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Would you trust these three to teach your children to swim
Speedo League Swimming Competition 2ND round 2005
On Saturday the newly formed competitive Swimming unit Team Torfaen, attended the second round of the National Speedo League at Frome. The team consisting of swimmers from Blaenavon Barracudas and Torfaen Swim Squad continued its winning streak emerging clear winners by the end of the competition.
The team now has maximum points gained from its first two competitions and has an excellent opportunity to move up a division next year following the final in a months time, With the quality of competition likely to improve dramatically in the final round the Teams swimmers will face a much stiffer challenge and will have to be on top form to ensure they move up next year.
Team Torfaen was set up to provide an opportunity for swimmers within the borough to compete effectively at high class competitions by using the best swimmers from each club. The club supported by Wasa and Torfaen Borough Council obtained its licence to compete earlier this year. It then received further support with a much needed cash injection from Unison Torfaen. This enabled the team to purchase Teeshirts for those swimmers performing well enough to be selected. With the support of these organisations the Team looks set to improve on its already impressive form.
Rosser a coach at Torfaen Swim Squad said " I'm really pleased with the way the Team is performing. Although there is and always will be a number of people objecting to such a set up, the emphasis should always be on the needs of the swimmers. To improve swimming in the Borough and Wales this is the only way forward, other sports have had to recognise this and implemented such schemes, we need to do the same".
Although the Team had a number of swimmers missing from the line up at this weeks competition they were able to benefit from Teams structure and were able to call in others from the clubs supporting it.
Abbie Whitehouse got the Team off to a winning start on the ladies 100m I.M, she later followed this up with wins in the 15 and under and opens 100m Breastroke. Not to be out done Jason Cook took first place in the mens 100m I.M and also followed it up later with a convincing win in the mens 100m Fly.
Blaenavons Bethan Dettani continued with her unbeaten run in the competition once again showing excellent form and winning the girls 13 and under 50m Backstroke and 50m Butterfly.
Gethin Herbert showed some fine form in his two events winning the 15 and under 100m Frontcrawl and the 100m Backcrawl comfortably. The splits on his relay swims were very impressive and showed his training is progressing well to his targeted event, The Bath Open in three weeks time. Gethins sister Megan Herbert continued the families winning form by taking the ladies 100m Backstroke and frontcrawl titles.
Sarah Diamond now in university but continuing her training with a local team showed the journey down the M4 was worthwhile with a convincing win in the ladies 100m Butterfly.
Mercedez White showed the strength that Blaenavon have in the 13 and under age group by easily winning her 50m Frontcrawl.
With Alys Evans and Jane Brown also forming part of the team for the final the four swimmers in this age will prove a tough team to beat..
Abbie Jones, Rory Butler and Gareth Malolepzy also emerged clear winners in their respective events. With swimmers of all ages rising to the challenge and competing not just at the competition but to become part of the Team one of the main objectives of the Team appears to be working.
In the final round one of the Teams major competitors will be a local team, Blaina Gwent Development squad. Created in the same way as Team Torfaen the squad is very strong and will be a force to be reckoned with in the final. With a number of swimmers from each unit regularly training with each other the scene is set for an intense but friendly final.
Avalon Open Meet 2005
At last weekends Avalon open meet held in the 50m Millfield school, Torfaen Swim Squad continued to show every improving form with some fine performances and a number of medals.
The swimming season is divided into three training cycles of approximately 16 weeks each with a meet targeted at the end of each cycle. The Frome Open gave the Torfaen swimmers an insight into how their preparation is progressing for their targeted event, The Bath Open Meet early in December.
The club continued its history of producing fine backstroke swimmers with Rory Butler, Gethin Herbert and Marc Corceram sweeping the medals in the mens 200m Backstroke. Butler later added the 100m Backstroke title to his two silvers in the 200m Frontcrawl and 50m Backstroke.
Megan Herbert added to the backstroke medals winning a gold in the girls opens 200m Backstroke and bronze in the 50 backstroke, with medals in the 50f/c and the 100 frontcrawl the swimmers commitment and hardwork was further rewarded by a number of Lifetime Best performances.
