New 29 June
After much foofing about, the results from both gala weeks are now updated.
Remember to buy your tickets for this weeks Presentation Evening this week, £4 per adult, £2 per child, £10 for a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children). The Pavilion's kitchen will be open this year, so you can eat at the venue if you wish. Please remember that children are the responsibilty of their parents or carers - we don't want any accidents caused by collisions between children and hot food!
We've got some great raffle prizes on offer, and some surprise trophies too - the Endeavour awards, for instance, and will Stone Bay, the defending Champions for the overall gala winners, be claiming the trophy again this year??
New 24 June
The Personal Survival groups for the courses in the main pool have now been finalised apart from teacher allocation - click here to see the final list of who is doing what.
The results of the second gala week (17 June) are up now, we are having a lot of technical problems with things at the mo so the first weeks results will follow as soon as we can!
We've put up a survey form to assess the gala this year. Please take just 2 mins to complete it for us to let us know what you think (in a nice way!).
A lot of you will remember Chloe Gambrill, who swum with us a little while ago. She is up to her old fundraising tricks again, this time for Cancer Research UK in the Race for Life on 4th July in Herne Bay. She is running it with her mum Kelly and others. Their fundraising target is £750 - a fairly modest sum that can really make a difference. Chloe has some very famous followers - click here to have a look at her page, her reasons for running and just who the superstar fans are - oh, and maybe sponsor her too so she can hit the target! Thanks.
New 19 June
We've sorted out the Personal Survival groups for 8, 15, 22 and 29 July (the last week is assessment week) - click here to see who is doing what, but keep checking during this week for updated session times for some swimmers & for an updated list once we've checked it against the main pool register.
Presentation Evening - 2 July, Broadstairs Pavilion - tickets will be on sale next week!!!
New 18 June
We've heard a few comments about the gala so here's a quick couple of responses:
It looked like some swimmers were racing against others a couple of years older - the races were divided into age groups of 9 and under, 10 and under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 and Ladies/Mens. These are the standard Amateur Swimming Association age groups. It might have been that, due to a small amount of swimmers in some age groups, that 2 events were swum at the same time, for instance we might have swum the 11-12 year olds at the same time as the 13-14 year olds to save a bit of time. Age for the groupings is the age of the swimmer on New Years Eve. The swimmers will still be sorted out in their age groups for results, medals, etc.
Disqualifications - pretty much every week, swimmers in the main pool are reminded that they must touch the wall with both hands at the end of a breaststroke length, and they must stay on their back at the end of a backstroke length (unless they are tumble turning). There were several disqualifications for these this week, as we feel these are basic things that we often teach. The swimmers were also reminded about the two hand touch rule on the bench before the breaststroke race, and again before the race started.
Heats - where there were more than 6 swimmers in an age group for an event, they are sorted into 2 (or more) heats. The swimmer likely to be fastest is put in to heat 1, the next fastest into heat 2, the next into heat 1, and so on. The swimmers finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd in all heats receive a medal, and the fastest swimmers overall receives the trophy.
Format - holding the gala in club time was, this year, a last resort. We had a fair amount of hitches along the way, not least the first England World Cup football match being on the evening of the planned date, which we could not have foreseen! We were already 3 qualified volunteers down on that date, without the football clashing. We tried other dates, which meant moving the gala AND Presentation Evening, but still needed the large amount of volunteers (skilled and unskilled) to put on the full formal gala as usual. This was proving to be extremely difficult so the decision was made to try the gala in normal session time. This takes a lot less organising but obviously there are plus and minus points apart from that! Some parents have commented that the atmosphere was competitive but in a friendlier way as it was the familiar faces on poolside, and that their children responded well to this.
Special Race - this has traditionally been for swimmers who have just moved into or are about to move into the main pool, to bridge the gap, so that they are swimming against others who are also not necessarily strong enough to compete against their age group swimmers with any equality. Due to the change in Stages in the main pool, meaning that swimmers are in the main pool slightly sooner but remaining in that Stage for a while, the criteria was changed just before the gala to include Stage 4 swimmers only. Some of these swimmers have been in the main pool for a few months, which runs contrary to the original concept of the event.
