Favourite Coach

[Pete]

We have had many suggestions over the years as to people's favourite swimmer but what about a favourite coach. I have worked with quite a number of coaches over the years. Noteably Dougie Campbell, Gary Abrahams, Dave Heathcock and Katie's coach Ron. Mainly at clinics, camps and workshops. I always enjoy watching Bob Pay at Meets and the way he works with his swimmers.
Without choosing your current coach, swimmers; what coaches have you enjoyed working with? Who is :king: coach in your opinion.

[NicholasJGrover]

My choice would have to be my old coach Bob.Pay - A swimming master mind and the respect he gets from swimmers and other coaches is at the up most.

Also i would like to put forwards Dave Heathcock's son Matt as a good future coach, his doing a great job working along side Bob at Wycombe and i'm sure things will only get better and better for him

[Katie]

I've been coached by quite a few people on various camps, some I have not really enjoyed and others have been great. Obviously I'm not going to name the ones I didn't like!! Other than my coach who is clearly the best :D, cool people to work with are Dave Haller from Cardiff, Mark Perry from Northampton, Jay Fitzgerald from Pine Crest in Florida and Alex Pussieldi also from Pine Crest but previously of Fort Lauderdale. Ooh and Bill Furniss and Ian Armiger. It wasn't intentional that these are all guys, I haven't really been coached by many female coaches since I was little. :)

[Gold Swimmer]

We have had many suggestions over the years as to people's favourite swimmer but what about a favourite coach. I have worked with quite a number of coaches over the years. Noteably Dougie Campbell, Gary Abrahams, Dave Heathcock and Katie's coach Ron. Mainly at clinics, camps and workshops. I always enjoy watching Bob Pay at Meets and the way he works with his swimmers.
Without choosing your current coach, swimmers; what coaches have you enjoyed working with? Who is :king: coach in your opinion.
hey dougie campbell is my swimming coach he is excellent

[Top10ranking]

not bob pay

[wendy]

subtle Matt!

[Gina]

I have had 4 coaches during my short swimming career and the best by far is my current coach, Carol Butler. Everytime I've come back to Teddington she has treated me like I hadn't left.

I love most of her training sets as they vary over every stroke and they have got harder and harder each time I have returned to Teddington. She is also like John Smith's, no nonsense!

[Katie]

Haha I would agree with Matt but not to do with Bob's coaching skills, only to do with his uncanny knack of stepping back at EXACTLY the right point at the Trials, knocking me over so I fell on the sponsorship boards, nearly squashing them FLAT (jolly good thing they were there actually, otherwise I would have gone straight into the pool) and making a) an extreeeemely loud crash heard by all as it was the beginning of a heat and all was quite and b) a prat of myself. LONGEST SENTENCE EVER! :)

[Gold Swimmer]

Haha I would agree with Matt but not to do with Bob's coaching skills, only to do with his uncanny knack of stepping back at EXACTLY the right point at the Trials, knocking me over so I fell on the sponsorship boards, nearly squashing them FLAT (jolly good thing they were there actually, otherwise I would have gone straight into the pool) and making a) an extreeeemely loud crash heard by all as it was the beginning of a heat and all was quite and b) a prat of myself. LONGEST SENTENCE EVER! :)
didnt he notice what he had done

[Spidey]

I've had a few in my time. It would be unfair to name a favourite, to me they have all been great, with exceptions of course, but hey, coach, I'll tell you personally.

[rubber ducky]

Has to be my old coach Patsy Coleman. She was absolutely brilliant, and also the head coach of the Paralympic squad so we got to meet quite a few swimmers. She went to Atlanta and to Sydney (but as technical adviser to the Aussie's that time!).

[GettingFaster]

I reckon Vince Ayling (who's opening a new swim school in Guildford, see this thread (http://www.swimclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=42935#post42935)) has to be the best. When he first took over our Masters squad I think there were only about 5 or 6 swimmers who trained regularly, the squad hardly went to any meets or competitions and it was going nowhere, and pretty slowly too. Since he took over the squad has grown to about 40 or so (FB will correct me if I'm wrong on that figure) and he's a real inspiration to all of us. Even the slowest among us - and yes I do mean me - have taken loads of time off our pbs, we're fitter and more focussed, but the training is targetted for each swimmer so even the super-speedy are improving, not just the tortoises. We even have a wheelie in our squad who had been told she'd never be able to swim mainstream and she's now doing wonders, so
THANK YOU VINCE!!!

