Monday 30th, 7pm!

 CLUB ‘SWIMMERS OF OCTOBER’ 2015

The following swimmers were presented with the coaches ‘Swimmers of October’ award.  Squad coaches determine the swimmer who most deserves the award based on attitude, improvement, attendance etc.

Swimmers were awarded a club certificate.

• Gold Squad – Scarlett Ferris
• Silver Squad – Danielle Ashford
• Bronze Squad – Cameron Blair
• Sharks Squad – Murray Sudjic

Mark Laing

Head Coach Cupar and District Swimming Club

12^th November 2015

The Distance Champs this year will be held on the Friday 4th and 11th December.

The information and entry sheet are here – DISTANCE_CHAMPS_ENTRY_FORM_MASTER_2015

Warm up 6pm both nights.

If you can help please do as it’s all hands on deck and we need the help. Please leave your contacts details at the club table if you can help at this and any other club events/functions.

Thank you.

Please all turn up to help out at the AGM, any parent is very welcome. Please come along to the club house behind the swimming pool.

It’s the 30th November now.

The date for the AGM has changed to the 30th November. This is the Agenda.

AGM Agenda

http://cuparswimming.com/squads/club-times-sheet/

Any Parent is very very welcome to come along, please do turn up! Date changed to the 30th November.

it will be held as normal in the club house behind the swimming pool from 7pm (approx) – if it is your first time and you are not sure where to go, if you wait at the club table some one will be able to show you where it is.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing you there.

All normal times, for the junior club.

***SWIMMING DURING THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS***

Senior club sessions during the holidays will be combined in the same way we do it during the summer.

Tuesday night: remain the same

Wednesday night: remain the same

Thursday night: All Bronze and Silver come at 7pm and swim till 9pm although swimmers can leave earlier should they need to, but a great chance to up their swimming hours for a fortnight

Friday night: All Bronze and Silver come at 4pm and swim till 6pm. Gold swim 6pm till 8pm as normal.

This provides additional swim time for a number of swimmers at no extra cost and allows the club to reduce the number of lanes booked on a Friday and save a little money, so win, win for everyone J  happy holidays

The Club AGM is on the 16th November, in the swimming club house. Please come along to help make the club tick.

Please get in touch at poolside or in the viewing area.

We Need your help. We need people to fill these roles and also have a 2nd for these roles. Can you help because the club can not function with out them!

Child Protection Officer – we can not operate with out these posts being filled

Club Treasurer – book keeper – Accountant – Primary and Secondary

Club Table volunteers – various times

Secretary and Back office – for specific events through out the year

More people on the committee – once a month – 21st September, 26nd October  and AGM on the 16th November

Internal Gala – for Club Champs

More to come

All training and courses are provided by the club and Scottish swimming and can contribute to people CPD programs.

Want to see what results you have that have been published in the British Swimming Database?

Go here https://www.swimmingresults.org/individualbest/ and enter your surname.

Results from Scottish competitions can be found here: http://www.swimscotland.co.uk/

To achieve a club record, the swimmer must be competing at either a top level meet (level One) or a middle level meet (Level Two). Friendly galas and most local club galas are mainly at Level Three. When a club chooses to run a gala, they have to apply for a licence from Scottish Swimming to run the event and they will be told what level the meet will be set at given the type of swimming to be undertaken. Most of the galas we attend are at level two with the exception of the Novice Leagues where they are at level three. In a level three meet, the swimmer is probably less experienced and therefore swim judges are more likely to not disqualify a swimmer for a rule infringement. It is for this reason, we do not accept them as club records, as in truth the child may have achieved a time with some illegal element to their stroke/finish/start etc.

The Head Coach holds the club records and it is his responsibility to check the results achieved against club records. Parents and swimmers too can help by identifying that they believe they have set a new record. For a new record to be entered onto the club records sheet, there must be an application form completed and submitted to the swimming club committee who will check the details and agree a club record has been set. Thereafter the club records will be amended and the application kept on file. This application form must be submitted either in hard copy or electronically to the head coach who will present the application to committee for approval. This should in all circumstances be done within 28 days of the record being set.

Age is on the day of the competition and our records relate to short course swims only (swims achieved in a 25m pool). Any further queries about club records, please contact the Head Coach Mark Laing.

Thanks

Here is a link to where the club records will be publish:

http://cuparswimming.com/squads/club-times-sheet/

Please find attached the training programme for the Gold Squad for the coming weeks. If your swimmer is moving to Wednesday sessions, they will start on Wednesday 2^nd September. New members of the Gold Squad should commence their training on the 1^st September

Training Period One Gold

Committee Meeting tonight in the Club House at 7pm.

