Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Hi All,

Well done for all the fantastic swimming this year.  We hope to see you all at the Xmas Party on Sunday at AMF in the Merrion Centre around 4.15pm.  

Here is a reminder of when Training is on over Christmas.

Regional 1

Sunday 23rd December:  No Training (Xmas Party 4.15 - 7.00 pm, AMF)

Monday 24th December:  No Training

Wednesday 26th December:  No Training

Thursday 27th December:  7:00 - 8:00 am = All 11yrs + from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Thursday 27th December:  8:00 - 9:00 am = All 10 yrs and under from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Friday 28th December:  7:00 - 9:00 am with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Sunday 30th December:  No Training

Monday 31st January:  7:00 - 8:00 am = All 11yrs + from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Monday 31st January:  8:00 - 9:00 am = All 10 yrs and under from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Wednesday 2nd January:  Training back to normal (Elysha covering)

Thursday 3rd January:  Training Normal (Richard, Mark & Lucy covering)

I am on holiday from 27th December, I will return back to training on Friday 4th January.  If you have any problems please see Tom or Elysha in my absence.

Regional 2

Sunday 23rd December:  No Training (Xmas Party 4.15 - 7.00 pm, AMF)

Monday 24th December:  No Training

Wednesday 26th December:  No Training

Thursday 27th December:  7:00 - 8:00 am = All 11yrs + from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Thursday 27th December:  8:00 - 9:00 am = All 10 yrs and under from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Friday 28th December:  6:30 - 8:00 pm (Armley)

Sunday 30th December:  No Training

Monday 31st January:  7:00 - 8:00 am = All 11yrs + from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Monday 31st January:  8:00 - 9:00 am = All 10 yrs and under from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Wednesday 2nd January:  Training back to normal

Thank you for all the wonderful Christmas gifts and cards we received from you all.  Hope you all have a great Xmas, go see you friends and family, play with your toys and have a well deserved break before starting the hard work again in the new year. We hope Santa visits you all.  Make sure you all stay safe and most importantly have fun! 

  

All the best 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Membership Fees

Hi All,

Just a reminder to everyone that your club membership fees and ASA Registration are due in January. John Clayton, Membership Secretary, will be available in the new year on a Monday night to take payments.

Thanks

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Thursday Morning & Friday Pm

Thursday 20th December Am

As it is the last 5am start of 2012, Thursday morning will be open to all ages if you wish to attend.  The plan at the moment is to swim for 45 minutes and then have a game of waterpolo in the diving pit.

 

Friday 21st December 

Please bring a T Shirt along wih you to training as we will be having a T Shirt relay at the end of the session.

 

Thanks

 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark 

A Great Finish to 2012

There was some great racing from the Regional Squads at the Leeds Christmas meet, finishing 2012 in style. 

Regional 1

Regional 1 achieved 145 PB's out of 188 Swims, 45 more Yorkshire Times, 14 Golds, 16 Silvers and 12 Bronze Medals.

Gold Medallists (6)

Eleanor (6), Angelo (1), Shaheen (4), Jamie (1), Katherine (1), Ciara S (1)

Silver Medallists (8)

Eleanor (1), Amber (1), Matthew (5), Shaheen (2), Jamie (2), Ciara S (1), Charlotte (2), Jade (2)

Bronze Medallists (7)

Matthew (2), Angelo (3), Shaheen (2), Katherine (2), Ciara S (1), Viktoria (1), Dianielle (1) 

Regional 2

Regional 2 achieved 124 PB's out of 163 Swims, 33 more Yorkshire Times, 17 Golds, 22 Silvers and 15 Bronze Medals.

Gold Medallists (9)

Jess (2), Daniel (1), Joseph H (1), Tia (6), Steph (1), Rebecca (1), Ella (2), Maisy (1), Liam (2)

Silver Medallists (11)

Jess (3), Eve (1), Daniel (3), Jospeh H (2), Tia (1), Hannah A (3), Steph (1), Rebecca (4), Jake H (1), Liam (1), Ella (2)

Bronze Medallists (9)

Henry (1), Robbie (2), Jess (3), Eve (1), Joe S (1), Hannah A (1), Steph (3), Nathan S (1), Jenna (1)

A fantastic effort from both squads!  We are very proud of you all.  Keep up the hard work and the fantastic results will continue to come in 2013.