Brothers Jake and Corey Plumley battled it out to see which of them could take the most medals home from the meet. In nearly the last event of the meet Jake overtook his younger brother by winning the boys 11/12 50m Breastroke taking his tally to four medals for the meet.
Although he went home with one medal less, Corey showed the benefits of his recent hardwork in training with a silver in the 10's 200m Frontcrawl, bronze in the 50 Breastroke and a fifth in the 100m Backcrawl.
13 year old Grant woods is fast emerging as a force to be reckoned with and on recent form will be one to watch over the next year.
Although swimming against those a year older than him he won a bronze in 13/14 100m backstroke and 5th in the 100 breastroke. With lifetime best performances on each event the swimmer is rapidly moving up the Welsh ranking list.
Other medals were achieved by Rory Pardoe in the 13/14 200m frontcrawl and Megan Grist in the 10s 200m Frontcrawl and 50 backcrawl.
Amy Maclean who recently moved her training from Cwmbran Otters to Torfaen in order to benefit from the extra training available won a silver in the opens 50m Breastroke, and a 5th in the 100m breastroke. With a number of lifetime best performances the move and extra training appears to be paying off for the swimmer.
The meet must be regarded as a success for Torfaen with nearly every swimmer who attended producing at least one lifetime best performance.
Sophie Rosser produced 4 lifetime best times in the girls 11/12 200m frontcrawl, 100m frontcrawl, 200m I.M and the 50m Butterfly.
Jayne Brown, Danielle Williams, Ross Andrews, Gareth Roper and Sian Butcher also produced lifetime best performances and gained valuable experience of swimming in a 50m pool.
Speedo League Swimming Competition2005
Two of the best swims of the competition came from Rory Butler in the Opens 100m Backcrawl and Bethan Dettani in 13 and under 50m Backcrawl, both swimmers recorded lifetime best performances. The technical detail shown by the swimmers during the race on their starts, turns and stroke technique was of a very high standard and inspirational to others within the team.
The relays were where Team Torfaen showed their strength with the team winning 11 out of the sixteen races, David Langley, Charlotte Ferrari, Gethin Herbert and Scott Cochram were just a few of the swimmers who recorded excellent times and helped the Team to a very large winning margin.
Other swimmers who should be congratulated for being selected and swimming for the team are: Louise Henley, Jason Cook, Sophie Rosser, Megan Evans, Joely Braddon, Louise Grant, Kieron Woods, Corey Plumley, Ross Andrews, Gareth Roper, Jayne Brown, Alys Evans, Mercedez White,Rory Pardoe, Jake Plumley, Abi Whitehouse, Abi Jones, Lilly Butler, Megan Butler, Kyron Beecham, James Vernell, Grant Woods, Megan Herbert, Sarah Diamond, Maddy White, Gareth Malolepzy and Elliot Lawrence.
Swim Squad win Trophy On Busy Weekend 2005
A young squad of swimmers traveled up the valley to Abertillery, to take part in their Annual fast skins trophy Gala. Leading the way was 15year old James Vernall with an impressive win in the boys skins competition. Team mate Abbie Jones also takes a win in the girls skins followed by Ross Andrews winning the 9 to 11years mixed skins.
Winning their races where Matthew Fairless Holli fowler , Callum Pardoe, Ross Andrews, Jake Plumley, Kirsten Daniels, James Vernal, Abbie Jones Michael Lewis, Rory Pardoe and Megan Grist.
Competing for the first time where Hannah Prosser and brother Matthew both swimming superbly. The Youngest competitor of the squad was seven year old Sian Roper showing excellent potential.
Other team mates putting in good performances where Danielle Williams, Rebecca Parker, Thomas Amman, Matthew Price Corey Plumley and Gareth Roper.
No rest for the swimmers on Sunday as they traveled to Monmouth to compete in a Aquathon the event consists of a Swim/run the swimmers were very successful Michael Lewis won first place in the 9yrs age group, second place went to Callum Pardoe. Meg Butler takes the third position in the 14yrs age group.