Thanks

WHO – All Members

WHERE – Ceres Village Hall

WHAT – Awards and Disco Night

All are welcome to the Awards and Disco Night this Saturday 22nd, 6:30 – 11pm.

Please bring refreshments to share and your best dancing shoes.

Hi Folks,
Well, the holidays are over, the sheep are clipped and the silage is in so it’s time to get back to swimming. I have attached the schedule for the next couple of months along with the teaching notes. I hope to see as many of you as possible on poolside.
Regards,

John

Aug – Oct 2

Teaching Notes

Normal swimming starts again today! See the relevant groups tonight!

Thanks

Whilst we have all been enjoying our summer hols, Ollie Carter has been a very busy boy at the 2015 ASA Nationals in Sheffield.

Not only was he there but he also managed to come away with some hardware! Getting a Bronze medal from the 100m Butterfly and his National Champion medal for the 400m Freestyle.

Here he is with the biggest smile I have seen!

Summer swimming hours are over and normal swimming training starts again from Monday.

Pool closed tonight. 23rd July.

Hi

No training tonight as there has been an incident at the pool, so it is closed all day. 23rd July.

Thanks

The Swim Scotland website has a wealth of information on it which you may find very useful.

http://www.swimscotland.co.uk/

One of the resources you can use to see what competitions are coming up this year and next – also this sites information is updated regularly as well.

The results from meets are more of than not posted onto the Swim Scotland website as well.

http://www.swimscotland.co.uk/ – a FEAST of information for you.

More info here http://cuparswimming.com/2015/07/03/summer-training-hours-and-squad-times/

This is the updated club time sheets from the end of this season, going into the 2015 summer.

times22062015

SUMMER TRAINING HOURS AND SQUAD TIMES

Tuesday the 7th July sees the start of our summer hours training schedule. As in previous years, given that attendance falls as people enjoy a holiday break, we are reducing the overall hours across the school holiday period.

Your child’s swimming fees are determined, taking into account reduced summer hours. The sessions are as follows:

• Tuesday – 6pm till 8pm – Bronze, Silver and Gold Squads only
• Thursday – 6pm till 8pm – Bronze, Silver and Gold Squads as well as invited Sharks (who will swim the first hour)
• Saturday – 8am till 9am – Minnows 1 and 2 as well as Piranhas
• Saturday – 9am till 10am – Sharks and Dolphins

The session on Saturday 4th July will go ahead under normal training hours/squads.

I will be leading the sessions and will be looking to pull together a list of coaches/poolside helpers who can assist in supporting training on a Saturday in particular.

Thanks

Mark Laing

dolphins as well

The Thursday night sessions are to be fun night and we are negotiating with the pool to try to get the inflatable. All members of junior club (Minnows, Piranhas, DOLPHINS!!! and Sharks) are invited to come between 6pm and 7pm. All senior club squads should come between 7pm and 8pm. There will be no session at 5pm for Minnows 1 and the pool is booked until 8pm only

Sunday 24th, 10 to 11 am land training session on stretches for swimmers.

Dear All

Friday 22nd May 6pm.

please can you make yourself available for the required duties this Friday evening.

I need 15 timekeepers and there will be a sign in sheet on the wall at the club table as of tomorrow evening.

I will accept the first ten qualified timekeepers and the first five non qualified to fill this duty.

All judges and trainee judges please make yourself available for duty.

Take your mark,

Eric Young (STO) J1

CADSC

Info Sheet – Fife League 4

Around 75% of our swims produced lifetime bests, with the greatest overall improvement going to Oliver Goad in his 200m Freestyle

The penultimate Fife League Meet allowed many of our swimmers to showcase their improvements across all of the strokes. 9-yr-old Sophie started the afternoon with a club record (subject to ratification) in the 100m Backstroke which was a great way to start the day. Amy Spencer (Silver Squad Swimmer of the Month for April) picked up a 4 second PB in her swim. The three lads then went on to set excellent times in the 100m Backstroke races, with Adam Young winning a flash and setting one of the fastest times in the country this year in his age group. Charlotte, Kirsten and Albert all swam excellent new PB times in the 100m Breaststroke.

In the 100m Fly, Scarlett, unaware we was just about to swim downed a large banana and block of jelly to find herself in the water a few minutes later. She swam confidently enough and had the good grace to throw up in the toilets and not the pool. Murdo, Ollie Goad and Lewis produced spanking swims in their heats and Lewis is now only a few seconds away from a club record time. Eve, Louise and Findlay all swam well in the 100m Freestyle, with Eve only narrowly missing out on her Bronze Squad selection time to the DRP (District Regional Programme). The breaststroke 200’s were a bit up and down with Sophie, still only nine, swimming a very creditable time over eight lengths. Murdo, who qualified for the nationals at 100m Breaststroke, sliced a huge chunk off his 200m time whilst Lewis swam a confident race but described after the race feeling stiff and slow during the turns.

