Masters Gala Report

by | Apr 16, 2015 | Latest News

Practising what we preach as Club coaches and teachers to show the kids how to do it, 14 masters swimmers represented Gainsborough Dolphins at Grantham Swimming Clubs 90th Anniversary Masters gala on the 29th March. The age ranged from 18 up to the more mature swimmer aged 53 (although this is not the oldest competitive swimmer that represents Gainsborough Dolphins). This event gave Masters debuts to Tonicha Watson, Chris Gillyett and Sarah Ashurst who accompanied Tony Bindon, Rachel Crabtree, Damon Butters, Kate Jackson, Adrian Cawte, James Smith, Steve Morris, Nick Ward-Lowery, Jeanette Morris, Freya Ward-Lowery and Ian Hansford to make up the 14 man squad.

 

Competing against swimmers from City of Lincoln (combined Pentaqua and Vulcans), Louth, Deepings and Grantham Swimming Club the overall results were:

City of Lincoln 235
Louth 139
Gainsborough Dolphins 116.5
Deepings 111
Grantham 102.5

This was a brilliant result for GD, given we had no swimmers for 14 out of the 44 races (nearly a 1/3 of the overall races) due to the gala falling at the start of the Easter holidays and many swimmers being unavailable.

This all resulted in our swimmers claiming:

5th places 3
4th places 7
3rd places 10
2nd places 3
1st places 6

The final race was a 12×25 mixed club cannon. Each lane had a variety of age swimmers from each club, a good way to socialise and mix with some of swimmers from the other clubs. The winners were rewarded a little trophy of a Cadburys cream egg!!

Not to be out done by the kids who represent Dolphins with their visits to McDonald’s after their galas to celebrate their victories, the masters squad and accompanying supporters celebrated their success with an Indian and a few beverages (of the alcoholic kind – we do have to replace lost fluids after all!).

On the 26th April five of the Club’s master’s swimmers – James Smith, Nick Ward-Lowery, Ian Hansford, Rachel Crabtree and Rosi Fieldson have been selected to swim for Lincolnshire at the Regional Inter-County Masters gala at Braunstone, Leicester. Congratulations and good luck to them all.

Counties 2015

by | Oct 19, 2014 | Latest News

Please see below for the decision made by the Lincs ASA County Exec following the recent British Swimming announcement in September regarding the introduction of the ‘Age as at 31st December’ for championship meets :

After a great deal of research, consultation and gathering opinions from members of the Lincs ASA County Champs Sub-Committee members and head coaches of the clubs, regarding the details released in the Swimming Pathway document circulated to all, a decision has been reached by a majority, to keep the 2015 Counties exactly as they are published and have it as age as at last date of competition still, keeping the 9 year olds in the programme and leaving the programme of events as it stands.

The Pathways document states that “Counties are requested to implement the recommendations in 2015, if possible and should make preparations for full implementation in 2016”.

We have not taken this decision not to implement age as at December 31st and the new programme of events for 2015, lightly. All opinions have been taken on board and a majority decision put forward.

At the end of the day, our main concern within Lincs ASA, was to not DISADVANTAGE our youngest swimmers, many of whom have striven really hard since May 1st 2014, to obtain their first main goal in swimming – to get a “County Qualifying Time”. For them to then find that the “Age as at 31st December” date had been implemented and meant that they have not achieved this goal after all, was not something we feel would be best for the swimmers confidence/morale! At the end of the day, we are here for the swimmers and it is the last chance 9 year olds will have to be able to swim in such an event and we don’t feel a change in 2015 is advantageous to these young swimmers.

Also, timescales for pool bookings etc have to be accounted for and if we implement the “Finals”, more time will be required to run the gala’s and pool arrangements and bookings have already been made and costing’s agreed.

I know some of you wanted to change the “Age as at date” and some others wanted changes to the programme made, but after discussions a plenty, including at Regional Meetings/Boards etc, this is what has been decided by majority.

