News from Doncaster's Clubs, 2012

The Stories behind the Headlines (from Doncaster's Clubs)

Sports Relief Armthorpe Style

11 Mar: The swimmers of Armthorpe are planning to swim the equivalent distance from the most South Westerly point of the UK mainland to the most North Easterly point - that's 1.4 million metres! This will be done during training sessions over the space of a week from March 7th.

That means the average swimmer will be swimming close to 30km - roughly the distance from Doncaster to Sheffield! All sections of the club will be getting in on the act, from our Stage 7 learn to swim groups, speed swimmers, rookie lifeguards (who'll probably still swim in clothes!), our Dartes swimmers and of course our masters squad. We may even convince some coaches to get in the pool!

How can I get involved?

There are three ways we can help this worthwhile fundraising event.

1. Swimming

Armthorpe Head Coach Dave Holmes has extended an invitation to all Dartes swimmers and coaches to pop along to St James pool on Sunday 11th March (3.15pm onwards) and swim as many lengths as you can manage for a good cause.

2. Counting and Supporting

Even if you're not going to be swimming, we still need your help. We need parents to come down from the balcony and on to poolside to get involved by counting lengths, providing encouragement and refreshments to the swimmers.

3. Giving

We need you all to donate generously via our Sport Relief Page. We're also trying to attract some corporate sponsorship, so please take the time to advertise this event at your company and ask if they would like to get involved in this great event.

The Armthorpe team look forward to welcoming you all on 11th March and please give generously.

Thanks in advance.

Fast Swimming in the Snow

4 Feb: More good news for the Dave Holmes cavalry of Kingfishers. As the snow fell, so did the Barnsley Minors League, with the Division 4 opener cancelled (Minsthorpe pool inaccessible), and only two teams left to contest the Division 3 equivalent (Scunthorpe struggling in the weather conditions and Sharks dropping out of the league).

The new Maltby pool was the venue for Division 2 and a confident Armthorpe team determined to continue their winning streak. They did. Here's hoping they hang on to their top spot all year and join Adwick in the top flight again. Their competition will have their own ideas of course: City of Wakefield, Rotherham Metro, and Chapeltown.

In division 3, newly promoted Edlington played hosts to local rivals Spa Askern. As always at this time of year, lots of new swimmers taking part in galas for the first time so a friendly two team event suited both teams well. The hosts took the spoils.

Pocklington Times League Opening Weekend

29 Jan: It's the opening weekend of the Pocklington Times League and with fully half the clubs involved from Doncaster, there's set to be plenty of exciting action to keep everyone's interest throughout the year.

In division 2 we have South Axholme and Rossington battling away. Today's result saw the Sharks put up a strong performance to try and wrestle 2nd place away from the host club Pocklington Dolphins. They didn't quite manage that, but did come away holding their heads high as loudest and most supported club (according to their Head Coach Rob Crofts). South Hunsley won the day with a fairly safe lead.

The top division of the PTL is always fiercely competitive. With three of the five teams from Doncaster, it usually has something of a local derby feel to it too. Today was no exception with Adwick and Armthorpe going head to head for the best of all possible starts to the year.

In the end it came down to a single point and victory for the Kingfishers. Spa Askern were also involved for the minor places.

Sheffield and District Championships 2012

10 Jan: Sunday 8th January saw the first Long Course meet of 2012 being held at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. Representing Doncaster at the Sheffield and District Championships were Adwick, Spa Askern, and Dearne Valley.

For some of the younger swimmers it was their first time in a 50 metre pool, so there were plenty of first time nerves. In the men's open 400m IM George Scatchard (Spa) was on top form taking Gold with a time of 5.26.50. That's both his Yorkshire and NER qualifying times under his belt. In the Women's event it was his club mate Rhiannon Hill (Spa) picking up the Gold and Chloe Hardy (Adw) Silver. Kathryn Shepheard (Adw) finished in 5th place.

In the 100m Butterfly Matthew Jubb (Adw) took Gold for the 10 year olds, while Oswald Hood (Adw) and Paul Hardy (Adw) brought home the Silver medals in both the 12 year and 13 year age groups. For the girls Tonika Holdsworth (Adw) finished in 4th position.

The men were also flying with Matthew Harrison (Adw) taking Gold and Robert Kirk (Spa) Bronze in 1.16.02, a YQT and missing an NER time by just 0.02sec. While up an age group Daniel Stephenson (Adw) and Matthew Eades (Adw) completed a 1-2 for Adwick.

Despite only being 12, Lily Metcalfe (Spa) swam strongly as a 16 and under to earn 100m Butterfly Silver, and in the open Sophie Coy (Adw) swam an impressive time of 1.09.24 which gave her the Gold medal.