The day finished with a massive number of swimmers competing in the 200m Freestyle. Ten out of twelve produced lifetime best swims with Eve, Ollie Goad, Kirsten and Albert all taking over 20 seconds off their previous bests. Adam Young swam a marvellous race to place himself third fastest Scottish 12-yr-old this year. A fantastic tussle between Ellen and Louise, saw Louise win by just 0.03 of a second although Ellen enjoyed the greatest improvement in time. Both Scarlett and Eve had a good go at getting their DRP times and were not far off. Future swims will see them both swim even faster I don’t doubt.

Freestyle 200m performance is a good indicator of how a club are progressing and these performances indicate that swimming with Cupar, and for some with NEF too, is proving a positive road to success. My thanks to Jacqui Houston for her support poolside as team manager and to all of the parents who took on the role of officials during the afternoon session and helped the gala be a success for all Fife clubs.

We have a busy few weeks coming up with swimmers at the East District Grand Prix, the InCAS Distance Meet and DCA Stars of the Future just to name a few events. Ollie Carter and Lewis Baillie continue their regimen of hard training/racing to achieve times to allow them to be selected to the national events coming up in June/July/August this year.

Mark Laing – Head Coach – Cupar and District Swimming Club – 18^th May, 2015

HEAD COACHES REPORT – APRIL/MAY

COACHES REPORT APRIL MAY 2015

Hi Everyone,

Gina has arranged through East Fife Sports Council to have a land training coach lead a session after next Sunday’s NEF Performance training (24^th May).  The session will run from 10 am to 11 am in the sports hall.  The session will be with particular reference to stretches for swimmers.

All North East Fife Performance swimmers should attend and parents are invited to watch.

Cupar Gold and Silver Squad swimmers are also invited to attend and participate.  Bronze Squad swimmers are invited to observe.

Thanks

Info Sheet – Novice League 4

Our young swimmers travelled to Glenrothes for the last time this year to compete in the final Fife Novice League event. With races carried over from the previously abandoned gala, we had our largest team of the season. Overall, we picked up eight ‘too fast’ flashes, which was the largest number secured on the day by any Fife club.

Please take time to look at the massive improvements that some of our swimmers have achieved. Some swimmers had no previous recorded times, so I have shown their swim as a PB as it would be wrong to do otherwise. I cannot mention everyone, but I would like to give credit to some exceptional swims.

Robyn Black, asked to swim at the last minute, turned up and produced two cracking swims and picked up a flash in the 50m Freestyle with a super swim. Ebony Sharp, a member of our Bronze + squad, won two flashes in the same session with great swims in both her races, and this was with a really badly scrapped knee. Kate Dalglish and Micah Van Blerk both swam superb 50m Freestyle races to win flashes and set the fastest overall times in their age groups. New Silver Squad member, Amy Anderson, picked up a flash in the 50m Butterfly with a lovely controlled swim. We don’t pick up many Butterfly flashes, so well done Amy. Torin and Holly also produced top notch swims to secure their flashes and were delighted to be presented with them at the end of the meet.

In her first ever Fife Novice Gala, Caera Baillie set a great new PB and won her heat to produce a smile which went from ear to ear. Amelia Arkwright continues to show great form and is a swimmer to watch out for in the future. Overall I was delighted with the performances of all of our swimmers. Those who did not make lifetime bests yesterday all left the pool having tried their hardest and understood that some days it just doesn’t happen.

The next meet for our younger swimmers is the Trojan Meet in Whitburn on the 7^th June.

Mark Laing

Head Coach

Cupar and District Swimming Club

18^th May 2015

Here they are and this page will be where we post the updated ones as well.u

It might not be the latest and greatest of your own results, as you can imagine it takes quite a bit of time to keep this sheet up to date, but we try our best

http://cuparswimming.com/squads/club-times-sheet/

Click that link!!

Thanks

read more information here > http://wp.me/p3ir5T-b3

read more information here > http://wp.me/p3ir5T-b3

Dear all

There will be no land training until further notice. Therefore last years fees will remain until we can provide an alternative, NO increase of fees will be implemented as of 1st May 2015.

