats of the 50 metre sprints. The Saturday and Sunday
sessions involved all of our team members swimming their main
events as well as other events that will benefit them in the
long run.
As can be seen by the schedule the swimmers were expected to
perform under conditions that are not ideal for producing
outstanding times. The good thing that came out of the weekend
was that the swimmers who had not experienced conditions like
these not only surpassed the expectations of the coaching staff
but a lot of the swims were outstanding. But like all the meets,
we had swims that didn't meet the standards that the coaching
staff expect. Hopefully this will improve with every meet we
attend.
It would be
remiss of me not to mention the improvement in Chantal Carr's
performance at this meet. Out of 10 events she set 4 records and
10 personal best times, a wonderful effort from this young girl.
Aileen Stirling's 100 metre, 200 metre Backstroke and 200 metre
Individual Medley were also great swims with her setting a
record in the 200 metres Backstroke. The other young swimmers
who attended this meet swam well and it shows that the training
that has been completed to date is starting to show in the
performances of those who are
committing themselves to the programmes.
The swimmers
who represented the Top Squad also showed their ability with
some very good performances. Charles Mills in the 200 metre
Butterfly beat the lad who won the English National Age group
Title in 2001. This shows that we can compete with the best and
also win. What we need is for all of our swimmers to believe
this is possible. If all the swimmers continue with the work
ethic that is required I'm sure that the target of the staff to
make this club the top in Scotland will eventuate sooner rather
than later. The observations made by the coaching staff at this
meet was that the swimmers who are attending morning training
which are all long course are benefiting from these sessions.
This was evident at the weekend and also at the East Kilbride
meet which was long course.
I know it’s
hard sometimes to get up for the early morning sessions but for
our swimmers to achieve their potential it is necessary that
these sessions are targeted as more important than the evening
sessions. That’s not to say that the evening sessions aren’t
also important. Once again I impress upon you how important it
is to attend the maximum number of sessions that are available
for all of us to achieve our common goal.
Last but by no
means least we would like to thank Richard Campbell and all the
staff at Tollcross Leisure Centre for the support and foresight
in giving us 3 extra long course sessions per week which we feel
has been a major factor in the swimmers’ improved
performances.
Steve
Hill, Louise Clayton
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