And he doesn't only do wrinklies, he also coaches the younger swimmers. He's really encouraging and motivating. The children enjoy working with him and put in the extra effort to please him as he remembers to praise them when they do well, and even if they just miss out on a time they are aiming for he keeps encouraging them so they don't give up and then get the time they're after the next time they try. He believes in his swimmers and that really matters to them, particularly when some of them are very little. I think because he's a swimming parent himself he understands that they are still just children and sometimes need the caring as well as the tough approach, which he does too, when needed but he doesn't overdo it.

Enough, you get the idea.

:love:

[Katie]

didnt he notice what he had done
Yes but I was running away as fast as I could to stop people pointing and laughing or recognising me for future entertainment!!

[FlyingBean]

THANK YOU VINCE!!!
I can second that. :king:

He has had amazing success with us wrinklies, he has encouraged even the shyest among us (and I don't mean GF :p ) to give it a go and even compete. We have swimmers of all ages and backgrounds and there is a great atmosphere. There have been some amazing pbs, from those of us who are new to the sport, but also those who have been swimming for years. Our training regime is flexible and he finds a way of finding sets that interest both the sprinters and the distance junkies.

I do feel sorry for him though, as most of the time, we're worse than the kids with our back chat!! "We're just kids with credit cards" as someone once said!

[Leprechaun]

Has to be Vince at Guildford. It is refreshing to find a coach without an ego and who has time for all of us. Great with the kids but even better with those who old enough to know better.

I dont think I have seen anything in the coaching manuals about the benefits (and the need for) a great team spirit to keep what is always a bunch of individuals motivated. Vince not only has the skills to coach, but he has the ability to get us to do it for ourselves and manages to ensure that the nicest sort of peer pressure gets us to do it collectively.

[lane4]

Okay, let's open this one up to coaches outwith the Guildford area now...

;) :p :devil:

[NicholasJGrover]

not bob pay

Dude i don't think you can really say that as Bob currently as got kids faster than you in most events around your age. Plus it's pretty funny how Wycombe have been the top club in the counties for the past so many years and Amersham haven't even come close to it!

[Gold Swimmer]

Dude i don't think you can really say that as Bob currently as got kids faster than you in most events around your age. Plus it's pretty funny how Wycombe have been the top club in the counties for the past so many years and Amersham haven't even come close to it!
Yeah but matt best stroke is backstroke and when i was looking at the rankings i found no close to his backstroke from wycombe.

[Gina]

If you look at who Matt will be racing against at nationals then you will see that James Crawford is in his age group as he is born at the end of 1988 and Matt is born at the start of 1989. James is very fast in every stroke! Robert Matthews-stroud is younger than Matt as is bl**dy fast at free.

Matt may not like Bob Pay's coaching methods, which is fine, but he can't just make a statement like that without backing it up.

[Taxiandbank]

Yeah but matt best stroke is backstroke and when i was looking at the rankings i found no close to his backstroke from wycombe.
Apart from James Crawford (same age for youth Nationals isn't he Matt?)

I don't hold with knocking coaches. Clearly Matt has a problem with Bob which is probably more down to personalities than a reflection on coaching skill.

I have found that if you happen to be with a coach and the relationship does not work (for whatever reason)..move on. If you think the coach wasn't very good they inevitably get "found wanting" in the end.

You can't deny Bob's track record for producing Olympians over the years (OK I am a lot older than you) so he must be doing something right.

Whereas your coach, Matt, is still on the way up (and I wish her success) so don't knock someone on a personal whim. RESPECT
TandB

[NicholasJGrover]

What i said was Kids around Matthew's age like - James Crawford (All rounder ),Robert Matthews - Stroud (Top F/c and good B/c ),Scott Mudge ( Who's just getting back in the pool after an illness - Who's a good B/c swimmer and they'll be more to come from him in the future) and Andrew Carpenter (Breastoker)

Matthew you can't make remarks like that without backing them up. The facts are there that prove Bob is a top coach and you would find a very if so small amount of people who would agree with you about Bob.

