Making waves

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Wednesday 4th Jan 2006.

SWINDON DOLPHIN SWIMMING CLUB REVIEW: 2005 proved a momentous year for Swindon Dolphin ASC both in and out of the water, with Swim 21 and Sport England accreditation being one of the  highlights of the season.

Dolphin became the first club in Swindon to receive the hallmark as a quality-assured sporting club.

FEBRUARY: Dolphin’s grip on county championship sprinting saw them bag an 111 medal haul and win five out of eight senior championship titles on offer and also claim both relay golds.

The girls’ junior foursome of Kimberley Fisher, Hanna Flint, Tilly Gray and Bethan Sowden become junior medley relay champions at the Wiltshire Championships, while the boys’ lifted both the junior and senior crown.

MARCH: Dolphin A team won the Moonraker Winter League Shield for the third year in succession, B team finished a commendable fifth, while Dolphin C became Division 2 champions.

They signed off the 2005 County Championships with a record-breaking 512 medals to surpass their previous best.

And in the relay competitions they lifted the coveted Dave Skittrall Shield for the Top Team’ award for the third year in succession.

Dolphin also recorded their best-ever BAGCAT performance with 22 medallists in 10 out of 11 age groups.

APRIL: Former world record holder and current British 50m freestyle record holder Mark Foster paid a visit to Dolphin’s annual Easter training camp at the Dorcan Leisure Centre.

MAY: Swindon Dolphin were in fine form in the district relays and confirmed as the most successful club in the Western Counties at Millfield.

Their strength in depth was in evidence with relay teams competing in all the boys and girls group category finals with the exception of the girls’ 9-10 years age group.

JUNE: James Clark and Tilly Gray lead the BAGCAT points in the opening block of the Western Counties Age Group Championships at Millfield.

Gray adds 200m individual medley time to her collection of eight NQTs before lifting the gold medal while Clark claims silver.

Chief coach Andi Manley was honoured by fellow coaches and receives the British Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association Award for Grass Roots Coach of the Year West.

Dolphin finish as runners-up in Southern Junior League grand final to Tornadoes of South Dorset.

JULY: Dolphin C team celebrate promotion to Division 4 in the Moonraker Summer League.

The club send their biggest ever representation of 12 swimmers to the National finals in Sheffield.

Peter Wasielewski reaches two finals in the Age Group Championships and takes sixth and ninth places in the 100 and 200m breaststroke respectively. Tilly Gray finishes eighth in the 200m fly final.

AUGUST: Chris Harber was in great shape at the National Youth Championships in Sheffield. The pick of his swims coming in the 100m fly where the 15-year-old clocked 60.37secs to break the longest standing Dolphin club record set by Brian Jenkins in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Stockholm was the venue for the 10th European Masters Championships. On final day Dolphin men’s 4 x 50m medley relay team take gold in new world record time of 1.48.10secs.

SEPTEMBER: C team take Moonraker Summer League Division 5 title.

Jon Audis and Andi Manley collect nine gold and nine silver medals between them at Western Counties Masters Championships in 25-29 years age group.

OCTOBER: Swindon Dolphin A team lift the Joseph Buckle Memorial Trophy.

Manley (under 40) and Steve Cryer (40/over) crowned as overall men’s winners in their respective age categories at Wiltshire Masters.

NOVEMBER: Quartet of Audis, Cryer, Manley and Nigel Masters set new British record in the men’s 4 x 50m freestyle at ASA Masters Championships in Sheffield. Allan Minns scooped two bronze medals at the Disability Sport England National Championships in Sheffield.

Andrea Alleyne sets a new junior county record (subject to ratification) in the freestyle skins in opening block of the Dolphin Club Championships at Milton Road.

DECEMBER: Audis becomes sixth fastest Briton in the 50m backstroke in Swansea at Commonwealth Trials.

Gray sets a new junior county record and equals the senior title in the 100m fly (subject to ratification) at the Bath Christmas Open Meet.

Dolphin finish sixth in National Speedo League Premier Division Western Final at Millfield.

Swimmers rounded off 2005 with a flourish of age group best times and club records at annual club championships.

Swindon Dolphin receive their Swim 21 and Sport England accreditation from ASA Regional Development Officer Steve Fivash. Water polo is once again established as part of the Dolphin club.

From the Swindon Advertiser http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk © Newsquest Media Group 2006