Summer Break 2017
To all Parents & Swimmers
please be aware our last swimming session before summer break is Sunday the 5th of August.
The new season will resume on Monday 21st August
New Kit Ready
We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused, but due to the minimum order requirements not being met, we will not be receiving the new kit, all those who have ordered & paid for kit will be receiving a full refund if not already.
We are still in the process of sourcing a new supplier, and will make everyone aware as soon as we know anything.
Our sponsored swim has begun
And they’re off! Our sponsored swimmers are pounding the pool to raise pounds for the club
Our aim is to swim a combined distance of more 90 miles – the distance to Thetford and back. Thetford is where the County Championships are being held.
We want to use the proceeds to buy an underwater camera – brilliant for our coaches to help our swimmers get even better.
There’s still time to sponsor a swimmer – just ask, we’ll happily say ‘yes’ !
Success at County Championships
Success for Vikings in County Championships
The North Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club is helping its young swimmers make a splash.
Twenty nine members of the club managed to swim fast enough to take part in the Norfolk County Championships, which took place over the last month.
And they’ve managed some supreme results.
Headlining, Mollie Smith, aged 13, from Roughton near Cromer, managed a regional time in the 100m Butterfly. She came in at 1’11.42.
Head coach Chris Searle said: “We’re all so proud of Mollie’s regional time. There are very few swimmers who manage an achievement like that. It’s a really amazing reward for many years of hard work.”
“Mollie is a former Junior Captain at the Vikings and an inspiration to other club members.”
Mollie’s mum, Kirsty, is a coach at the Vikings. She said: “Last year Mollie was quite a way off a regional time but under Chris’ supervision she has made the most fantastic progress. We’re thrilled for her.”
The Vikings had 8 unique finalists taking part in 16 finals. Most of the Vikings’ county squad were under the age of 14 and for some it was their first open meet. Club members notched up 110 personal best times over the course of the counties in 133 swims, excluding the finals.
Head coach Chris added: “They got a massive amount of personal bests, with large chunks taken out of many times. It’s been a really successful event for the Vikings.”
The Vikings swim at four pools in North Norfolk. Most club training takes place at The Victory in North Walsham on evenings during the week, on Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings.
There are also training sessions held at Sheringham Splash, Aylsham High School and Cromer High School.
Club members are placed in various squads depending on their abilities and then coached to reach their full potential. Some like to take part in races and galas, while others just improve for fun.
The club teaches children more than just swimming, says Vikings Chairman Charlie Crafer: “We teach them self confidence, a love of exercise and teamwork. It’s always great to see our young swimmers achieve so much at prestigious events like the counties and regionals, but as long as every single one is helped to improve and to enjoy swimming then the Vikings has done its job.
If you want your children to join the Vikings, learn to swim, swim for fun or even become a county champion then you can find out more at www.norfolkvikings.co.uk or call Kirsty Smith on 07900 145866, dksmithlm@tiscali.co.uk.
Sponsored Swim being held in March
We’re inviting all of our members to take part in a sponsored swim, on March 24th, 25th and 26th March. Our aim is to swim a combined distance of more 90 miles – the distance to Thetford and back. Thetford is where the County Championships are being held.
We want to use the proceeds to buy an underwater camera – brilliant for our coaching to help our swimmers get even better.
Sponsor forms can be downloaded here NNVSC Sponsored Swim Letter and form
Or they’re available on the front desk at The Victory, or ask for one to be emailed by contacting alan.monsey@gmail.com
Monday night Triathlon Swim night
We’ve got a new triathlon swim night:
Adult lane swimming available on Monday evenings 7pm-8pm
We have 1 lane available with swimmers working to sets ranging from 1600m to 2800m
The sets include a variety of front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke.
Costs are £5.00 per swim OR £12pm with annual membership of £20
Triumph for swimmers at our awards night
Our young swimmers at North Norfolk Vikings Swimming and Triathlon Club were celebrating after their annual awards night. Fifty five club members were presented with trophies, medals and certificates for their achievements over the past year.
Our picture shows them celebrating triumphantly, during the club’s presentation night held at Rossis Leisure Centre in North Walsham.
Club Chairman, Charlie Crafer, said: “North Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club has had a brilliantly successful year.
“Congratulations to all of our county qualifiers who turned out for us last March wearing with pride their Club tops. It is a great achievement to swim at the county championships and we hope more of our swimmers will join this special group in 2014.”
In the last year, membership of The Vikings has grown from 85 to 124 – a testament to the reputation and success of the club and its swimmers. Many new members came after the Vikings introduced new squads at Aylsham and Sheringham. About 100 children learned to swim with The Vikings too.
Swimmers Emily Bowyer and Mollie Smith qualified for and swam at the Regional championships in June. Hannah Cooper qualified to swim in 2014. Swimming at the Regional championships is a very special achievement which the club is proud of.
Head coach, Chris Searle, said: “Congratulations to all of the Vikings swimmers. They’ve worked amazingly hard to improve personal best scores and compete in our own championships and representing the club across Norfolk and the East Anglian region.”
The Club awards followed club championships which were held at The Victory pool in North Walsham, where the Vikings are based.
The swimmer with the most awards was Emily O’Hanlon, aged 16, from Swanton Abbott, who went home with an amazing sixteen medals or trophies. She came first in 11 races.
Greta Balfour, aged 14, from Stalham, and Thomas Curtis, 12, from Lammas, picked up twelve awards each.
Molly Cooper, 13, from Cromer, Adam Molloy, 10, from and Matthew Webb, each picked up 11 awards.
Mollie Smith and Hannah Cooper both smashed the club records for 100 metres butterfly for their respective age groups.
Thomas Owen & Greta Balfour were made Senior team captains. Thomas Curtis and Victoria Lloyd were made Junior team captains.
Special club awards went to:
- Billy Life – Runner-Up Boy
- Leah Harris – Runner-Up Girl
- Matthew Rogers – Junior Endeavour Award, Boys
- Maisie Winslow – Junior Endeavour Award, Girls
- Thomas Owen – Senior Endeavour Award, Boys
- Poppy Arnold – Senior Endeavour Award, Girls
- Liam Blatch – Teachers Award, Boys
- Molly Cooper – Teachers Award, Girls
- Thomas Owen – Most Improved Boy
- Jessica Curtis – Most Improved Girl
- Bethany Toyn – Special Butterfly Award
- Mollie White – Special Back Stroke Award
- Jasmine Harris – Special Breast Stroke Award
- Luke Babbs – Special Freestyle Award
Vikings swimmers notch up personal bests
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
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.”