Maybe you should even think about moving to Wycombe!!!

[Pete]

Shall we leave this and agree to differ. I am sure that there are coaches up and down Britain as well as overseas who deserve a mention. Let's keep this a positve thread acknowledging a favourite coach (preferably not your current coach because most would be very biased. Or for that matter a past coach you have personally not benefitted from for one reason or other). Unfortunately the current trend among some people is to criticize rather than acknowledge in a positive light. If you cannot get on with someone you leave them be, move on to what suits you better. Life is too short.

[Top10ranking]

he dropped me from the intercounty 100back for someone else without bothering to tell me this person also over age. i therefore feel i have the right not to like him

[Bazza]

Well if I could I would choose the only coach who I've really worked with much which is Graham Pople at Havant and Waterlooville, but if I have to choose someone else it would probably be Ian Wright at Warrender or Trevor Collins from West Wight.

[Taxiandbank]

17. James Crauford 14 Berks&SBucks 58.10
From the draft entry list of the intercounties 17th October 2004

James M Crawford 28/10/1988 Wycombe District SC 2004 British Championships 25m: 26/08/2004 58.18
From the ASA rankings

So apart from submitting an entry time that didn't correlate with his designated/licensed ranking, getting his age wrong and spelling his name wrong. As I read it intercounties is run as age on day he swum in a 14/15 race and he clearly was 15 at that time. Unless you hold with a conspiricy theory that he has been falsifying his birthday to the ASA all these years.

Correct me if I'm wrong but your S.C. p.b is
Matthew W Paget 19/01/1989 Amersham SC Haslemere Level 1 Open Mt 2004: 20/11/2004 1:02.45

If I was selecting the team for the intercounties, I think I know which I would have gone with. I think your arguement is with the person(s) who selected or told you, you were on the team first when clearly they had not considered James Crawford. Perhaps some of our members from Berks & South Bucks could enlighten us?

Just to reassure you, I have no connection to Bob Pay or Wycombe S.C
TandB

[Top10ranking]

17. James Crauford 14 Berks&SBucks 58.10
From the draft entry list of the intercounties 17th October 2004

James M Crawford 28/10/1988 Wycombe District SC 2004 British Championships 25m: 26/08/2004 58.18
From the ASA rankings

So apart from submitting an entry time that didn't correlate with his designated/licensed ranking, getting his age wrong and spelling his name wrong. As I read it intercounties is run as age on day he swum in a 14/15 race and he clearly was 15 at that time. Unless you hold with a conspiricy theory that he has been falsifying his birthday to the ASA all these years.

Correct me if I'm wrong but your S.C. p.b is
Matthew W Paget 19/01/1989 Amersham SC Haslemere Level 1 Open Mt 2004: 20/11/2004 1:02.45

If I was selecting the team for the intercounties, I think I know which I would have gone with. I think your arguement is with the person(s) who selected or told you, you were on the team first when clearly they had not considered James Crawford. Perhaps some of our members from Berks & South Bucks could enlighten us?

Just to reassure you, I have no connection to Bob Pay or Wycombe S.C
TandB

i always thought he was 16 at the time. tori was told no one on g.b camps could do it therefore she was not selected but james crawford was.

I also herd that he told Alex Vine to come back to do speedo league which got him kicked off the G.B team, possibly his only chance to represent G.B yes thats a good coach

[ruthcp]

Shall we leave this and agree to differ. I am sure that there are coaches up and down Britain as well as overseas who deserve a mention. Let's keep this a positve thread acknowledging a favourite coach (preferably not your current coach because most would be very biased. Or for that matter a past coach you have personally not benefitted from for one reason or other). Unfortunately the current trend among some people is to criticize rather than acknowledge in a positive light. If you cannot get on with someone you leave them be, move on to what suits you better. Life is too short.

Oops - you've got Pete going off on his favourite topic again!! :devil:

[Pete]

No Ruth! Just stopping this from turning into a slanging match. We should also not be knocking people. :cool:

[Taxiandbank]

We should also not be knocking people. :cool:
Concur completely. Constructive or well reasoned critism is fine but knocking based on biased opinion or perceived injustice should be heavily moderated.
TandB

[Swimhelper]

No Ruth! Just stopping this from turning into a slanging match. We should also not be knocking people. :cool:

Agree Pete, this is getting rather unpleasant! :shocking:

I would like to say a few words about Chris Green (the Amersham Coach) as I think that she is one of the best. She is head coach of a small (under 200 swimmers) club in a small town competing with two other clubs for swimmers in the Chiltern area (very nice place Amersham, I live there - but not exactly the hub of the country).

