News July 2010
Keep up to date with what's happening at Dartes and performance swimming in Doncaster. This page records the news as it happens -- history in the making!
The Stories behind the Headlines
Your Guide to Age Group Nationals
27 Jul: With the British GAS ASA National Age Group Championships starting on Wednesday, here's your guide to when our young stars are in action. You can watch events unfold as they happen via the Live Scoreboard feature on the results website.
| Day | Athlete | Event | Heat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 28th | Joe | 100m Backstroke | Heat 6 |
| Heidi | 200m Backstroke | Heat 6 | |
| Thu 29th | Jarvis | 200m Butterfly | Heat 2 |
| Joe | 200m Butterfly | Heat 6 | |
| Jarvis | 100m Freestyle | Heat 3 | |
| Fri 30th | Joe | 200m Backstroke | Heat 5 |
| Caitlin | 200m Butterfly | Heat 5 | |
| Sat 31st | Jarvis | 200m Freestyle | Heat 3 |
| Jarvis | 100m Butterfly | Heat 3 | |
| Girls Team | 4x200m Freestyle | Heat 1 | |
| Sun 1st | Jarvis | 400m IM | Heat 4 |
All these events take place at Ponds Forge, just down the road in Sheffield. Anyone who wants to pop along to lend their support and soak up the big meet atmosphere are more than welcome.
Heats are in the mornings (starting 8.30), finals take place in the afternoons (starting 5pm).
The official results site provides start lists, BAGCAT reports, and the ever popular Live Scoreboard feature. We will of course add as many of our performances as possible to Dartes TV.
Check back next week for details of the Youth Championships.
30 Animals Swim 200m Fly in 2010
26 Jul:
We started the Animal Squad with the intention of encouraging more of our youngstars to have a crack at some of the more challenging events.
We never quite expected to get so many entering the 200m Butterfly though - arguably the scariest of them all.
Before our End of Season meet came around, we thought 23 would be our grand total for the season. Then much to our surprise, the program for Bradford contained another 7 first timers among our 18 entrants. That takes our season total to a whopping 30! To put that in perspective, we've listed the totals from the previous 10 years below.
Make sure you all repeat the feat next year and add one of the other animal events to your list too. All you young guys coming through JDS, why don't you join in the fun next season; it's the first of the Animal Squad events you can do so give it a crack.
| 2009/10 | 30 |
|---|---|
| 2008/09 | 16 |
| 2007/08 | 21 |
| 2006/07 | 17 |
| 2005/06 | 15 |
| 2004/05 | 3 |
| 2003/04 | 3 |
| 2002/03 | 2 |
| 2001/02 | 3 |
| 2000/01 | 2 |
| 1999/00 | 8 |
So who are our latest heroes from Bradford?
We have two new boys adding themselves to the list.
The oldest seems to be getting himself a mention more and more these days.
Who would have thought a few months ago that
Aaron Walker (Ros)
would attempt a 200m Butterfly?
This weekend he did himself proud and earned a B grade Gold medal in to the bargain.
Climbing out of the pool afterwards he said: "That wasn't as bad as I thought, I'm going to do more of those".
Good job really, last week he twisted Coach Wallace's arm into letting him attend the Friday Flyday morning sessions next season.
Aaron was joined in heat 3 by event regulars Jack Green (Tho) and Charlie Casson (Adw) picking up B grade Bronze and Silver respectively (all 3 in different age groups).
The other boy attempting his first 200 Fly was Mark Beech (Spa). Start 'em young is our philosophy. At that age all we really ask of them is to hold the stroke together. Stay long and strong and finish the course. Well Mark did just that, and brought home an A grade Gold medal as a bonus. Alongside him in heat 1 was Ben Long (Arm), nervous beforehand, but strong through the water.
Of the 31 swimmers entered for the boys event, almost a quarter were Dartes.
Two more of our regular flyers contested heat 2.
Oswald Hood (Adw)
won the B grade Gold, while up an age group
Paul Hardy (Adw)
took the Silver.
Jamie Clarke (Arm) was the class act of the field, still chasing a National Time and kicking out 8m or more underwater on each of the 7 turns (even further off the start). An A grade Gold for him by a considerable margin.
