Vikings swimmers notch up personal bests

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Young swimmers with the North Norfolk Vikings notched up some personal bests at the Breckland Cup meet, held in Dereham.

Vikings swimmers entered 43 races – notching up personal bests in 23 of them, pushing themselves to new limits.

Head coach, Chris Searle, said: “We coach the squad as individuals, helping them to improve personal confidence and performance so the Breckland Cup results were great to see. Many swam personal bests, which is a great achievement.”

Personal best swims were: Matilda Meyrick was 2nd in the Girls 10 and under 50m butterfly (45.79), Imogen Horne Morris 3rd in the Girls 12 and under 100m breaststroke (1.36.51); Harry Barwick 5th in the Boys 12 and under 100m breaststroke (2.02.52 ); Poppy Arnold 5th in the Girls 14 and under 100m backstroke (1.33.97); Tom Owen 5th in the Boys 14 and under 100m backstroke (1.22.33); Hannah Cooper 3rd in the Girls 15 and over 200m IM (2.40.91); Adam Molloy 4th in the Boys 12 and under 100m backstroke (1.36.63); Mollie Smith 3rd in the Girls 14 and under 200m IM (2.47.43); John Brooker 4th in the Boys 14 and under 200m IM (2.39.65); Matthew Webb 5th in the Boys 15 and over 100m freestyle (1.02.84); Beth Toyn 4th in the Girls 10 and under 50m backstroke (52.20); Victoria Lloyd 5th in the Girls 12 and under 200m IM (3.27.69); Adam Molloy 4th in the Boys 12 and under 200m IM (3.43.53); Alex Witting 3rd in the Girls 15 and over 100m butterfly (1.19.49); Matilda Meyrick 3rd in the Girls 10 and under 100m IM (1.50.89); Kim Brooker 5th in the Girls 12 and under 100m butterfly (1.38.40); Mollie Smith 4th in the Girls 14 and under 100m breaststroke (1.34.39); Liam Blatch)  6th in the Boys 14 and under 100m breaststroke (1.46.94); Phoebe Muirhead 5th in the Girls 10 and under 50m freestyle (39.81); Billy Life 5th in the Boys 10 and under 50m freestyle (45.07); Victoria Lloyd 4th in the Girls 12 and under 100m freestyle (1.27.06); Katie Whitting 2nd in the Girls 15 and over 100m breaststroke (1.22.03); M Webb 4th in the Boys 15 and over 100m breaststroke (1.20.14).

Aylsham – space for new swimmers

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We’ve got space for new club swimmers at the pool at Aylsham High School.

There are Learn to Swim sessions between 4pm and 6pm on Wednesday evenings, followed by Bridging Squad swimming for those who have learnt to swim and now want to develop. The Bridging Squad is for children who want to join the Vikings competition squads but need that extra development.

There’s also space in our Bridging Squad sessions between 6.30 and 7.30 pm on Friday evenings.

Among the current swimmers are sisters Maisie, and Isla Winslow, who live in Norwich. Maisie, 11, said: “I really like swimming here. I am trying to improve my swimming and fitness.” Isla, 7, added: “Guy helps us with our strokes so we swim faster.”

Their mum Helen added: “I think it is a fantastic club, it’s serious enough that there’s swimming across its pools six days a week but its friendly too. We bring our children from Norwich because it’s convenient for our family.”

The Vikings have brought in Guy Metcalfe from Hevingham, who already coaches in Cromer, to boost their club swimming in Aylsham.

Guy joined the Vikings when he was six, was helped to become a highly proficient competition swimmer, and returned to coach a few years ago. He was formerly an RNLI lifeguard.

His aim in running the Aylsham Bridging Squad for the Vikings is to help the children develop at their own pace and prepare them to join the main club.

“We encourage the children to enjoy swimming for the love of it and improve their techniques and fitness,” said Guy.

“We also encourage them to become competition swimmers and take part in the growing success of the club at county and regional championships. We even have young swimmers who have gone on to swim at national level.

“Joining the club is also about making new friends and have a great social life outside school.”

Contact us to join

 

Mollie reaches regional championships

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One of our swimmers, 12 year old Mollie Smith has notched up a regional-standard time.

Mollie, from Roughton near Cromer, crashed through the 100metres freestyle qualifying time by just 0.06 seconds – finishing in 1 minute 7.92 seconds.

She managed the feat during the City of Peterborough Open Meet last weekend. It means she has qualified to swim in the ASA East Region Championships in Norwich, June.

Mollie said: “I was really amazed. I was hoping to swim a personal best but I turned round in the pool and saw I’d got a regional time. I couldn’t believe it.”

Mollie is only the third current North Norfolk Viking swimmer to get a regional time – and Head Coach Chris Searle is overjoyed.