Chris is a truly inspirational coach; one of very few coaches with the American coaches level 5 qualification (including in the U.S.), She is a senior British Swimming Coach (in Spain at the moment with the Youth Squad) who is highly respected by Bill Sweetenham - and she told him that she didn't want so many British Swimming Camps because she doesn't want to leave her club swimmers so much. Because of this, Bill arranged for Mick Hepworth (I think that was his name - a senior Br Sw coach) to take her squad when she was away in Mexico. I think this camp may be her last one from what she said.

Chris had a swimmer on the Potential Age Group squad last year, a different one on the Youth squad this year (who represented GB in three international competitions), two youngsters talent spotted for a Smart Track assessment day, and some really promising Youth boys (including Matt, who has improved so much over the past year) oh and a current Welsh Junior record holder. The Top squad is 14 swimmers ranging from 93's to 87's, and she is following the long term athelete programme with them all using her skills and knowledge from the British swimming Camps.

There is room in this Country for all the good coaches we can get - so lets not knock them, where ever they coach.

[Taxiandbank]

(in Spain at the moment with the Youth Squad)
I think that she is actually there with the smart track girls, but as all but a couple are also on the youth potential squad I guess it is purely accademic.
TandB

[lane4]

I also herd that he told Alex Vine to come back to do speedo league which got him kicked off the G.B team, possibly his only chance to represent G.B yes thats a good coach

Matt, get over it son, you have totally spoilt this thread by your unfounded ill-judged criticism of a coach on a topic that was clear to everyone else about praising your favourite coach.

If you want to criticise Bob or anyone else I suggest you do it to their face or elsewhere away from here.

As for the matter at hand, I don't think I can really pick a favourite among all others as I have known and worked with so many good ones over the years. British Swimming has some fantastic coaches. However, if my hand is being forced I will praise my swimclub associates smoker, lamb, sub and stard as the favourites of the favourites of recent times! ;)

I must also point out that I think Bazza has made some excellent selections. :cheers:

[Top10ranking]

Paul lloyd i think that is how it is spelt is a really good coach

[Swimhelper]

Another really good up and coming young coach is Kevin from Maxwell. A lot of people were suprised when he got the job, and Janko was a hard act to follow, but I've been really impressed by him. :)

[mad4it]

But if I have to choose someone else it would probably be Ian Wright at Warrender or Trevor Collins from West Wight.
Careful Baz... someone might get a big head!! ;)

Personally I'd have to say my current coach, Gary Paterson, an absolute legend and for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of working with him then you are missing out on some of the best coaching in the UK.

Although, looking to the future, there are a few coaches who I have worked with recently who should certainly get a mention. They know who they are. :)

[Steve]

Well if I could I would choose the only coach who I've really worked with much which is Graham Pople at Havant and Waterlooville,.

Have to agree - best coach I've ever swum with. :)

[wendy]

I would like to say a few words about Chris Green (the Amersham Coach) as I think that she is one of the best.

My child speaks highly of Chris Green

[DAK]

My favourite coaches would be Doug McDonald at Glasgow University, some unorthodox methods but the certainly worked for me. John Bradley at Glasgow University, worked us hard and got great results for the team despite living the student lifestyle to the fullest :devil: .

These two will not be well known but I enjoyed working with them and have used a lot of there work as a basis for how I coach at the moment.

[Swimhelper]

:rolleyes: What do you think is more important in a coach -

To be an good inspirational and motivational coach or a good technical one . Or are both equally important?

[Leprechaun]

:rolleyes: What do you think is more important in a coach -

To be an good inspirational and motivational coach or a good technical one . Or are both equally important?

Good question - I think the technical ability will vary as required, ie at highest levels they have to be technically excellent. (Thats not to say lower levels can make do with coaches who aren't technically skilled by the way). However if you can neither inspire nor motivate your swimmers, whatever level you are coaching, at then I'd say thats a bit of a downer for me. Perhaps the situation is less prevalent now but I have seen completely unqualified (but experienced) coaches get great results through their ability to motivate.

