Photo Gallery: Olbia, 2009

It's been 2 years since our last training camp so the last week in October arrived with great excitement (from the swimmers) and trepidation (from the coaches and chaperones). There were a few rough edges, but on the whole it was a raving success.

Many thanks to Julie Hirst for organising the week, Peter and Leann for acting as Chaperones, and of course Coaches Andy and Dave for thrashing the kids to within an inch of their lives (and in some cases beyond).

Photo Gallery 2009	Olbia Training Camp
The first opportunity for a team photo came at Gatwick. Obviously we took advantage of the occasion and made a spectacle of ourselves at check-in.
We arrived quite late on Sunday and everyone was too tired to be bothered with photos.   But after training Monday morning we had a short wait for the bus into Olbia and the inevitable happened.   Glorious sunshine accompanied us everywhere we went during the week.
In the pool's reception is a photo of Team GB with Bill Sweetenham along with other photos of various big name (and small name) teams.   What more motivation did we need.   The Official Team Photo for the week (see large version).
Guess Who!   Someone was in a patriotic mood as they lay by the pool.   But who was it?
A relaxing start to the day. Just for a change, morning training was after breakfast with stretching and a little land work at 8:30.   Sure does beat a 5am start!
The early morning blue sky that greeted us every single day.   Doesn't the glistening blue pool look inviting in the glorious sunshine.
The night before our Saturday morning races, Chaperone Leann laid down a challenge.   Rather foolishly she said: "Oh I'll race someone at 100m Fly!".   "Are you sure?" we asked.   Well she's in this photo, can you spot her?
In fact, both coaches and Leann rose to the challenge on Friday night.   "The kids want to race the coaches" Andy told us.   Okay then. It's the last day, why not. We're not all scaredy cats!
Do those two look like they're getting in to you?   Leann's 100m Fly rapidly turned into: "Well I'll do a length, I never said 100m".   And then both mysteriously forgot to take their kit down to the pool.
One difference between indoor and outdoor 50m pools is that you can safely run around the outdoor ones.   So we did.
Now, now ladies. Put Jamie down!
Don't Ask!   Stupidly, we did :-(
It's one of Sardinia's rare and protected species. The Mottled Sardinian Rock Dragon!   We were just lucky enough to spot one by the pool.
Very lucky indeed, because 2 minutes later Big Mouth and Cheesy Grin popped along and scared the poor thing away.
Blimey, that's right -- Molly came with us.   She kept such a low profile and was so quiet all week I'd forgotten she was even there until seeing these photos.
"Ooooh Joe! You're so annnnoying ..."   "Grrrrrrrrrrr"
A Good Idea at the Time?   Not really, but it did keep Molly, Hannah and Emma busy for over 10mins moving Alex into position.   "What position?" we here you ask.   Duh! Standing on Molly's hand obviously.
Now you wouldn't have found Emma striking this pose, this close to the pool, had it not been the very last day.   Far too tempting a target.
Especially with these two evil wrong doers waiting to pounce on unsuspecting passers by.   It was a tough call. It was hard to resist.   But a soaking wet Emma might not be allowed to fly so on this occasion the opportunity was allowed to slip.
Instead we had fun on the coach coming home.   This is just a teaser, wait and see what other sleepy head photos we managed to take.
Do they look like they're dancing to you too?   More fun in the early morning sun by the pool.
After complaining at 2010 Yorkshires that she wasn't on any of the Sardinia photos, we thought it only fair to add a few pics of Shannon.   Happy now?
Team Sunglasses.   Those sun-glasses were worn by just about everyone.   Everyone that is apart from Beth who had far more sense than to wear sun-glasses in a dimly lit hotel lobby.
Richard on the other hand never removed those sun-glasses.   Rumour has it that he even slept and showered with them still sitting snugly on his nose.
Tanned and Toned.   Nik challenges the ghostly pale Max to a sprint.   Shannon and Heidi decide to get in on the action too. How many lanes was it we paid for?
This must have been pretty early on as there's not much sunburn in evidence on the faces of Beth and Jess.   Waiting for dinner after arrival on the first night perhaps.