Results can be viewed using the following link:

http://www.swimleeds.org.uk/results/2012/leeds-xmas-grand-prix-2012-results.pdf

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Christmas Grand Prix

Saturday & Sunday am
Arrive: 07:30
Warm Up:  08:00
Start:  09:00
 
Saturday & Sunday pm
Arrive:  12:30
Warm Up:  13:00
Start:  14:00
 
Please note that the spectator area will be open from 07:00 on Saturday and from 07:30 on Sunday. This area is for spectators only and must not be used for swimmers during the course of warm-ups or whilst the meet is in progress.
 
Good Luck to everyone competing this weekend.  You are all looking good in the water at the moment, hopefully you can all transfer this into the racing pool.  For those of you who did not compete at the North Easters this is now your chance to shine.
 
There are some great raffle prizes this year, so please buy a ticket.  All money raised will be used to benefit the swimmers.  Tickets are available to buy from the enterance desk on the balcony.
 
Please remember that there is no training on Sunday 16th due to the Gala.  Training for both squads will just be for an hour on Friday night so you can all get to bed early ready to race hard on Saturday.
 
"When I go out and race, I'm not trying to beat opponents, I'm trying to beat what I have done ... to beat myself, basically. People find that hard to believe because we've had such a bias to always strive to win things. If you win something and you haven't put everything into it, you haven't actually achieved anything at all. When you've had to work hard for something and you've got the best you can out of yourself on that given day, that's where you get satisfaction from."
Ian Thorpe
 
"I concentrate on preparing to swim my race and let the other swimmers think about me, not me about them."
Amanda Beard
 
SMASH IT!!!
 
Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

City of Leeds New Year Grand Prix Meet

Hi All,

 

Entries for the City of Leeds New Year Grand Prix Meet will be taken on Monday 17th December.

 

We advise swimmers to enter any events you are not swimming this weekend and have not already qualified for in the February Yorkshires.

 

We would like all the swimmers who have taken part in the 800m and 1500m training on a Thursday morning to attempt this event in the January Meet.  This will be most of the 11 year olds and above.  Please ask if you are unsure.  We will use a standard time of 22 min for 1500m entries and 12 min for 800m entries.

 

We will be avalable for signing forms on Friday pm after training, during the meet at the weekend and after training on Monday am.  We will not be able to sign forms on Monday pm due to coaching.

 

Entry forms can be printed using the link below:

http://www.swimleeds.org.uk/meets/leeds-new-year-grand-prix-2013-leeds-entry-form.pdf

 

Thanks

 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

ARENA Northern Final

John Charles was once again the Venue for the North-East ARENA League final this weekend.

 

The competition and rivalry between Leeds and Sheffield continued to the bitter end.  City of Leeds trailed Sheffield by no more than 4 points until the last 10 events when a surge of relay wins took us 2 points ahead.  There was only going to be 1 point in it either way...But in the end, it was ours.

 

1st. City of Leeds = 224

2nd. City of Sheffield = 243

3rd.  Doncaster = 176

4th.  City of Newcastle = 159

5th.  City of Sunderland = 119

 

City of Leeds now progress to the National Final on April 28th 2013

 

A Fantastic effort from the TEAM

Christmas Party

Hi All,

 

Please remember that if you are wanting to go to the Christmas Party on Sunday 23rd December and have not paid, it will be your last chance to do so on Monday. 

 

Megan's Mum will collect any last payments on Sunday night at Armley or on Monday night at the Tombola Stand.

 

Thanks

 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

BAGCAT (25m) Championships (THE BIG ONE!)

Some fantastic swims over the weekend, you all stepped up and got stuck into your races challenging some of the best swimmers in the North East.  

Regional 1....

achieved 36 PB's out of 43 Swims, 3 Gold Medals, 6 Silver Medals, 2 Bronze Medals and 16 top 5 place finishes.

Regional 2....

achieved 7 PB's out of 10 Swims, 1 Silver Medal, 2 Bronze Medals and 4 top 5 place finishes.

Overall the swimming was excellent and I was very impressed.  You were all very professional and this showed in your outstanding results.  It was also great so see the swimmers who had only qualified for one event travelling all the way to Sunderland to compete, this shows a great level of commitment to your sport.