“We’re all proud of Mollie,” said Chris. “To swim a regional time is a very big achievement indeed. “She will inspire some of our up and coming swimmers to improve their competition times even more.”

Hannah Cooper, 13, from Aylsham, is also training for the regional Championships, hoping to qualify before June.

Success in County Championships

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North Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club is celebrating success in the British Gas County Championships 2013, held at over four weekends in February and March.

An incredible 89 personal best times were smashed by the young Vikings swimmers, making this year’s County Championships a landmark event for themselves and the club.

Twenty seven club swimmers entered 132 swims and managed to get through to 24 finals in total and achieved 44 top sixes. Seven swimmers were placed first in their heats, five were placed second and eight were placed third.

Among the Vikings stars were 15-year old Emily Bowyer from Cromer who won her 50, 200 and 400 metres Freestyle, and 50, 100 and 200 metres Backstroke events.

Adam Crafer, 16, from Aylsham, brought home the silverware for the Men’s Open 200 metres breaststroke.

The Vikings’ Head Coach, Chris Searle, said: “The Club is really proud of all 27 who managed to swim County qualification times and take part in this year’s Championships. We had a number of first timers at the County Championships this year, so we have new blood coming through the ranks to keep the Vikings in contention.

“We have recently restructured our squads to reflect difference levels of ability and our intensive training with the Performance Squad is paying off.”

Other results in the County Championships show an impressive performance by the Vikings:

Hannah Cooper, 13  3rd in the 9yrs and over 50m Freestyle, 4th in 11yrs and over 100m Free, 5th in 9yrs and over 50m Backstroke, 5th in 11yrs and over 100m Butterfly, 4th in 9 and over 200m Free, and 5th in Girls 12yrs old and over: 400m Individual Medley.

Mollie Smith, 12    6th in the 11 yrs and over 100m Breaststroke, 6th in the 9yrs and over 50m Free, 5th in the 9yrs and over 200m Butterfly, 5th in the 9yrs and over 200m Individual Medley and 5th in the 11yrs and over 100m Free.

Katie Whitting, 17            3rd in the 9yrs and over Girls’ 50m Breaststroke, 5th in the 9yrs and over 200m Breaststroke and 6th in the 11yrs and over 100m Breaststroke.

Emily Bowyer, in addition to her six wins, was placed 2nd in the 11 yrs and over 100m Free, 6th in the Girls’ Open 50m Back, and 6th in the Girls’ Open 100m Back.

Thomas Curtis, 11           5th in the 9 yrs and over 50m Back.

Adam Molloy, 10   6th in the 9yrs and over Boys’ 50m Back.

Adam Crafer, in addition to his 200m win was 6th in the 100m Back.

Head Coach Chris Searle was placed 3rd in Boys’ 50m Free, 2nd in Boys’ 50m Open Free, 3rd in Boys’ 50m Breast and 5th in the Boys’ Open 50m Breast.

North Norfolk Vikings hold club swimming six days a week at the Victory Swim and Fitness Centre in North Walsham and at Aylsham High School.

The club is opening its books to new swimmers too – or non-swimmers who want to take the plunge and learn to be safe – and have fun – in the water. The Vikings have space in their weekly Learn to Swim sessions and Improver sessions held during term time at Cromer and Aylsham.

For further details, phone Kirsty Smith on 07900 145866  or email dksmithlm@tiscali.co.uk

Newspaper clipping

Awards for Viking swimmers

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North Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club ended 2012 on a high, with nearly three hundred medals and trophies awarded to its members.

60 children and adults took part in the Vikings’ Club Championships, breaking six club records in the process.

And ninety children from the age of four upwards have been taught to swim.

The Club Championship awards were presented at a packed celebration party in Rossi’s Sports Centre in North Walsham. Our photo shows some of the young members with their awards, surrounding Head Coach, Chris Searle (centre, back)

“It has been a brilliant year for the Vikings,” said outgoing club Chair, Clare Ruff. “We have gone from strength to strength with many more competitive swimmers.

“We have 44 members who have qualified to swim in the Norfolk County Championships in Thetford in March, more than twice as many as last year, so we are thrilled.”

The club aims to offer its members fitness, fun and confidence. It has recently taken on a new Head Coach in 20-year old Chris Searle who has brought many of the youngsters on dramatically.

It is opening its books to new swimmers too – or non-swimmers who want to take the plunge and learn to be safe – and have fun – in the water.

The Vikings have space in their weekly Learn to Swim sessions and Improver sessions held during term time at Cromer and Aylsham.

And they are welcoming new members for club swimming which is held on six days a week in North Walsham and Aylsham.

Summer Splash

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Five-day courses – for children aged 4 and above – in the summer holidays