We'll be reviewing the gala at the Committee meeting on Tuesday and will be asking for constructive feedback from swimmers, parents etc over the next couple of weeks. Look out for the surveys in the website and at reception.
It might be an odd thing to put on the website, but if you don't do computers and need updates by other means than we usually use (this website, Facebook, email), please let us know so that we can appoint a Committee member to keep you in touch.
We'll be doing some main pool trials over the next couple of weeks and hope to have some new swimmers on board soon.
And finally - Presentation Evening - 2 July, Broadstairs Pavilion - tickets will be on sale this week!!!
New 16 June
As we've got a funny old format for this year's gala, we'd like to invite the Stage 4 swimmers who took part in last week's Special Race, to come along in their normal 7.30 session for a special backstroke 25m event. This is so that they are taking part in both of the gala weeks. Please note that this will NOT be for medals or a trophy, but swimmers taking part will be awarded points for their Bay.
Remember that we will need timekeepers again this week, so if you are free please either email us on broadstairsswim@sky.com or come along and make yourself known on poolside.
Final results will be posted on the website sometime after this Friday. Boys, Girls, Mens and Ladies Champion results will not be published to keep up the suspense for Presentation Evening on 2 July.
The Endeavour Awards are for swimmers in the small pool and each of the main pool groups. Teachers nominate swimmers who rise to the challenges that they are set with a positive attitude. The winners of these awards are closely guarded secrets and are only announced on Presentation Evening!
New 10 June
Firstly, well done to the swimmers who took part in the first half of the 'streamlined' gala this evening - and a huge thank you to the volunteers on poolside and out in reception who make it all happen.
We need some help from swimmers and parents/carers in relation to the gala:
-
Please, please make sure that your child is at the pool for the correct time next week if they wish to do the breaststroke, butterfly and the younger individual medley races
-
Remember that the Boys and Girls Bay relays are next week in the 8.15 session - if one swimmer fails to attend, the whole team has to withdraw so PLEASE make sure you are either there if needed (even as a reserve) OR you let us know that you won't be coming. It's very stressful for the Bay Captains to try to sort out a new team at the last minute!
-
Swimmers - you need to pay attention when you are waiting on the bench as your name will be called to line you up for a race. You need to listen carefully so that you don't miss your chance to shine!
-
Talking of the relays, please keep checking the selections as they are liable to change over the next few days.
Have you found us on Facebook yet? It's the quickest way for us to get messages out so have a look for us if you're on FB.
Special Race in the annual gala - this is aimed at swimmers who have recently come up to the main pool from the small pool, which now translates to the Stage 4 group. The current rule is that swimmers taking part in the Special Race may not take part in the other races. Due to a combination of factors, we will review this after the gala, but maybe not in time for Presentation Evening on 2 July, so please watch this space for updates.
Presentation Evening tickets will be on sale over the next few weeks, make sure you buy early as we've booked a beautiful warm Broadstairs evening - we'll be at the Broadstairs Pavillion again, with a disco, raffle, medals, trophies, hopefully food from their kitchen - it's all good!
Personal Survival - this is booked in to start on the last Thursday of June for 4 weeks so keep checking for who is doing what - broadly speaking though, start finding some old pyjamas or long sleeved tops & trousers that can go in the pool.
New 3 June
Firstly, congratulations to our volunteers who have achieved Swim21 accreditation again this year. This is a 'charter mark' type award to recognise good standards of teaching, planning, development, fund raising, range of activities, etc.
Click here to see the Relay team selections for the Bay relays over the next couple of weeks.
Congratulations to the swimmers in the small pool who have achieved the standards needed for some recent awards. Click here for the results.
New 2 June
Click here for the current version of the gala - BUT this is being reworked tonight and tomorrow so look out for more info either on Facebook, Gala Information page on this website or on paper tomorrow at the pool
New 27 May
A big thank you to the parents who attended the Club's AGM earlier this month. Read the minutes here
We welcome new members to the Committee - check out the Who's Who page in a couple of days for updated profiles!