Gold Medalists (2)

Viktoria (2), Rebecca F (1)

Silver Medalists (2)

Viktoria (6), Nathan (1)

Bronze Medalists (2)

Eleanor (2), Rebecca C (1), Nathan (1)

Top 5 Place Finishes

Victoria (8), Eleanor (5), Shaheen (2), Nathan (2), Rebecca F (1), Liam (1), Rebecca C (1)

Results can be viewed by clicking the following link

http://www.asaner.org.uk/rgordon/2012results/agegrp12/index.htm

Keep up the hard work guys, lets keep moving forward.  Get chasing those times for next year!

'No negative thoughts cross my mind on race day.  When I look into their eyes, I know I'm going to beat them.' (Danny Harris. American Athlete, Olympic silver medalist. Los Angeles 1984) 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark  

British Gas ASA NER Bagcat Championships (25m)

Just for your information 

The 'pod' food outlet is closed people attending the championships are advised to either take their own food or the management at the facility suggest the following 3 food outlets are only a short walk away

Stadium Delight  - Open Saturday 9am - 3pm

Millennium Way

Sunderland

SR5 1BT

07790188932

3 minute walk across the SAFC car park.

 

McDonalds - Open 24 hours

  

Sunderland Retail Park

Sunderland

SR6 0BW

0191 5672461

10 minutes walk next to the bus station

 

Roll With It Open Saturday 8am - 3pm

  

11 Crozier Street         

Sunderland

SR5 1DN

0191 5168080

www.rollwithitcaterers.co.uk

5 minutes walk next to the metro station (Stadium Of Light)

Thanks

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Land Training

For safety swimmers must wear trainers in land training.  Any swimmers who do not have trainers will be refused entry to the gym.  Also please remember to purchase your Latex Tubes from the club shop, you will be using these in the next few weeks. 
 
Swimmers please remember you are representing the City of Leeds Swimming Club when you are using the changing rooms and therefore should be on your best behaviour.  Please do not use the latex tubes in the changing rooms to hit other swimmers with, they are for use on poolside or in land training only.
 
Thanks
 
Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Junior League Parade

Hi all,

 

There is going to parade on Monday 3^rd December, to our membership by this years successful Junior League team. The start of training will be delayed by 10 minutes and start at 6.40pm.  All swimmers should be on poolside for 6.20pm to observe the parade.  Every child who has represented the club in any one of the 3 rounds will be recognised for the their contribution.

 

Therefore swimmers who were part of the Junior League team will be required to bring their Junior League T-shirts, and preferably some shorts and footwear (as they walk around the pool). The parade shall take no longer than 10 – 15 minutes.

 

Those children who achieved a Top of Age Group award should bring their trophies in and be recognised also.

 

Thanks

 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

British Gas ASA NER Bagcat Championships (25m)

Please remember the training changes due to the NER's

Anyone who is competing in the NER's and not travelling down to Sunderland on Friday, training will be on for an hour.

Sunday 2nd December: Anyone from both squads who is not swimming in Sunderland, training will be 5.00 - 7.00 pm with Tom at Armley

Regional 1

Friday 30th November (Day before Sunderland): 6.30 - 8.00 pm with Elysha (Session starts 30 min earlier than usual)

Arrival Times

Am Sessions

Arrive: 07.30

Warm Up:  08.00

Start: 09.00

Pm Sessions

Arrive: 12:30
Warm Up:  13:00
Start: 13:30

Draft Programme can be viewed using the link below:

http://www.asaner.org.uk/rgordon/2012results/agegrp12/AGDraft.pdf

Directions can be found by using the link below:

http://www.swimnortheast.org.uk/results/2010/asaner25m2010/sunderland_info.pdf

Get out fast on the first length, hold the second length, work the 3rd length, switch the legs on as fast as you can on the last length.  Try and aim to put a little bit more effort in on each length and don't slow down into the turns.  Remember it is natural to be nervous, If you do get nervous just think what everybody else on the on the blocks must be feeling. Go in pool and enjoy your race.

It's how you prepare months before in the training pool that will determine your performance at the main event.  Your ruthless attendance, quality and consistency of your training will serge you forward's to a result you will be happy with!

