Bugger!

I need to learn how to use a calendar. Last day at LEP is a Wednesday this year so it is 15th July for the last day at LEP and first day elsewhere is Papatoetoe on 19th July. I think everything else is correct until someone else spots a deliberate mistatke (did you see it?).

SOM, Dinner, Closure, Other Stuff

First up, Swimmer of the Month. I pulled out my special camera this morning and took a snap of our winner, Rochelle Williams-White. Rochelle won for her enthusiasm throughout the recent breaststroke clinic but mostly for taking on board the suggestions, working on them and making improvements. Rochelle is always smiling (the evidence is in the pic). Great work Rochelle.

Car Park and Pool Closure
The car park is closed for the month of July. Walk - get used to it.

The pool is closed for 2 weeks after the school holidays for it's annual maintenance. As per usual there will be training at Papatoetoe and Manurewa pools during this time for those who wish. There is NO CHARGE during this time. As follows:

Monday 20th and 27th July from 7.30pm to 8.30pm at Manurewa Pool (Sykes Rd)
Wednesday 22nd and 29th July at Papatoetoe from 8pm to 9pm
Sunday 19th and 26th July and 2nd August at Papatoetoe from 8am to 9am

Last day of training at LEP is 19th July and first day back is 3rd August.

Mid Winter Dinner and Awards
It's not too late to get in on this. It's on the 18th July so it is the day before the last day of LEP training before pool closure. Details below:

NI Champs
These are in Levin on 16th and 17th October.
Entry form has now been released. Go here:
NI Champs Entry Form

New Kid on the Block

Out with the old, in with the new. We keep all our photos on our Flickr page now for all to see at any time by going to:

South City Masters Photo Albums

Sooooo...... we have replaced the blog's photo gallery with a page that is now more useful - a page with the upcoming race night schedules so everyone can see at a glance what date the next race night is on and what events are happening. Nifty eh?

The tab is second one in (next to the home page) so it's easy to find. A nice new feature. Tomorrow's training will start with a pop quiz on what events are being held next race night, just to see if you are paying attention.

Race Night Results, Postal Event

Postal Event

June is the half hour postal swim event month, which involves swimming as far as you can in half an hour. Results get posted to the organiser and at the end of the month, winners of each category are announced. John T is prepared to make arrangements for any one who would like to enter. He can arrange on any of the next 4 Wednesdays depending on how many swimmers would like to enter. Simply let John know if you want to take part in this event.

Race Night Results Posted

They are in all the usual places. This month we had a joint presentation for the Swimmer of the Month since we had skipped race night for May.

Aprils Swimmer of the Month was for a SMASHING ocean swim season by Liz Hayes. She took out line honours in her age group (i.e. she won it!) for the WHOLE season in the State Ocean Swim Series. Phew! That is Mega! Well done Liz. What will be your follow up trick?

Swimmer of the Month for May is Mark Cowling. At the recent Auckland Champs Mark took one for the team - sacrificing an individual swim that would have captured points for an individual points win so he could swim for a relay. That relay broke an NZ record btw so it was worth it for 4 people not 1. That is what teamwork is all about. Nice one Mark.

Now, how do these 2 share the trophy? Who gets the arms and who gets the legs?

Race Night Schedule Through September

Here is the race night schedule for the next few months:

June
25 fly or free
50 Breast or free
50 back
100 free

July
25 Breast or free
50 free
100 back
100 IM or free

August
25 back or free
50 fly or free
100 breast
200 any stroke

Sept
400 free or IM

That should keep you busy for a bit!

Queen's Birthday Training

Monday 1st June is a public holiday. There is still training this day but it is from 6.45 pm until 8.15 pm. Note that this is only 15 minutes early so it shouldn't upset your schedule too much, unless you are still battling holiday traffic from wherever you have been.

Swim Clinic with Thomas Ansorg

Clinic Details

This very awesome swim clinic will be held on Sunday 28th June at LEP in our usual training pool.

"Developing Speed – Maintaining Pace"

The smart way of swim training

This clinic is a continuation and progression from Thomas Ansorg's previous thorough freestyle stroke technique and efficiency work.
There will be lots of hands on information and state of the art swim training in this special clinic which is both, physically demanding and mentally stimulating.

PROGRAMME (28th June):
-6.00 am: Arrival and Registration
-6.15 am to 8.30 am: Pool Session
-8.30 am to 9.30 am: Debrief on Pool Session
-Evaluation of training and Tips & Tricks for your future training & Q&A with coach Thomas Ansorg

WHAT TO BRING:
-Swimsuit, swim cap & Goggles
-If possible bring fins (flippers) paddles, kickboard and pull buoy (we have no access to equipment, so please bring your own)
-Towel
-Water bottle & Snack

ENTRIES:
Fees for South City Masters members only: $30 (due to SCM subsidy)
Entries close: Saturday 20th June 15
Entry forms can be requested from Tamara via email: tamara@swimprogrammes.com
Details for internet banking: swimprogrammes.com Ltd.
Account no. 03 1322 0724188 000 – Westpac Albany
Please use your surname as reference

EVENT CONDITIONS:
-Minimum age is 18 years and over
-As this is not an adult “Learn-to-swim” programme – you have to be able to swim comfortably a minimum of 400m freestyle
-You are in good medical condition
-There is no refund for cancellations after 7pm on Saturday 20th June 15

No Race Night This Coming Wednesday

Owing to the Auckland Champs being held next weekend at Cameron Pool there is ample opportunity for swimmers to get their fix of racing. Therefore there will be no race night on 6th May. There will, of course be training as usual so don't stay home with your feet up on the coffee table.  If you forgot to enter the Auckland Champs why not head over and support your swimmers by cheering them on.

In-house Breaststroke Clinic Coming Up

Breaststroke Clinic
It's been a couple of years or more since we held this so we will be holding this 4 x 1 hour clinic again during Sunday sessions throughout May and June. It is a progressive clinic most suited to beginner and intermediate breaststroke swimmers with individual stroke correction in the last session.

Each session is progressive from basic to more advanced for the session topic. Every session has quite a few drills included so it would be fair to say they are jam-packed. Only a few minutes are spent on each drill. Swimmers are given the tools and a few minutes to 'have a go' and be corrected so they are doing them properly. However........then it is up to the swimmer to go away and practice them at other times.

Please let me know if you intend to come along. I am happy to run the clinic for as few as one swimmer but would like to know who will be attending.

Here are the dates and what you need to bring to each session:

1. Sunday 17th May - please bring fins and pull buoy if you have (you will get by without if you don't have them). This session we are covering body positioning and the arm stroke. There are a total of 8 drills this session.

2. Sunday 24th May - please bring a pull buoy and kickboard if you have (again, you will get by without if you don't have them). This session we are covering the breaststroke kick. This session has 6 drills.

No session on Queen's Birthday as swimmer's (most importantly, me) will be away.

3. Sunday 7th June - no pool toys required this week. This session we are covering breathing and timing. This session is more advanced than sessions 1 and 2 and pulls everything together in breaststroke. There are 6 drills in this session.

4. Sunday 14th June - no pool toys required. Swimmers are not required for the entire hour. Each swimmer will be viewed individually with a view to providing feedback for improvement and provision of key drills.

Breaking News!!!!!!!

FINA have just released their World Top 10 ranked swimmers in each age and event for 2014 and our very own Avy has made this list for the second year running.

Her spectacular time of 23.07 in the short course 1500m in last year's North Island's nabbed her 9th place in her age in this event.

Nice one Avy - you are LEGEND!