The Current Fees will remain as follows

Gold Squad £44.00
Silver Squad £33.00
Bronze Plus £33.00
Bronze £28.00
Sharks £21.00
Dolphins £16.00
Piranhas £15.00
Minnows 1/ Minnows 2 £15.00

Where possible, can all membership payments be made to the following bank account

Bank of Scotland
Sort Code 80-22-60,
Account Nr 11332861

Thank you for your help in this.

I would like to welcome and congratulate Forrest on being the new Silver Squad Coach.

Level Two Swimming Teacher, Forrest Hamilton, would take on the role as the Silver Squad coach. Forrest will have responsibility for planning and delivering training to the squad on a Thursday and Friday, as well as providing guidance to other club coaches supporting the delivery of the training. Forrest has spent the last three months delivering Wednesday night training to the Gold Squad at Kirkcaldy. He took on the role last night and is looking forward to the challenge

Between Thursday 26th March and Sunday, 15-yr-old Cupar swimmer, Ollie Carter, competed at the British Para-Swimming International Meet 2015, held at Tollcross International Swimming Complex in Glasgow.

Handpicked to compete, Ollie had another successful gala picking up three lifetime bests in his 50m, 100m and 400m Freestyle. Competition was in a long course pool and was attended by disability swimmers from around the globe. This is the highest level of meet that Ollie has competed at and he has once again done us proud. Many of the swimmers at the event were there seeking to qualify for world championship events.

In his 100m Freestyle on Thursday he took over half a second off and placed 59th out of 122 athletes racing swimmers from Germany and Spain. On Friday he swam a fabulous 50m time of 28.85 taking a full two-seconds off his entry time. On Saturday he raced in the 100m Backstroke and swam his entry time in what was a keenly contested heat. Saving the best till last, Ollie swam a super 400m Freestyle time of 4.44.03 racing against three swimmers from Canada and others from Europe, which was over five and a half seconds faster than his entry and meant he was fast enough to qualify for the evening C Final. Ollie then went on to win a junior silver medal in the 400m freestyle.

Two articles about our club swimmers in this week’s paper.

NEF and Ollie Carter articles

Hi Folks,

MINNOW, PIRANHA, DOLPHIN AND SHARK TRAINING SCHEDULE

APRIL

SUNDAY 5th ­ BREASTSTROKE

9th & 11th ­ FRONTCRAWL

16th & 18th ­ BUTTERFLY

23rd & 25th ­ TIMING

30th & 1st MAY ­ BACKCRAWL

Grab it here so you can print it out  Training Squads website info

This has also been updated on the website.

Find the training squad updated information here – http://cuparswimming.com/about/training-squads/

and the new Membership information here – http://cuparswimming.com/about/2015-fee-structure/

So normal service will resume! Thank you to every one that has managed all the logistics and travelling whilst the Cupar pool was closed. That’s all the coaches and parents as well.

… that’s right you did read that correctly! The pool is open!

HEAD COACHES REPORT

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015  

Since my last report in mid-February the following has taken place:  COACHES REPORT FEBRUARY MARCH 2015

• Training at various venues across Fife, club swimmers continue to make the best of our pool closure attending squad sessions on a regular basis. I am delighted with the progress the Dolphins and Sharks group have made over the past month. Similarly the Bronze Squad are showing improvements in technique and basic skills and sessions on a Thursday and Saturday for them remain busy. I continue to be supported poolside by a core of our club coaches and their assistance is greatly appreciated. Comments have been made by them that regular sessions with me have helped them to develop their understanding of a number of drills and skills which will impact positively on their squad coaching when we return to Cupar in early April (fingers crossed!!)
• On the 22^nd February, three club swimmers attended a meet at Drumchapel where they made a good show of themselves picking up personal bests and medals too. The results have been previously circulated.
• On Friday 6^th March, Ollie Carter competed in Glenrothes at a Fife Disability gala where he picked up four medals and a trophy. Furthermore he produced four lifetime best swims and continues to move forward positively in his aspirations of taking his swimming to an even higher level.
• On Sunday 8th March, we enjoyed the second of the Fife Novice and League galas at Glenrothes. The results of this meet have been circulated and given that we are in a state of upheaval at the moment, the performance of the swimmers was truly excellent.
• Five club swimmers have achieved either consideration or qualifying times for entry into this year’s Scottish National Age Groups, due to be held at the end of this month in Aberdeen. The final acceptance sheets should be circulated soon and I will update the club as to who has gained entry. I will be travelling to Aberdeen on Saturday 4^th April to support the swimmers poolside throughout the day. Coaches and Team Managers passes have also been obtained for qualified parents who too will support their swimmers poolside.
• On Saturday 14^th March I was approached by a coach from Burntisland Swimming Club who suggested that Fife coaches get together in an informal setting to discuss club coaching and share best practice. I have agreed to join this group and further discussion during the Glenrothes Spring Meet on Saturday 21^st March will determine who is interested in joining a group of supportive coaches who can work together to enhance their own and other clubs delivery of training.
• On Sunday 29^th March, Coach Forrest Hamilton and I will be attending the day long team manager’s course being held within the clubhouse, organised and delivered by Gina Logan. Any other coaches interested in this course should make contact with Gina so that their interest can be noted. The course costs £30.00 all in and funding may be available for volunteer coaches through the club (to be discussed at forthcoming committee meeting on Monday 16^th March). The course runs from 10am until 3pm.
• As part of my training regime with the Dolphins and Sharks, I have been circulating video clip links to parents so that their children can view swimming footage in advance of training sessions. This has been well received and has allowed swimmers to look at certain elements of swimming technique prior to training thereby improving their understanding of what they are being expected to do. I have also circulated similar footage to the Bronze Squad swimmers too.
• Finally, I would like to pay tribute to the parents of our swimmers in their efforts to not just bring their own children to sessions, but to also help other swimmers make it to training too. I recognise that a lot of organisation is going into bringing our kids to sessions at our various venues and I truly appreciate the efforts being made.
• I continue to have regular discussions with our club president about future squad structures and hope to meet with Mark and Gina (who has kindly offered to assist) at the end of the month to discuss the way forward.