[Linny]

:rolleyes: What do you think is more important in a coach -

To be an good inspirational and motivational coach or a good technical one . Or are both equally important?
My favouriite necessary quality came from the then NDO for Scottish Swimming who said of coaches that -
"there is a directly proportional relationship between the likelihood of success in British Swimming and waistline".

[londoner62]

Without choosing your current coach, swimmers; what coaches have you enjoyed working with? Who is :king: coach in your opinion.
My favourite coach has got to be my old coach from school (St Josephs, Streatham) and club (Beckenham), Mike Stafford. He was inventive with training and a shoulder to cry on when I needed one, he was intuitive enough to argue with me when he knew I needed to let off steam (and I owe him a long overdue apology if anyone knows of his whereabouts, I think he hailed from Maidenhead).

[Clem1]

I would like to appologise for comments which I previously placed on this thread if they have caused offense to anyone. I am very sorry, and it was in no way intended to tarnish the reputation of any clubs, or individuals. I realise the comments were childish and would be greatful if those involved would accept this appology.

[NicholasJGrover]

I would like to appologise for comments which I previously placed on this thread if they have caused offense to anyone. I am very sorry, and it was in no way intended to tarnish the reputation of any clubs, or individuals. I realise the comments were childish and would be greatful if those involved would accept this appology.


Thanks for that Chris - I spoke to Matt about those comments you posted and it's big of you to admit your wrong.

Thanks

[Pale Rider]

Speaking from another coaches point of view - coaches I admire and respect
Doug Campbell - a legend
Bill Furness - one of the absolute best
Tim Jones - now National Age Group coach
Don Talbot
Paddy Garret
Graham Bassi
Up and Coming coaches which stand out from the rest -
Kevin Brooks - Maxwell - Great interaction with swimmers
Christine Green - Amersham - best female age group coach in the country

[KJ89]

Graham Bassi
yeh i agree not biased or anything but hes one of my coaches

[wendy]

Graham Bassi

no argument here either

[ruthcp]

Our chief coach deserves a mention too - he and his coaching team have led Guildford City to their current standing as one of the best swimming clubs in the south! :king:

[Pete]

:read: We have had many suggestions over the years as to people's favourite swimmer but what about a favourite coach. I have worked with quite a number of coaches over the years. Noteably Dougie Campbell, Gary Abrahams, Dave Heathcock and Katie's coach Ron. Mainly at clinics, camps and workshops. I always enjoy watching Bob Pay at Meets and the way he works with his swimmers.
Without choosing your current coach, swimmers; what coaches have you enjoyed working with? Who is :king: coach in your opinion.
Ruth :confused: :read: Original thread starter above. I tried to get people away from mentioning coaches at their current clubs because most people naturally would be biased in this respect. It is difficult I suppose because many swimmers have no experience of other coaches. Nice to see the thread has returned to pleasant comments again. :)

[ruthcp]

:read:
Ruth :confused: :read: Original thread starter above. I tried to get people away from mentioning coaches at their current clubs because most people naturally would be biased in this respect. It is difficult I suppose because many swimmers have no experience of other coaches. Nice to see the thread has returned to pleasant comments again. :)

I am not a swimmer (well not a good one anyway!), but as a forum member I saw no reason to stop mentioning a coach I know is doing a great job, just like many others have already.
Apologies if I appear to have deviated from the thread you wanted to create, but I seem to be in very good company! :p

[Swimhelper]

I am not a swimmer (well not a good one anyway!), but as a forum member I saw no reason to stop mentioning a coach I know is doing a great job, just like many others have already.
Apologies if I appear to have deviated from the thread you wanted to create, but I seem to be in very good company! :p

I also think that it shows how much swimmers (and their parents) have pride in their clubs, and want others to know that.

[Pete]

Ruth if you read my last post correctly you would have noticed I was not trying to complain about the very positive comments for your club's coach. I also don't think you were deviating.
There have been some very interesting posts on this thread so far.

[geochuck]

I am now self coached and love it that way.

George

[LongAxisCombo]

Very interesting thread, I've enjoyed reading through it.