ALL the Pathways Document changes WILL be implemented for 2016 and we will keep everyone informed as best we can throughout this changing time!

Thanks

 

The Hayleigh Dunne Memorial Gala 06/09/2014

by | Sep 8, 2014 | Latest News

Gainsborough Dolphins went into this gala with a few of the regular squad swimmers missing but still produced the results.

33 first places from 46 events was a tremendous effort by the swimmers from all sections of the club. Some of them swimming for the club for a first time along with some seasoned midland swimmers and of course the Masters. Mark Smith would like to thank everyone who competed especially the ones who came in at short notice and did exceptionally well, and the ones who did races they would not normally compete in as its this attitude that improves a club. The mix of these age groups at this gala made for great club team building as some of the young ones got to swim in relays which accounted for the majority of the gala with the senior and masters. These Swimmers representing the club won the gala over all against teams from South Axholme Sharks and Edlington.

The club would also like to thank spectators for their support to both the swimmers and the fund raising on the night for Mr Dunne’s nominated charity.

Rotherham Metro A & B Grade Open Meet – Results

by | Jul 25, 2013 | Latest News

Gainsborough Dolphins attended the Rotherham Metro A and B grade open meet at Ponds Forge over the weekend  of the 20th /21st July coming out of it with great success. Medals attained were as follows.

James Smith Silver 100m I M A grade

1:04.90
David Trickett Bronze 100m I M A grade

1:06.58
Brandon Smith Bronze 200m Freestyle A grade

2:53.82
Lydia Smith Gold 100m Backstroke A grade

1:23.85
Lucy Hame Bronze 100m Backstroke B grade

1:23.35
Aarron Smith Bronze 100m Butterfly A grade

1:04.00
Lydia Smith Silver 50m Butterfly B grade

0:44.28
Emily Neal Bronze 50m Butterfly B grade

0:44.64
Brandon Smith Bronze 50m Breaststroke A grade

0:50.99
Brandon Smith Gold 200m Backstroke A grade

3:02.07
Lucy Hame Gold 200m Butterfly A grade

2:47.59
David Trickett Speed 100m Breaststroke A grade

1:09.96
James Smith Gold 100m Breaststroke A grade

1:10.74
Aarron Smith Silver 50m Butterfly A grade

0:28.68
Lydia Smith Gold 50m Backstroke A grade

0:39.47
Lucy Hame Silver 50m Backstroke B grade

0:39.56
Lydia Smith Bronze 200m Backstroke A grade

3:03.27
Reuben Gidlow Gold 100m Freestyle B grade

1:20.89
Brandon Smith Silver 50m Backstroke A grade

0:39.48
Reuben Gidlow Silver 50m Backstroke A grade

0:39.44
Aarron Smith Silver 50m Backstroke A grade

0:30.38
David Trickett Silver 200m I M A grade

2:21.98
Emily Neal Silver 200m Freestyle B grade

3:00.75
Brandon Smith Gold 50m Freestyle A grade

0:34.58
David Trickett Bronze 50m Freestyle A grade

0:25.87

 

Also swimming on the day, putting in some great performances to achieve personal best times in some events were:
Lottie Parkinson, Ethan Burton, Tonicha Watson, Chloe Huddart, Harriett Webster, Jack Boulton, and Sophie Hame. 

Please look on the notice boards for further events or see Chris Webster or poolside coaches to enquire about them and see if they think your child will be able to do them.

The club would like to take substantial numbers to open meets in the future to improve the clubs reputation within the Midlands area and give swimmers the opportunity to gain county, midland and national times.

Well done!

by | Jun 24, 2013 | Latest News

Well done to all the swimmers who swam at Grimsby in the Junior League on 22nd June. You all did very well and a great team effort resulting in us coming 2nd place. There were lots of tremendous individual successes, but most of all I was really proud how everyone encouraged each other and worked together as a team. And a big thank you to all the coaches and helpers who assisted on the day of the race

Thanks Chris