Mark Laing, Head Coach, Cupar and District Swimming Club

Saturday 14^th March 2015

 CLUB ‘SWIMMERS OF FEBRUARY 2015

The following swimmers were presented with the coaches ‘Swimmers of February’ award.  Squad coaches determine the swimmer who most deserves the award based on attitude, improvement, attendance etc. Swimmers were awarded a lapel badge.

• Gold Squad – Charlotte Williamson
• Silver Squad – Eve Hewitt
• Bronze Squad – Sophie Juskowiak
• Sharks – Callum Lindsay
• Dolphins – Amilia Arkwright

Mark Laing – Head Coach Cupar and District Swimming Club 8^th March 2015

Morning Session over, now onto the afternoon session!

Brilliant performances this morning seeing seeding up to 23 seconds taken off PBs!!

Go Cupar

Pictured before they swam – Left to right: – Cameron, Charlotte and Lewis

MILNGAVIE & BEARSDEN RESULTS – SUNDAY 22^nd FEBRUARY, 2015

Charlotte started off with a spirited swim in the 50m fly narrowly missing out on a PB. Cameron then swam an excellent race in his 100m breaststroke heat, finishing first at the wall, setting a lifetime best as well as winning the Bronze medal in his age-group. Charlotte then dominated her heat in the 100m Freestyle picking up a four-second PB.

The final morning swim was Lewis in the 200m breaststroke. He was sandwiched between two large lads from Glasgow clubs, and from the start there was a tussle to see who would lead. Coming down the final length Lewis upped his game even more and surged ahead to finish in Gold medal position and set a new lifetime best.

In the 50m Freestyle Cameron finished 4^th overall, missing out on a medal by 0.09 of a second. Lewis swam a strong 100m Freestyle to finish second in his heat and set a new short course PB. Cameron then finished 5^th overall, having entered in 13^th in the 50m Breaststroke. His time appears to be 0.03 of a second short of his SNAGS time, but official times will confirm at a later date. Subject to official confirmation, Lewis Baillie appears to have set a Club Record in the 14-yr-old category for the 200m IM event where he won his heat. Well done Lewis. The last heat in the last race saw Charlotte set a new PB in the 50m Freestyle where she finished 5^th overall from a field of 44 swimmers.

My thanks to David Haig, Head Coach at Dundee City Aquatics, who enthused our swimmers to perform well and supported them whilst in the water and with positive feedback after their swims. A long trip on a wet and cold day which produced some excellent new times and shows how hard our athletes are endeavouring to improve their performances week on week.

Our next gala is the Novice/Fife Leagues at the Michael Woods Sports Centre in Glenrothes on Sunday 8^th March.

Mark Laing

Head Coach, Cupar and District Swimming Club, Monday 23^rd February 2015 Info Sheet – MB Graded Meet

A site meeting was held at the Cupar Pool on the 20th Feb and the Lead Officer for the project advised that the target date for re-opening was 6^th April 2015.