Remember that the reworked gala will be taking place in normal sessions on 10 and 17 June BUT some swimmers will need to switch session times for those two weeks only - more details to follow
New 8 May
Please note that with immediate effect, the club's new email address is
broadstairsswim@sky.com
Any emails sent to the previous email address between March and May may NOT have been received or accessed so please send again or contact a Committee member at the AGM on Tuesday.
New 30 April
Annual General Meeting - Tues 11 may, 7.30pm at the Racing Greyhound, Hereson Rd, Ramsgate
- please make every effort to attend as we will be discussing the future of the club.
We've had a few hitches in planning this years gala, and have had to change our plans again - click here to see the final outline
..... and breaking news - the final count for the sponsored swim earlier this month has just been published - last time, we swum up Mount Everest and back down again - check out this years feat!
New 7 April 2010
At long last the waiting list page has been updated, so have a look to check progress!
Remember there is a sponsored swim later this month, forms are available from the front desk. As usual on sponsored swim nights, we will only be counting lengths, distances will not count for awards.
We're lucky to have a couple of volunteers for some of our vacancies so watch this space for new names and faces!
New 7 January 2010
Welcome to a new decade!
Unfortunately due to the freezing conditions and snow, we will NOT be opening this evening. An email has been sent to everyone that we have details for but please pass this message on.
New 19 December
We are welcoming some new members in January so the waiting list page has been amended.
We still urgently need a new Treasurer to come forward. The AGM is around May 2010 and we would like to have a volunteer who has already shadowed the current Treasurer for a while, by then. Please talk to Alan at the desk if you would like more info.
We'll see you all on 7 January - hope you have happy holidays.
New 26 November
Congratulations to all the swimmers who completed their distances this evening, and good luck for next time to those who missed it this time round. Click here to see the results.
Most of the awards were ready this evening but lots of swimmers hit the mile marker and so those badges will be ordered & hopefully we'll have them ready for next week. Remember that at the moment the cost of the badges is included in your monthly subs!
Thanks to the willing volunteers who offered to count lengths for the swimmers tonight, it's a great help and we hope you enjoyed it.
Next week, 3 December, will be polo for main pool swimmers, normal session times. Lawrence Arnold will be joining us, and we're hoping Stuart might be able to make it too.
10 December will be aquacise for 9.00pm group only (this time round, anyway) and will be for an hour - so finishing in the water at 10pm, not 9.45pm. Please make sure that the lift-givers are aware!
17 December is splash night, see the update below for more details.
We won't be swimming on 24th or 31st December, back to normal the following week.
New 30 October
Just a few short updates at the mo - firstly, there has been quite a lot of noise from the changing rooms, particularly the boys, when the 7.30 and 8.15 swimmers have been getting changed, which has sometimes led to disruption of the lessons in the Main Pool. This is a reminded that swimmers in the changing rooms are the responsibility of and under the control of their parents or carers - the Club is not responsible for swimmers once they have left poolside. We want all swimmers to be happy and safe during their time at the pool.
The annual review of emergency contact numbers and school info is well underway. We collect the school info so that we can identify suitable swimmers to be our Club reps at school. Please make sure that you have completed one of the forms asap.
Hopefully the 7.30 swimmers are enjoying the new pool set up, over widths instead of lengths. If you have any comments, please speak to one of the Parent Liaison Officers in reception - Emma Kemp, Louise English or Becki Bexley.
Christmas dates - Splash night is 17 December, which is when the big inflatables and toys come out to play! Swimmers must be able to swim 50m (2 lengths) of the main pool before they will be allowed on the island. Parents/carers and siblings can join in the fun for a small fee - no friends or unrelated visitors, please, for safety reasons.
We will be closed on 24 and 31 December, returning as normal the following week.
New 27 August
It's been a while since we've put any updates on!
It's the last extended session for water polo tonight, back to normal sessions next week. Thanks to Stuart and Lawrence for helping us out.
Next week also sees the new pool set up and time for the 7.30 main pool groups. Please remember to pick up your envelope in reception if this affects you.