This is the BIG ONE!!!

Good Luck to everyone competing 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

National Hat-Trick

Well done to all the swimmers who took part in the Junior Swim League.  After 3 rounds of swimming Leeds came out the strongest in all 3 rounds and were crowned the National Junior League champions yesterday for the third year running.  It certainly was an exciting afternoon with lots of fast racing and fun.  It was great to see you all supporting each other and working together as a team.  City of Leeds came out on top with 23 first place finishes and 9 meet records, an excellent team effort, WELL DONE! 

A big thank you to all the supporters amongst others who provided all the hats and flags etc.  Parents, thank you for all the effort that went in to supporting the team, you were all excellent, you looked good and it really helped motivate the swimmers.  

There were too many amazing swims to mention them all individually but a special well done to Ben Rayner, Liam Birrell and Abigail Burton who achieved awards for top Boy and top Girl.

The final results were

City of Leeds - 321

Hilingdon - 244

Preston SC - 227

Northampton - 208

Stockport Metro - 204

Boldmere SC- 198

City of Peterborough - 194

Bournemouth Dolphins - 158

City Of Leeds victory was the product of an excellent team performance and outstanding support, with our colourful and vocal supporters cheering the team all the way.

Well done to swimmers, coaches, team managers and supporters for a fantastic event and an outstanding victory.

Photos from the meet will feature in the Swimming times.  However a selection an team photos will be available to purchase at www.steveharlowphotography.co.uk from Thursday 29th November 2012.  Please visit the 'Events' page where you will then require the following login details to access the galleries of this event only.

USER ID - grandfinal2012          Password - arena

Also if any of you did manage to take any photos and would like them uploaded onto the blog you can email me.

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Arena League 2nd Round

The re-arranged round of the ARENA League competition was hosted at John Charles on 24th November.

The team achieved 24 first place finishes.  However, the competition turned out to be one of the most closely fought yet, with City of Leeds SC and rivals City of Sheffield fighting it out until the very last event to seal a tie.  Based on our First place finishes we would be given first place.

City of Leeds = 205 pts

City of Sheffield A = 205 pts

Doncaster Dartes = 148 pts

Harrogate District = 99 pts

City of Sheffield B = 90 pts

Both clubs will meet again in the Northern Final in December where, in home territory and Long Course set-up we will seek to assert our status once more.

Junior League National Final (Sunday 25th November)

The gala will take place at:

Corby International Pool,

Parkland Gateway,

Corby,

Northants,

NN17 1QB

All swimmers will need to arrive at John Charles by 8:30 am ready for the coach to depart at 9:00 am sharp. Warm-up starts at 12:30 pm with the parade of teams at approximately 13:30 pm. We hope to be back at JCC for 18:30 pm.  All swimmers will be required to travel to and from the meet on the team coach. 

If your child has a team track suit they should travel to and from the event in it.  Each swimmer will be provided with a t-shirt to mark the event, which must be worn to the event and for all team photographs. Please also ensure your child has another Leeds t-shirt to wear on the way home.

Obviously this will be a long day, so the children will need enough food and drinks to last the day. They should not be given all of their food for the day straight away, as they tend to eat too much on the journey down to Corby. Swimmers will not be allowed to leave our teams marshalling area to collect drinks from parents etc during the meet. Therefore please ensure they are adequately supplied with nutritious snacks and enough hydration on arrival at the pool.  Can we also ask that the children are sent with a £1 coin for a locker as last year they were not allowed to bring bags onto pool side.

Swimmers please remember everything we have practiced over the last few weeks. it will be a tough competition, every millisecond counts in an event like this so remember shallow dives, kick hard, get up and race hard and don't slow down into finishes.  BE CAREFUL ON THE TAKEOVERS!!!! It is better to go late than early.  We need to grab every point we can, getting disqualified can cause the team to loose between 1 and 8 points (double for the cannon relay), this we don't want. 

 

Parents the louder you shout the faster the swimmers will go, nobody should have a voice left by the end of the competition.  We look forward to seeing you all dressed up in your hats, wigs, face paints etc.  Make as much noise as you can!  Drums, horns, flags, floating sharks, chants we want to see you go all out!  

 

Hope you all have a fun and exciting day. 

