Head Coach Report - September 2012
Although there was a 3 week period after the culmination of Nationals to the club breaking up for the summer, this proved to be a successful period in terms of attendance and swimmers ‘ticking over’ prior to their summer breaks. It was however the early programming of Nationals to accommodate the Olympics that dictated these events to us.
In the pool the end of the season proved to be very successful with outstanding results at National Championships.
National Youth Championships
2 gold (Brad Westlake)
1 silver (Ollie Bitowt – Open Water)
7 finals
8 semi finals
21 PB swims
Lincoln Vulcans finished in the top 5 clubs.
National Age Groups
2 finals
8 top 20 placings
2 team relay PB performances
I think we gave great account of ourselves and this gives us a target for future years.
In the Regional Open Water Championships, Ollie Bitowt took gold at Market Bosworth, this was followed by Silver at Rother Valley at the Nationals. Ollie was selected for the GBR talent team and attended an open water camp in France - competing in Sete (2.4 km) and Redon (5 km) at the end of August where he placed 2nd in his Age Group in both locations and 5th overall in both events.
In the pool the end of the season proved to be very successful with outstanding results at National Championships.
National Youth Championships
2 gold (Brad Westlake)
1 silver (Ollie Bitowt – Open Water)
7 finals
8 semi finals
21 PB swims
Lincoln Vulcans finished in the top 5 clubs.
National Age Groups
2 finals
8 top 20 placings
2 team relay PB performances
I think we gave great account of ourselves and this gives us a target for future years.
In the Regional Open Water Championships, Ollie Bitowt took gold at Market Bosworth, this was followed by Silver at Rother Valley at the Nationals. Ollie was selected for the GBR talent team and attended an open water camp in France - competing in Sete (2.4 km) and Redon (5 km) at the end of August where he placed 2nd in his Age Group in both locations and 5th overall in both events.
Representative honours
4 swimmers will travel to Malta in October as part of the AASE programme – Brad Westlake, Ollie Bitowt, Lauren Freeman and Olly Richmond.
To date the following selections have been received:
England Talent level one Abigail Burr
England Talent level two Maya Westlake
Level 3 selections have not yet been made.
As you are aware I will be leaving in a few weeks time after a 4 year period at LVSC. I feel my time has been successful and although at times difficult it has been enjoyable. I feel that I have been hindered by the loss of City School for practically 2 years out of these 4, and the flux of volunteer coaches, but this aside it has been a successful time for both me and the club. The way forward has to be for the 2 Lincoln clubs to swim together – we remain the only County in the Country with no recognised pathway for Performance swimmers. It would be my suggestion that the club seeks outside help to make this happen. Now is an ideal time with Dave as President of the EMASA and Cheryl as the President of the Lincs ASA.
I wish my successor all the very best for the future and ask you to give him or her the support that is required to ensure the success that Vulcans deserves.
I would like to end with a massive thanks to my volunteer coaches past and present. YOU are the ones that keep the club going. Finally I would like to thank Dave and Cheryl for the remarkable amount of time that they give so freely in order to support and run Lincoln Vulcans.
Fred Furniss
Head Coach
4 swimmers will travel to Malta in October as part of the AASE programme – Brad Westlake, Ollie Bitowt, Lauren Freeman and Olly Richmond.
To date the following selections have been received:
England Talent level one Abigail Burr
England Talent level two Maya Westlake
Level 3 selections have not yet been made.
As you are aware I will be leaving in a few weeks time after a 4 year period at LVSC. I feel my time has been successful and although at times difficult it has been enjoyable. I feel that I have been hindered by the loss of City School for practically 2 years out of these 4, and the flux of volunteer coaches, but this aside it has been a successful time for both me and the club. The way forward has to be for the 2 Lincoln clubs to swim together – we remain the only County in the Country with no recognised pathway for Performance swimmers. It would be my suggestion that the club seeks outside help to make this happen. Now is an ideal time with Dave as President of the EMASA and Cheryl as the President of the Lincs ASA.
I wish my successor all the very best for the future and ask you to give him or her the support that is required to ensure the success that Vulcans deserves.
I would like to end with a massive thanks to my volunteer coaches past and present. YOU are the ones that keep the club going. Finally I would like to thank Dave and Cheryl for the remarkable amount of time that they give so freely in order to support and run Lincoln Vulcans.
Fred Furniss
Head Coach