The Waiting List page has been updated today, see it via the How Do I Join button on the left
Good news - on 3 August, Sue White and the other 'Danger Ducks' set off on their channel relay in the morning, and completed the crossing in a very respectable 14hrs 23mins and 11 seconds. Thanks to everyone who sponsored Sue to raise money for Footprints (see details below), the forms will be around in reception to collect the money so that we can get it sent off soon - thank you.
We have a Committee meeting next week so please approach a member of the Committee if there is anything that you would like to pass on, query or wish to be discussed.
New 17 July
Click here to see the information about main pool changes in the 7.30pm group from September 2009 - remember to come in to reception to pick up your booklet (and save the club some postage money!)
Some of you may have heard of the local children's hospice, Footprints, near Canterbury, who provide respite and residential care for terminally ill children and their families. Footprints is funded ENTIRELY by charitable donations - they receive no other income. Christy Shelley, brother of Angelica Barnes, one of the club's young swimmers, spent the last two and a half years of his life being looked after by those fantastic people at Footprints. Sadly, Christy died at the end of May this year.
You might remember a mention of Sue White, main pool teacher, Vice Chair, Assistant Secretary, & parent (not necessarily in that order), who is swimming the channel in a relay team in early August (just a couple of weeks time). There is a sponsor form available in reception to raise money and awareness of Footprints, so if you would like to support the charity by sponsoring Sue, either please pledge something on the form, or to speed up your donation so that it gets where it needs to go, see justgiving.co.uk/footprintscanterbury - thank you.
New 26 June
Click here to see who passed their Personal Survival awards last night (this page now includes the Preliminary Safety Award passes from a few weeks ago), and click here to see who passed their Rubba Dubba awards in the teaching pool, too.
Unfortunately, an item of a swimmer's personal property was badly damaged in the female changing rooms last evening. This caused upset and distress for the swimmer and family, and some embarrassment for the teachers, as only club members and families had access to the changing rooms. If you can help shed some light on how this might have accidentally happened, or would like to pass something on, please contact us on the club's email - broadstairsswim@sky.com - you will probably need to cut and paste this into your address bar of an email as the link doesn't always work on all PCs - thanks.
It might also be a useful time to remind parents and carers that they are responsible for their child or children's behaviour in the changing rooms.
New 29 May
We managed to put a few swimmers through their Preliminary Safety Award last evening, click here to see who achieved it, and click here to see who passed a Water Polo award in the 9.00pm group.
New 22 May
Click here to see the provisional Gala results 2009 - just one that we are still looking at, Event 102, one of the relays. We're just going to do a final check through the others before we can OK them for sure.
We know that not all parents or carers usually come into reception to drop off or pick up swimmers, but can you please come in next week if you don't normally as we have some info for each and every member. Thanks.
The Personal Survival lists are now out so click here to see which award your child will be working towards in the Main Pool - the small pool runs slightly differently.
And lastly, have a look at the updated Who's Who page - just two people now to get pictures for!
New 19 May
Gala results to follow - but a huge THANK YOU to all the people who made the gala evening a huge success. We've had the best feedback ever about the evening - improved sound, good visual gala due to the coloured hats, very professional, very slick - thanks you for your feedback, it helps us to work out how to improve what we do.
Thanks to the parents who attended the AGM this evening - we appreciate it that you made time to come along - click here to see the minutes and the result of a vote this evening that will have an impact on your subs and badges/certificates.
We are delighted to confirm that Cathy Tuddenham has accepted our invitation to be our Honorary President. See the AGM minutes for a few more details about Cathy if you don't already know her. We're very proud that Cathy has agreed to continue her connection with the club in this way. Alan Tilbury has now become the club Secretary - he's the smiley chap behind the desk!
Gary and Michele Hams have volunteered to take on the role of Press & Publicity Officers for the club, as they have established local links - thank you.
We also say thanks to Louise English and Jane Pond who have served on the Committee for some time and welcome Darren Sayer to the Committee. The Who's Who page will be updated in due course.
We are in serious need of a Treasurer to replace Ian White. A Job Description will appear on this website over the next few days. We also need to appoint an independant Auditor, whose role is to check the books at year end in March 2010. Please contact Alan Tilbury for details.