James Vernal takes another gold in the 16yrs age group followed by Russell Parry who took third position also competing where Corey Plumley, Jake Plumley, Ffion Parry and Rory Pardoe.
Coaches Ruth and Mark were very pleased with all the swimmers performances and team spirit over the weekend. Torfaen Swim Squad train at fairwater leisure centre Cwmbran.
Nicknamed "El Duche" by his swimming peers, Gareth hails from Cwmbran and this was the first time for him to compete at the Paralympic Games. Eighteen year old Gareth travels over 3 hours per day to train at Swansea High Performance Centre. He trains five times a week at Swansea and three times a week at Torfaen. Gareth said, "It's been hard work over the last 12 months, the travelling to Swansea and to competitions at home and abroad has been difficult, but has been well worth the effort".
And who can forget Gareth's winning performance in the 100m Breaststroke in Athens! What an exciting finish! Even more memorable was his moment of glory when he stepped up to the winner's podium to receive his Gold medal. An unforgettable day when the whole nation watched Gareth's emotions getting the better of him. Tissues all round!! Gareth also came home with a Bronze medal and his winning time in the 100m Breaststroke earned him a Paralympic record!
At a recent awards ceremony in Cardiff, Gareth scooped the title of the Western Mail Sports Star 2004. Congratulations Gareth!
First round of Western League Oct 2005
On Saturday the newly formed competitive Swimming unit, Team Torfaen attended
the first round of the National Speedo League at Exeter. The league involves swimming clubs throughout the country competing to win their divisions, their league and the National Title. The upper divisions of the league comprises of clubs from cities such as Leeds, Sheffield and Cardiff. Due to the numbers of swimmers these clubs attract it is almost impossible for clubs in Torfaen to compete effectively in their own right.
As a result of this and with the support of Torfaen Borough Council, Team Torfaen has been formed. At this time the Team consists of swimmers from Torfaen Swim Squad and Blaenavon Barracudas, the hope is that all clubs in the borough become involved and their swimmers compete for a place on the Borough Team.
Traditionally one of the concerns of such a scheme is the loss of a member and as a result revenue from any of the clubs involved. With the new scheme the swimmers retain their membership in their clubs and normally compete for these clubs. Only at a few meets during the year where the standard of swimming is high would the Team come together and compete as a unit.
The strength of such a unit was shown in the first round at Exeter with Team Torfaen winning over half of the events on the programme and emerging clear winners. Ironically two of the clubs the Team were competing against were from within this borough; Pontypool Dolphins and Cwmbran Otters. The addition of swimmers from these clubs would only further strengthen Team Torfaen and enable it to compete with some of the best clubs in the country.
Ian Rosser coach of Torfaen Swim Squad said " each club in this Borough has a number of very talented swimmers, no club however has the depth to compete in a competition such as the Speedo league or the National Championships effectively. A Borough Squad would be something that swimmers in each club could strive to be a part of and enable them to compete at a level they would otherwise be unable to achieve."
Two of the best swims of the competition came from Rory Butler in the Opens 100m Backcrawl and Bethan Dettani in 13 and under 50m Backcrawl, both swimmers recorded lifetime best performances. The technical detail shown by the swimmers during the race on their starts, turns and stroke technique was of a very high standard and inspirational to others within the team.
The relays were where Team Torfaen showed their strength with the team winning 11 out of the sixteen races, David Langley, Charlotte Ferrari, Gethin Herbert and Scott Cochram were just a few of the swimmers who recorded excellent times and helped the Team to a very large winning margin.
Other swimmers who should be congratulated for being selected and swimming for the team are: Louise Henley, Jason Cook, Sophie Rosser, Megan Evans, Joely Braddon, Louise Grant, Kieron Woods, Corey Plumley, Ross Andrews, Gareth Roper, Jayne Brown, Alys Evans, Mercedez White,Rory Pardoe, Jake Plumley, Abi Whitehouse, Abi Jones, Lilly Butler, Megan Butler, Kyron Beecham, James Vernell, Grant Woods, Megan Herbert, Sarah Diamond, Maddy White, Gareth Malolepzy and Elliot Lawrence