HEAD COACHES REPORT JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2015

Since my last report the following has taken place:

• Our relocation to various training venues has been quite successful, with around 90 swimmers continuing to train from Wednesday to Sunday each week. I am coaching all sessions at Kirkcaldy, Lochgelly, St Leonards and Glenrothes with John Wishart coaching the junior sessions on a Sunday at Madras. Swimmers remain enthusiastic and a flexible approach to who can attend where is keeping our swimmers in the water. Volunteer coaches continue to provide excellent levels of support at our various venues.
• On Saturday 10^th/Sunday 11^th January our swimmers attended the East District’s at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh. Numerous lifetime best times were produced and Lewis Baillie picked up a well-deserved Bronze Medal in the finals of the 100m Breaststroke.
• On Wednesday 21^st January I attended a CPD event run by the Tayside and Fife Institute of Sport in Dundee looking at energy systems and how to best work athletes to achieve their best performance. Forrest Hamilton also attended.
• As per previous emails and media coverage, Ollie Carter enjoyed great success at the Scottish Disability Sport Performance Gala held at Stirling in late January
• Four club swimmers travelled to the Scottish Schools Finals in Aberdeen on the 31^st January. Swimmers Adam Young, Oliver Goad, Charlotte Williamson and Lewis Baillie all thoroughly enjoyed the experience, particularly Adam who won the Gold medal in the 50m Freestyle to set a time placing him second fastest in Great Britain for his age-group.
• On the 31^st January, swimmers also travelled to Grangemouth (results previously circulated) where once again several swimmers enjoyed great success collecting medals and PB’s.
• The Fife Leagues commenced on the 1^st February with the Novice and Fife League in Glenrothes producing more improved times and some exceptional performances (results previously circulated). The next Fife gala is on Sunday 8^th March.
• Mark McQuilton and I obtained a large selection of club fins from the club store and these were taken to Lochgelly and handed out to swimmers for their use during the period of pool closure. Swimmers have been asked to return the fins after we return to Cupar.
• On Saturday 7^th February, training at Lochgelly pool had to be called off after my checks of the pool revealed a serious chemical imbalance in the pool water. My thanks to those who provided support in contacting parents of swimmers due along at ten and to the understanding shown by parents who turned up at nine and had to be sent away.
• This weekend (14^th/15^th February) several swimmers attended galas in Bellshill and Bathgate seeking to achieve either consideration times for the Scottish National Age-Groups or East District times. I have yet to see the full results for both events and will report fully on them soonest.
• I accepted into the club, after assessment, two new swimmers who live in Crail. Grace (9) and Connie Henderson (11) have been placed in Dolphins and the Bronze Squad respectively. Welcome to them both.
• I continue to receive information about swimmers who have chosen to leave swimming and am working closely with Mark McQuilton to keep him abreast of squad sizes and the future impact this will have when we return to Cupar. As previously suggested, a restructuring of the club sessions is highly likely and this work will be undertaken over the coming months and presented to the committee prior to any changes taking place.
• Robin Ferris continues to do great work for us with the website. He and I work closely to ensure that information is tweeted where relevant and that all news items appear on the club website. I continue to use Facebook as a forum to communicate information quickly with club members and would encourage our parents to utilise this system on behalf of their swimmers even if they use Facebook for nothing else.
• Swimmers of the Month badges were awarded over the last few weeks and the winner’s info circulated throughout the club.
• Sixteen of our swimmers continue to benefit from additional swim training with the NEF squad coach Russ Green. Unfortunately Russ is unable to continue to deliver the training after the end of next month. As a consequence a recent meeting was held to discuss the future of NEF.

Mark Laing, Head Coach, Cupar and District Swimming Club

Monday 16^th February, 2015

Swimmer of the Month of January

The following swimmers were presented with the coaches ‘Swimmers of January’ award.  Squad coaches determine the swimmer who most deserves the award based on attitude, improvement, attendance etc. Swimmers were awarded a lapel badge.

• Gold Squad – Adam Young
• Silver Squad – Alana Hood
• Bronze Squad – Amy Anderson
• Sharks – Maisie Watson
• Dolphins – Robyn Black and Anna Dalglish (both were so good I couldn’t choose between them J)

Mark Laing – Head Coach Cupar and District Swimming Club

14^th February 2015

Ollie C article – Ollie looking to hit sub 60 soon! Read the full article on the link. Ollie C

Info Sheet – MAGS

This meet is a regular on our calendar but this year the Scottish Schools had four in Aberdeen and with the Fife Leagues the next day, only our most committed stalwarts travelled to Grangemouth. Under the wing of Coach Mark McQuilton they produced numerous outstanding swims. Ollie picked up three medals in his age-group swimming as a 15-yr-old for the first time. Murdo slashed a massive 10-seconds off his breaststroke time and is now only a gnat’s whisker away from achieving a SNAGS consideration time.