We'll be busy planning the Personal Survival courses in the main pool over the next couple of weeks, keep an eye out for the lists of who is doing what.
New 16 May
It's gala night tonight! Some people say it's more interesting than the Eurovision Song Contest - come along and find out for yourself! Please remember that photos, videos etc may NOT be taken at the pool - please make sure that everyone with your party knows about this.
Thanks to all the parents, carers and members who have donated prizes for the gala and Presentation Evening.
On a different note, our attention was brought to unwelcome behaviour in the boy's changing room when the 7.30 male swimmers were changing after their lesson. Please note that swimmers are the responsibility of their grown ups in the changing rooms. The Club takes a dim view of behaviour that might bring it into disrepute and has ceased membership in the past for this reason. It is not acceptable to throw things around or to create a mess that the pool staff are faced with at the end of their shift. We will monitor this over the next few weeks and look forward to an improvement from now on.
New 11 May
We've written to all of the swimmers that were on the list for a tryout in the Main Pool (not the Small Pool, that list is run separately), to see if they still require a tryout. The deadline for replies was today & we've had around 12 replies from around 30+ swimmers. Hopefully everyone has had time to reply, as if we don't hear from people we will assume that they no longer require a tryout. See the updated Waiting List page.
New 1 May
Just a short update today - please see the Charity survey - if you have not cast a vote to choose the charity that the Club will support from the proceeds of the gala and Presentation Evening, please either use this online survey, or the tick sheet at the reception desk - thank you.
See the long awaited Newsletter!
New 30 April
Click here to go to the warm up plan for the gala.
We'd like to pass on a big thanks to our sponsors for 2009 gala & Presentation Evening:
Gillingham Ice Bowl, Leeds Castle, P&O Ferries, Saga, Tesco Extra Westwood, Thorley Taverns and Waterstones.
Please remember to bring in your donations for raffle prizes tonight or next Thursday. Thank you.
Bays swim caps - some people might have taken these home by mistake. If that' you, please hand the hat back in this week or next week, thanks.
New 29 April
Annual General Meeting - we need as many people to attend the AGM as possible - if you are going to the gala, keep your entrance ticket to claim your free drink! It's at the Racing Greyhound, Hereson Rd, Ramsgate, May 19, 7.30pm, please make every effort to attend to find out what we've been doing with your children and your money!
Following a Committee meeting last evening, there is a new Club Bye Law regarding ceasing membership of swimmers if they have attended twice or less in a consecutive 12 week period (one rotation of the register or teaching term). This applies where subs have been paid - if subs have not been paid, the Arrears Policy applies. Please keep checking this page for the wording of the rule.
The background to this is that we have some swimmers who can already swim, but who only attend a couple of times every quarter. We have an extensive waiting list of young people waiting to learn to swim and would like to be able to welcome some of these people into the club on a more regular basis - we don't want to shoo existing members out of the door, but equally we don't want to waste precious water time!
Gala updates - the programme is just about to go off to the printers - thank you to Justin Tilley, Darren & Emily Sayer & Sue White for putting all the info together. Alan Tilbury, Louise English and Becky Bexley are your Fundraising Committee and would like all donations of quality raffle prizes to be brought along on Club nights this week or next week, please.
Emma Kemp and Jane Pond have been busy checking all the trophies - there are still a few to come back in - please check your cupboards!
Please check the warm up plan that will be out on the desk & tables to see where you will be warming up & how long for.
New 27 April
Congratulations to Darren Sayer who completed the London Marathon yesterday in 4 hours 3 minutes - a fantastic time on such a warm day!
The Gala Committee are working hard behind the scenes to get the event running smoothly on the night. We're almost ready to get the programme to the printers. There's a slight change to the running order due to the addition of the TT Bay Relay. The Age Group Bay Relay will now take place immediately after the warm up and before the small pool races. After the small pool races, we go to the main pool for the Special Race and then the TT Bay Relay will be swum.