The girls weren't about to let the side down either. 26 entries and 10 from Dartes. The oldest, and another first timer, was Jacqueline Hood (Adw). Walking down the poolside afterwards (staggering might be more accurate), she earned the warm, family support from younger brother Oswald: "Now you feel my PAIN!" he shouted from the balcony. You could almost hear the family pride in his voice. Happily she took the Gold medal in the B grade.
Joining her in the fastest heat were another 2 Dartes girls. We all know Jessica Gillatt (SAS) can sprint Fly, but on Sunday she continued her Butterfly development with her first 200m and Gold in the B grade.
Out on the other side of the pool in lane 1 was veteran 200m Fly swimmer
Kelly Smith (Adw).
One of many big PBs for her this weekend to earn her a well deserved A grade Gold medal (to go with Silver in the 50m, and 3 B grade Golds too).
But there was more family pride at stake in heat 1. Lauren Walker (Ros) stepped up alongside Kathryn Shepheard (Adw) to make sure older brother Aaron didn't get too big headed. You see a 200m Fly isn't that big a deal if you're brave enough and tough enough to have a crack at it. Another family of Animals and a B grade Silver medal for Lauren.
Emily Cartwright (Adw) and Caragh Chambers-Hey (SAS) were the new girls helping to dominate heat 2. They were joined by Georgia Stephenson (Adw) winning A grade Silver, and Finleigh Dukes (Tho) doing the same an age group below. 4 of the 6 lanes wearing Dartes caps! A delighted Emily also added to the medal tally on her first attempt with the B grade Bronze.
All on her own in heat 3,
Yorkshire finalist
Chloe Hardy (Adw)
took the 12 years Gold.
Animal Squad ...
Summer Schedule
23 Jul: As usual, we will have a training break over August to allow our hard working athletes to let their hair down and stop smelling of chlorine for a little while. Here are the details of that break:
- JDS runs as normal throughout August.
- The last morning session is: Tuesday 3rd August
- The last evening session is: Friday 6th August
- Wednesday 4th August is cancelled
- Thursday 5th will run 7pm - 8.30pm only (phase 4 and phase 5)
- Friday 6th 5.45pm - 7.15pm (phase 4 and phase 5)
Alton Towers
During the summer break it is important to keep active. Go running, disappear on long bike rides, or take long walks in the countryside. Anything just to keep yourselves active and moderately fit before returning on Monday 6th September at 5am!
We have a few activities taking place during the break though.
To celebrate your return to full training, we're running a trip to Alton Towers (and back again) on Sunday 5th September.
- Sunday 5th September
- 12yrs and over: £28 per person
- 11yrs and under: £26 per person
- Price includes Coach and Park entry
- £10 deposit per person to reserve a seat (non-refundable)
There are lists on noticeboards at all our pools, so get your names on quickly as it will be first come first served. Alternatively, email Peter Litchfield.
Sponsored Walk
More details to come later, but we're also planning a very special sponsored walk in the summer sun. We're hoping to drag along a photographer to snap everyone who takes part for a very special development we have planned for later in the year.
Once we have the details for this event they will be posted on this website, so be sure to check back over August. This is an event you all want to be involved in.
Feedback From Parents Meeting
14 Jul: Firstly, thank you to everyone who attended last night's parent's meeting. One of the main objectives for Phase 3/4 was really to stress how places in Phase 4 are to be managed over the coming season. Obviously, we've now got to the point where competition for places in that squad means that there simply isn't room for everyone who might want a place. Nor can we keep athletes in the squad indefinitely, it is nominally an age-group squad (10-13 girls, 11-14 boys) so places, on the whole, need to reflect that. Although there is a little leeway.
There was a lot of information thrown at you in a short time last night, and judging by the questions asked, some of it will take time to sink in and more question will undoubtedly arise over the next few days and weeks. We are also aware that many of the questions asked (and many more that weren't asked) require and deserve personalised answers that wouldn't have been appropriate in a group setting on the night.