 

Lets bring home the Gold for the third time. 

 

Good Luck Everyone! 

 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Development Meet & Arena League (Saturday 24th November)

Development Meet

Arrive: 7.40

Warm Up: 8:00

Start: 9:00

Draft Programme

http://www.swimleeds.org.uk/meets/leeds-winter-development-meet-2012-programme.pdf

Arena League

Arrive: 15.45

Warm Up: 16.15

Start: 17.00

Good Luck to all competing!

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Yorkshire Swimming Association Championships 2012

The City of Leeds Supporters Committee would like to refund all the entry fees from the championships in February 2012.  (not the sprints in March 2012)

 

The refunds can be claimed from the Denison suite on a Monday evening (Club Night) up to and including 26^th November 2012.

 

Please ensure you have collected your refunds by this date.

 

 

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark

Regional Age Group Christmas Party

We will be having a Christmas party on Sunday 23rd December at 1st Bowl Leeds in the Merrion Centre.  The party will start at 4.15 pm and finish at approximately 7 pm.  The price to come to the party is £6.50 per person which includes a game of bowling and either Pizza and Chips or Hot Dog and Chips afterwards.  

If you would like to come to the party please bring your £6.50 along with your food order to Diane (Megan and Eve Bannon's mum) who will start taking money from Monday night at the tombola stall. 

As this is not an official City of Leeds outing organised by the club, coaches will not be responsible for swimmers whilst at 1st Bowling.  We do have a number of parents who have volunteered to help out, anymore would be greatly appreciated.  Please see Diane if you are available.

Thanks

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark 

 

Training Alterations & Christmas Training Schedule

Hi All,

Here is a list of changes to sessions in the upcoming weeks so you all know well in advance.

Regional 1

Training Alterations due to Competitions

Friday 30th November (Day before Sunderland): 6.30 - 8.00 pm (North Eastern Swimmers will just do one hour) with Elysha 

Sunday 2nd December: Anyone who is not swimming in Sunderland, training will be 5.00 - 6.30 pm with Tom at Armley

Friday 14th December (Day before Xmas Grand Prix Meet):  7.00 - 8.00 pm 

Sunday 16th December (Day of Grand Prix Meet):  Training Cancelled

Training Changes over Christmas

Sunday 23rd December:  No Training (Proposed Xmas Party 4.00 - 7.00 pm TBC)

Monday 24th December:  No Training

Wednesday 26th December:  No Training

Thursday 27th December:  7:00 - 8:00 am = All 11yrs + from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Thursday 27th December:  8:00 - 9:00 am = All 10 yrs and under from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Friday 28th December:  7:00 - 9:00 am with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Sunday 30th December:  No Training

Monday 31st January:  7:00 - 8:00 am = All 11yrs + from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Monday 31st January:  8:00 - 9:00 am = All 10 yrs and under from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Wednesday 2nd January:  Training back to normal

I am on holiday from 27th December, I will return back to training on Friday 4th January.  Tom & Elysha will be covering in my absence.

Regional 2

Training Alterations due to Competitions

Friday 30th November (Day before Sunderland): North Eastern Swimmers will just do one hour

Sunday 2nd December: Anyone who is not swimming in Sunderland, training will be 5.00 - 6.30 pm with Tom at Armley

Friday 14th December (Day before Xmas Grand Prix Meet):  6.30 - 7.30 pm 

Sunday 16th December (Day of Grand Prix Meet):  Training Cancelled

Training Changes over Christmas

Sunday 23rd December:  No Training (Proposed Xmas Party 4.00 - 7.00 pm TBC)

Monday 24th December:  No Training

Wednesday 26th December:  No Training

Thursday 27th December:  7:00 - 8:00 am = All 11yrs + from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Thursday 27th December:  8:00 - 9:00 am = All 10 yrs and under from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Friday 28th December:  6:30 - 8:00 pm (Armley)

Sunday 30th December:  No Training

Monday 31st January:  7:00 - 8:00 am = All 11yrs + from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Monday 31st January:  8:00 - 9:00 am = All 10 yrs and under from Regional 1 & 2 with Tom & Elysha (JCC)

Wednesday 2nd January:  Training back to normal

Kevin, Tom, Elysha, Josh & Mark