50m Breaststroke boys age 9 Robbie Casson (Adw) Silver, with Dominic Wright (Adw) finishing 4th; age 10 Joe Sykes (Adw) Bronze with a time of 52.63. Representing the 11 years age was Joe George (Drn) who finished 6th position. In the girls Taylor Hardy (Adw) won Silver in the 9 years, while for the 10s Kaydi-Nichole Kirkham (Adw) took Silver and Iona Holdsworth (Adw) finished in Bronze medal position. Not far behind them was Emily Gilliver (Drn) finishing in 6th place with a time of 49.81.

Next on the blocks were Captain Kirk and Paul Hardy again, this time event 110 the men's open 200m Freestyle. Robert finished 5th with a time of 2.24.42, his 2nd YQT of the day and Paul hot on his heels in 6th position. In the women's version Chloe Hardy finished in 5th place.

Not much of a rest for Robert and Paul again, as they were both competing in the 50m Breaststroke up next. A quick drink for both then it was off to starting blocks. In the 12 years Robert claimed Bronze, up an age and Harry Butterworth (Adw) won Gold with Paul 5th. In the 14 years George Scatchard collected his 2nd Gold of the day. The girls continued to win medals in their sprint Breaststroke with Bronze for Lily Metcalfe, and another for Tonika Holdsworth.

We were now half way through the morning session; scoreboard was running smoothly, for the first 90 minutes it was out of action. Are the swimmers still on good form? Read on.

In the 10 year old boys 100m Backstroke Ewan Mulvey-Bryce (Adw) missed out on the Bronze medal by just 0.13sec finishing 4th. In the 11, 12, and 15 years events it was a hat trick of Silvers for Matthew Job Robert and Stuart Wardle (Adw) In the girls event we saw Chloe Hardy win Gold with Rebecca Jarvis (Adw) in 4th position.

11 year old Lucy Scatchard (Spa) finished 4th in the women's open 50m Freestyle with a time of 41.18.

In the sprint Freestyle Robbie and Ewan were back in action and winning Silver medals apiece, Taylor also collected the silver medal for the girls.

A little older and the Paul Hardy, Stuart Wardle double act was picking up both Bronze medals in the 13 and 15 year age bands. The last two events of the morning were the open 200m Breaststroke. The men's event saw Harry win his 2nd Gold of the day with a time of 3.04.12, while Rhiannon did likewise for the ladies.

A short lunch break and warm up, and then the swimmers were gathered round their team leaders for a briefing of the afternoon events. First medals of the afternoon weren't far away: Rebecca Jarvis Gold, Tonika Holdsworth (Adw) Silver and Natasha Oates (Adw) another Gold in the 100m Breaststroke. How would the boys fair in the same event? The Jubster Silver, Robert Bronze, and Harry yet another Gold; that's his hat-trick for the Breaststoke events - well done Harry.

The older girls weren't to disappoint either. Lily collected Silver and veteran Sophie Coy picked up another Gold for Doncaster's clubs. The older men did likewise. Matthew Harrison won Gold and Daniel Stephenson the Silver an age group up.

On top form for the girls in 50m Backstroke was the youngest of the Hardy clan once more. Taylor dominating for Gold with a time of 45.97. Robbie matched her to do the same for the boys as did Stuart Wardle for the older boys; between them Robert added to his silverware with silver.

Big question of the day, would Lily make use of her big underwaters in the 200m Butterly? She's been looking very impressive in training of late, but race day is a different matter entirely. Would she hold her nerve and put the skills in to practice? Of course she would, she got out of the pool with a smile on her face (or was that pain), knowing she had finished in Bronze medal position.

The next medals to come Doncaster's way were in the girl's 100m Freestyle with Emily Cartwright (Adw) claiming Bronze. Then the boys taking the same event by storm: Gold medals going to Matthew Jubb and Robert Kirk, while Paul Hardy got another Silver, and Stuart Wardle another Bronze. Quickly back on the starting blocks were Lily and Sophie to see if they could match the boys. It was Bronze for Lily (with 4 years in hand for the age group) and Gold for Sophie. The older men saw Daniel collect the Bronze medal.

In the 9/11 yo girls and boys 50 m butterfly there were medals for 10 yo Abbie Hardacre (Adw) Bronze and another Silver for Ewan. Chloe picked up another Bronze medal in the women's open 200m IM and 200m Backstroke. Lily managed another Butterfly Bronze, and Kathryn earned herself a gleaming Gold. Up another age group and Tonika touched for Silver. It was a long, long day, but the boys are bringing things to an end. Paul also collected sprint Butterfly medal, his reward: the Bronze.

In the last event of the long day Matthew Eades won Bronze in the 200m Backstroke.

Or was it the last event of the day? The individuals were over but still to come were the freestyle teams. Adwick entered three teams in the women's events with the Angels and the Aces finishing 1st and 3rd; and two teams in the men's, the Amigos took top spot, with the Adwick Attack runner up. Well done to all swimmers and good luck next weekend if you are swimming at Harrogate or Derby Meets.