Also please understand that answers given by coaches in such an environment are often far from complete: words can get mungled, etc, and often the meaning of answers can be easily misunderstood and be difficult to clarify with such tight time constraints.
With that in mind, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the appropriate coach if you have any further questions or just to clarify any points. But please consider the following before doing so:
- Both Coach Kevin and Coach Dave have day jobs - so try to avoid phoning
- Email is probably the best route initially, if only to give the coach advanced warning
- Hall Cross sessions for Phase 4 are always a rush to be off the premises
- Weekly contact with coaches while they're looking through log books is a useful opportunity to discuss a child's progress and other issues that might arise over the season
To clarify one or two points straight away. The Phase 4 squad introduction page undoubtedly does a better job of explaining that squad's minimum criteria than I managed last night; I had assumed everyone was already familiar with that. It will also do a better job of explaining the reasons and thinking behind the process. At the bottom of that page is a table describing the required weekly hours across the age range. Phase 4 swimmers will be expected to attend the appropriate sessions when the season begins in September.
Finally, if you have any doubts as to your child's progress within Phase 4, or you are one of those struggling to meet the required hours, please come and have a chat (see the points above). Friday evenings and Saturday mornings will be the best opportunities as we have more time after the session. If the right parent can't attend those two sessions, or if you'd rather book an appointment for a specific day please email or text and we'll arrange something.
Breaking 10:30, The New 800m Test Set Challenge
10 Jul:
Something happened to
Jarvis Parkinson (Tho)
during the Yorkshire Championships back in the Spring.
All of a sudden he got the bit between his teeth and went in search of National Times.
That extra edge to his training was demonstrated today when, as predicted last time, he joined that small group of Phase 4 swimmers to break the 11min mark on the 800m Freestyle test set.
No small feat at 11!
But that wasn't the most notable swim of the day. That honour goes to someone who probably hasn't been mentioned in these pages before. We occasionally accept older swimmers on to the Dartes programme (space permitting) if the coaching team feels there's a chance of them progressing adequately. Very rarely does that amount to much more than reaching regional level; those early years normally devoted to building a strong training base having been lost, it's immensely difficult to catch up.
Aaron Walker (Ros)
has been a prime example of how difficult starting late can be.
Struggling through most of his first season, he almost lost his spot 2 or 3 times but knuckled down and got focused on his training.
Today that hard work payed off with his first swim under 11mins (10:47 is 1min faster than all but one of his previous attempts).
He then pushed off for number 2 and smashed his new best time to dip under 10:30 for the fastest ever Phase 4 swim on this set!
Afterwards he asked: "Does that qualify me for Yorkshires?"
Well let's have a look.
14yrs Long Course (from Spring 2010): 10:34.80
Aaron's time converted to LC: 10:42.xx
So not quite, but factoring in the lack of a dive start and crowded lanes and he should easily make it come the January deadline.
| Name | Date | 400m | 800m | 400m | 800m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron | 10 Jul | 5:28 | 10:47 | 5:18 | 10:29 |
| Kim | 10 Jul | 5:29 | 10:55 | 5:34 | 11:11 |
| Jarvis | 10 Jul | 5:30 | 10:57 | 5:33 | 11:09 |
| Oliver | 10 Jul | 5:36 | 11:09 | 5:33 | 11:04 |
| Beth | 10 Jul | 5:30 | 11:04 | 5:34 | 11:16 |
| Jack | 1 May | 5:37 | 11:21 | 5:33 | 11:06 |
| Kelly | 10 Jul | 5:53 | 12:00 | 5:32 | 11:19 |
| Chloë | 10 Jul | 5:31 | 11:20 | ||
| Georgia | 10 Jul | 5:52 | 11:29 | 5:47 | 11:29 |
| Mark | 10 Jul | 5:53 | 11:34 | 6:07 | 12:21 |
| Holly | 10 Jul | 6:00 | 11:43 | 5:54 | 11:48 |
| Kathryn | 10 Jul | 6:12 | 12:33 | 6:08 | 12:19 |
| Ben | 10 Jul | 6:32 | 13:25 | 6:35 | 13:03 |
There were a few more creeping ever closer to the 11min mark that
Kim Smith (Adw)
had first breached back in December.