Cameron, improving month on month showed he can swim with the best of them taking over nine-seconds off his 100m Freestyle time. The 200m IM finished as a feather in Murdo’s cap as he picked up first place and a lovely gold medal to go with it. Findlay, struggling to get back to full fitness after knee problems, didn’t shine this weekend, but I’m sure that as he recovers his times will once again plummet.

My thanks to Mark McQuilton for supporting the boys to Grangemouth at late notice.

Mark Laing

Head Coach,

Cupar and District Swimming Club

03/02/15

Info Sheet – Fife League 1

The first Fife Leagues Gala saw our swimmers produce a 70% personal best success rate overall. Rowan picked up two personal bests and is hoping to return to training soon. Abigail produced two fine performances picking up a large PB in her 100m Backstroke. Lewis stuck in a solid swim in the 50m Backstroke to PB in what was a very fast heat. Cameron set an excellent PB in the 100m Backstroke taking off nearly seven-seconds. Oliver Goad, fresh from his success at Aberdeen, produced a cracking 100m Backstroke swim too, taking off over three-seconds.

Katie picked up PB’s in both her races very much to her surprise. Corrie crept ever closer to her SNAGS (Scottish National Age-Groups) time in the 100m Breaststroke setting a good new time as well as breaking 40 seconds in the 50m Fly. Eve, an ever improving breaststroker, swam a new PB in the 100m Breast and was close to her entry time in the 50m Fly.

Findlay produced a PB in his 100m Breaststroke race which is his first improvement for a while in that stroke and was delighted with his effort. Adam Young produced a stormer of a swim and picked up a qualifying time for SNAGS as well as an excellent PB. Charlotte swimming both 100 and 50m Fly, enjoyed a good time in the 100 but missed out on a PB in the 50m.

Kirstin Bousie, enjoying a rest from swimming whilst we train elsewhere, showed that her determination to succeed is still strong, producing lifetime best swims in the 100m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke. Kirsten Smith too enjoyed a super swim in the 100m Free taking a massive nine-seconds off and went on to swim well in the 50m too where she also PB’d. Super dynamo Scarlett swam a quick 100m free taking over six-seconds off and followed that up with a Pb in the 50m back too.

Oliver Carter was determined to set a new PB for the 100m Freestyle, and that’s exactly what he did in the fastest heat of the day. Murdo, buzzing from his medal successes on Saturday was still on top form swimming a sub 1.10 in the 100m Free and a new PB (just a little one) in the 50m back. Connor too swam the same events and picked up PB’s in both which meant the boys were flushed with their afternoons success and happy as kites.

Alexandrea was back competing for the first time in ages, with everyone pleased that her injury has abated enough to allow her to race again. Whilst not hitting a PB in the 50m Backstroke, she swam well and it was lovely to see her back in the water competing again. Lindsay, racing the 50m Backstroke, showed her quality underwater work at the starts and turns and was rewarded with a sub-40-second time and a new PB.

Overall this was a successful day for many of our swimmers. For those who did not PB, there is always the next time when we return to Glenrothes on Sunday 8^th March for round two.

My thanks to the parents who helped poolside as timekeepers and judges as well as to Alan Cousins and Wendy Hay who helped organise things during the gala.

Mark Laing

Head Coach

Cupar and District Swimming Club

02/02/15

Info Sheet – Novice League 1

A super Sunday session at Glenrothes for the first of this year’s series of Fife Novice Leagues. Many of the swimmers were competing in their first gala yet showed great maturity poolside by focussing on their swim and preparing well during the warm up. Three flashes this session, going to Isla, Hannah and Sophie. Some of the age groups had up to 20 swimmers in them, so please take time to look at where your child placed overall.

I cannot mention everyone, but feel I must mention several races because of the excitement involved in watching them. Isla and Hannah had super races with Isla finishing first in her age-group. Saif and Callum raced well together in the backstroke setting new times. Isobel after a slow start flew down the pool to set a new PB.

Kate, Micah and Jock swam really well in the breaststroke with Jock winning the heat and securing his first ever heat victory. Amy and Danielle (goggles slipped off when diving in and ended up sitting under her nose) put in super performances and were both close to picking up speed flashes. Amilia Arkwright, full of smiles, thundered down the pool finishing 2^nd in her heat. Sophie led her heat from the start getting slowly further and further away from the rest, to win comfortably by over five metres and picking up her third novice flash.