Here are the relay entries for the gala:
Lifesaving relay - Sophie White/Danielle Aspital, Lily Price/Beth Campbell, John Drake/Charlie Gambrill, Ben Mays/Emily Mays, Maria Steffanini/Grace Andrews
Frog Relay - Emma & Alfie Warren
Tadpole Relay - Emma & Rosie Warren
Family Race - Tuddenham, Campbell, White, Gambrill
New 23 April
Good luck to Darren Sayer, our Membership Officer, who is running the London Marathon on Sunday to raise money for Children with Leukaemia. He's been training really hard, and has been sighted at crikey o'clock running along the road to Sandwich in the freezing cold - one morning was minus 7 degrees and his drink froze! Good luck, Darren, have a safe run round.
Entries have been recieved from the following swimmers (relays TBA) - please remember that gala entry closed last weekend - we will NOT accept any further entries:
Grace Andrews, Danielle Aspital, Angelica Barnes, Jack Basson, Ethan Bexley, Hannah Burbridge, Dave Campbell, Charlie Cook, Nicole Cook,
Charlie Cotton, Daisy Cotton, Shannon Hardisty, Hannah Denny, Isabella Drake, Jon Drake, Isabel English, Olivia English, Charlie Gambrill,
Chloe Gambrill, Darren Gambrill, Curtis Hams, Tyler Hams, Lucy Kear, Ben Mays, Emily Mays, Lucas Nash, Alfie Parsons, George Parsons, Stan Pike,
Cameron Pond, James Preston, Alice Price, Eddie Price, Lily Price, Toby Rayleigh Strutt, Bethany Robinson, Henry Smallbone, Matthew Smallbone,
Katie Staines, Maria Steffanini, Josh Tilbury, Harry Tilley, Jack Tilley, Alex Tuddenham, Bronwyn Tuddenham, Alfy Warren, Emma Warren,
Sophie White, Sue White, Alice Whyley Gunning, Sean Whyley-Gunning, Toby Wood
New 17 April
The Bay relays are swum in allocated lanes for each Bay - Joss are in Lane 2, Viking Lane 3, Stone Lane 4, Botany Lane 5.
Age Group Bay Relay
(1 swimmer from each of 7.30 and 8.15, plus 2 others, one Girls race, one Boys race) This race is swum immediately after the Special Race in the Main Pool. Selections are as follows (this is not necessarily the order that the team will swim):
(see below for the TT Bay Relay, 4 x 25m)
Joss - Girls - Nicole Cook, Emily Sayer, Daisy Cotton, Danielle Aspital - (side lane needed, not in usual gala lane)
Reserve - Lucy Kear (for either Daisy or Danielle only)
Joss - Boys - Henry Smallbone, Josh Tilbury, Charlie Cotton, Tom Howard
Reserves - Matthew Smallbone, Luke Hammocks & Robert Campbell (for Josh, Charlie or Tom only), George Hammocks (for Charlie and Tom only)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Viking - Girls - Verity Jones, Alice Price, Bronwyn Tuddenham, Adele Lamb
Viking - Boys - Steven Little, Jack Pike, Alex Tuddenham, Dave Campbell
No reserves advised to date
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stone - Girls - defending champions - Isabelle Mounter, Sophia Steffanini, Maria Steffanini, Sophie White
Stone - Boys - defending champions - Frank Webster, Ethan Bexley, Charlie Gambrill, Jon Drake
No reserves advised to date
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Botany - Girls - Hannah Denny, Ella Bartlett, Katie Staines, Angelica Barnes
Reserves - Dacia Fortunas Matias (for Hannah)
Botany - Boys - Lucas Nash, Tyler Hams, Jack Basson, James Preston
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TT Bay Relay
(4x 25m, mixed team, no age restrictions) selections are:
Joss - Charlie Cotton, Danielle Aspital, Daisy Cotton, Tom Howard (Reserves - Lucy Kear, George Hammocks)
Viking - Dave Campbell, Alex Tuddenham, Bronwyn Tuddenham, Adele Lamb
Stone - Jon Drake, Charlie Gambrill, Sophie White, Chloe Gambrill
Botany - Jack Basson, James Preston, Katie Staines, Angelica Barnes