Oliver Richardson (Edl)
and
Beth Reddy (Spa)
fell just 4sec short, with
Jack Green (Tho)
a similarly close 6sec outside.
The first attempt at this set next season looks set for something special, as holidays prevented a few more from having a final crack. We await September with anticipation.
Top Club at Jorvik Viking Sprints
3 Jul: Last year we came to Jorvik and unexpectedly found ourselves challenging for Top Club at the lunch break. This year there was no such suprise. We'd left subtlety at home and entered a whopping 88 swimmers for the day's sprints as a combined Doncaster force with pooled coaching and team management - it worked well.
Coach Neil and Team Manager Louise had mobilised the troops at Adwick and added a few of their older swimmers to the fray; joining the hordes of Adwick kids already in the Dartes Junior Development Squads competing alongside their training partners from Doncaster's other clubs.
Coach Clive and Team Manager Sandra did much the same at Rossington with a few old Dartes faces returning to join the young RASCALS who train in JDS and Phase 4.
Even so, we hadn't expected to be quite so dominant. Not until a week or so ago when we realised our 88 swimmers outnumbered the next two biggest clubs combined! It could have been even better (or worse if you're the opposition). Sitting next to us in their blue and yellow were Armthorpe. They were destined to finish 6th in the Top Club contest with 219.5 points. Another 2 swimmers from Phase 4 were present in Armthorpe's ranks along with a light sprinkling of JDS swimmers and even a member of our National Squad taking the opportunity to swim weaker events.
We'd expected to win Top Club then, anything less would have been a little disappointing. But it wasn't just a numbers game: throw in more swimmers and come out with more points. We came away with a substantial showing in the Top Swimmer awards for each age group too, highlighting the quality.
Tyler Dodson (Adw) and Laura Brookes (Edl) came 1st and 2nd in the 9 years age group, picking up a very nice glass award each. Alana Brewster (Adw) and Ben Carville (Ros) swum away with the 10 year awards. Katy Burton (Arm) came 3rd in the girls (representing her club) and the boys trio of Matthew Drennan (Adw), Oswald Hood (Adw), and Adam Cunliffe (Ros) finished up in a block at 4th, 5th, and 6th.
Paul Hardy (Adw) amassed more points than all of the 11 year old boys to proudly walk away with the prize, while Natasha Crow (SAS) was runner up in the girls.
Up another age-group and two swimmers managing to impress their Phase 4 Coaches were Holly Brookes (Edl) in 3rd overall and George Scatchard (Spa) finishing runner up. Both rose to the 15m challange set for them and looked very strong doing so. For Holly, who a few months ago could barely hold her breath to the flags let alone Butterfly kick 3 times further underwater FAST, a demonstration of what she and any other swimmer can do when focused on achieving something. For George, a reminder to himself that he has the technical skill required to achieve big things as a swimmer - hard work, drive, and the determination to progress through the training lanes are what he needs to find in order to turn potential into reality!
Just like last year, the focal point of this meet for Dartes lay with our younger swimmers (Phase 1 - 3, and a handful from Phase 4). But whereas last year we had very few older swimmers present, this time we were strengthened by a number of Dartes trained athletes from the past, joined by their feeder-club team mates. Although not winning any more Top Swimmer awards, they were still up there challenging. Holly Denton (Adw), and Alex Beech (Spa) were both runner-up in the 14 years with Jacqueline Hood (Adw), repeating that position in the Open age.
The final points score had Doncaster DARTES running away with the silverware for Top Club, 825 points. Host club Team Jorvik had a local battle with York City for 2nd. But despite Head Coach Darren Burchell's valiant efforts to earn the hosts every last point on offer with 10points of his own in the open age group, York City just pipped them in the final few events: 397 vs 353.5.
It was Jorvik's 2nd edition of the Viking Sprints, and they did a fine job of running it too. For our part, we'll have a think about how to defend the shiny Top Club trophy for a third year. You can bet your socks that Dartes' Junior Development Squad will once again be the vanguard of our assault on that contest as its young swimmers hunt for 50m Yorkshire Qualifying Times for the Winter Competition.