Maisie Watson, a really focussed swimmer at training, produced a solid PB after not making the best turn she could have at the wall. Max and Marcel raced in the same heat with Max swimming purposefully and Marcel just blowing away the opposition as he set a new PB of over 13 seconds. Katie, Owen and Isla all swam really well in their second backstroke swims of the day placing highly in their age-groups. Ebony and Kiera, not to be outdone, also took huge chunks out of their entry times. The individual races finished with Mica and Torin swimming confidently in the 100m Backstroke and setting massive lifetime bests.

The relay teams then followed with the nine-and-under girls finishing 2^nd overall in their age-group, out of a total of 12 teams. Unfortunately some turnover infringements led to a few teams being disqualified but I’m sure they will have learned and will avoid this in future galas. Loved coaching with new kids that I have not previously taught and feel we have a strong core of swimmers this season. The second novice gala is at the same venue on Sunday 8^th March, so please put it in your calendars!

Mark Laing – Head Coach – Cupar and District Swimming Club

1^st February 2015

Please be aware of the weather and that this may have an impact on swimming tomorrow 29th. We will keep the website and twitter up to date.

Please take note of what Mark L has said about water at training, it is very important that you turn up with water.

Original post here. http://wp.me/p3ir5T-9M

DRINKS – over the last week I have become aware that too many of our athletes are turning up to train with either no water bottle or a tiny 330ml bottle to drink. Swimmers should be carrying a full container of either water or lightly sugared drinks. 750ml or thereabouts is needed.

I have been asked on numerous occasions to fill up water bottles for swimmers who bring them empty to training. Given that we are not training at Cupar and I consequently have to leave the poolside completely at Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy and Lochgelly, this cannot work.

Swimmers must, for their own health and wellbeing, bring at least one filled bottle to drink whilst training and something to take for recovery on the way home too. Sorry to sound like a moaning Minnie but I have to have them staying hydrated.

Mark Laing

Head Coach, Cupar and District Swimming Club

Member of the British Swimming Coaches Assoc.

RESULTS OF EDAGS ROUND 3 – ROYAL COMMONWEALTH POOL, EDINBURGH – 10^TH & 11^TH JANUARY, 2015

Another positive weekend of competition with swimmers achieving entry times to future national events as well as collecting a medal too. 15 lifetime best swims achieved with our relays squads showing how well they have come on by positioning well in Freestyle and Medley relay races.

Saturday was a long day with many of the squad there from just after 8am until 8pm in the evening. Despite the long day, our swimmers produced some excellent swims with other coming very close to their entry times, which given that for many they have just returned to training, is a solid result. Cameron McMaster finished tenth overall in the 100m Breaststroke putting in a strong display in his first ever long course race. Lewis Baillie qualified for the evening final swimming his PB to make it and in the final moved from fourth up to third place lifting the bronze medal and taking three seconds off his heat time. This now gives Lewis a qualifying time for the Scottish National Age Groups to be held at the Aquatics Centre in Aberdeen in April.

11-yr-old Adam Young, swimming in the 12 and under age group, whilst not making any finals, produced a flood of top class swims achieving qualifying times for the Scottish Nationals in 100 Frontcrawl, 100 Backstroke, 100m Butterfly. He already has consideration times for 100m Breaststroke. He also produced a very good consideration time for the 200m IM which is within ½ a second of the qualifying standard. Looks like the Young family are going to be spending quite a bit of time in Aberdeen this year!!

Findlay Baillie, still struggling with his knee issue, managed to produce a super 100m Frontcrawl race in a thrilling race. Adam Young followed in the next heat and as he had forecast, produced a ripping 1.08.30 swim time in a very close heat. This swim placed Adam as the 2^nd fastest 11-yr-old boy in the district. It was certainly one of the best races I have seen this year.

Ollie Carter produced a couple of lifetime best swims in a weekend where he seemed a little out of sorts, so watch out next time Info Sheet – EDAGS Round 3when he is back to full form swimming. Corrie Hay was on form over the weekend and she swam well in her individual races as well as producing a great leg in the 200m relays. I am very proud of how well both our boys and girls did in the relays, showing the other district clubs that we are developing depth in our swimming squads and producing competitive teams to race.

Our next competition is the MAGS meet at the end of this month, so good luck to all swimmers who are successful in gaining places there. My thanks to our parents who supported us through duties as technical officials and to Karen Baillie for her team management and to coaches Russ Green and Wendy Hay who supported our athletes over the weekend.

Mark Laing, Head Coach, Cupar and District Swimming Club

Monday 12^th January, 2015

Full results can be found by visiting http://www.swimscotland.co.uk/meets%2015/EDAG%20finals/index.htm

Info Sheet – EDAGS Round 3