As a young coach trying to gain as much knowledge as possible, I have to say I've been most impressed with the books/talks I've come across from Dr David Salo, Bill Sweetenham and Paul Yetter. All three take very different approaches to the sport, yet have seen results at the highest levels.

[Pete]

George
What is it like to look at yourself swimming up and down?
Only kidding. You must have someone give you help from time to time.
Worrying that you put yourself forward as your favourite coach. Must be fun when you have a disagreement as many swimmers do with their coaches.
I have worked with quite a number of coaches over the years and no one is perfect but Irving Dixon (now coaching Masters at Spencer), Rosa Gallop (still at Bracknell) and Ian Welch (Haslemere these days) all had the total respect of the swimmers and all three were very thorough with technique and preparation.

[geochuck]

George
What is it like to look at yourself swimming up and down?
Only kidding. You must have someone give you help from time to time.
Worrying that you put yourself forward as your favourite coach. Must be fun when you have a disagreement as many swimmers do with their coaches.
I have worked with quite a number of coaches over the years and no one is perfect but Irving Dixon (now coaching Masters at Spencer), Rosa Gallop (still at Bracknell) and Ian Welch (Haslemere these days) all had the total respect of the swimmers and all three were very thorough with technique and preparation. I coach myself on dry land using mirrors (PUN). When swimming in marathon races I paid a trainer who made sure that I did what I had set out to do. I now have a trainer who happens to be a none swimmer. But he knows how to take movies. I use this camera set up http://coachcam.biz/links.html and I visualize what I do in the water.

George

[Swim Star]

My favourite coach has to be Steven Thomas because he's pushed us to the limits and i'm very grateful for all the hard work he has put into our Squad, Thanks Steve we will all miss you so much!

[JSpencer007]

My Fav coach is my coach Bill Sweetenham - I brake world records everyday in training without even going full out thats how good he is and at my first meet in england at open Nat's in Aug i will brake at least 4 world records in the 50-100-200-400 free i'm that good

[Pete]

Chris
Get rid of this person.

[Phil Tanner]

I should probably state as a Reading member that we don't to my knowledge have any members called Spencer.

[KatieBun]

I should probably state as a Reading member that we don't to my knowledge have any members called Spencer.
I doubt if you'd ever want to admit to knowing him, anyway, Phil, not with an ego like his! ;)

[JSpencer007]

I should probably state as a Reading member that we don't to my knowledge have any members called Spencer.

Thats because i dont swim for Reading - why even say something like that when you dont know me!!!

[FlyingBean]

.... you dont know me!!!
Thank goodness for small mercies

[ruthcp]

..... you dont know me!!!

With your eloquence I'm sure there'll soon be a queue of people just waiting for that chance, don't you?! :rolleyes: :p

[GettingFaster]

My Fav coach is my coach Bill Sweetenham - I brake world records everyday in training without even going full out thats how good he is and at my first meet in england at open Nat's in Aug i will brake at least 4 world records in the 50-100-200-400 free i'm that good

Ah, I see. So the "J" stands for "Frank". It all becomes so much clearer.

[JeffMattick]

Can't believe I haven't seen Terry Denison's name yet. Don't forget he did coach our last olympic gold medalist!!

[Pete]

Tyrone and Malcolm are two coaches I enjoy talking to at meets and have a great attitude towards swimming. As well as working very hard with their swimmers they always have time for others. Yes it is very important that we nurture swimmers so that they continue swimming well into their 20's. Tara implies that many swimmers feel past it if they have not made it by sixteen. Perhaps with A levels requiring so much time (much more than in the past we are led to believe) some coaches should take the pressure off swimmers having to do maximum squad hours no matter what. Some of the time it is not possible though studies to devote so much time to swim. Some clubs have minimum hours a swimmers needs to swim to remain in a high performance squad.
A good coach will find ways for swimmers under pressure from studies to remain with the squad with less hours for temporary periods. We do need to keep more senior swimmers in the water rather than have the swimmers feel the need to transfer to a Masters or Leisure squad.

[londoner62]

One of the few coaches I know is Patsy Colman (Disabled swimmers Coach for GB @ Atlanta in '96) who finds time to have a word with all the volunteer swimmers at her coaching/teaching courses. She has a good knack of explaining things in an extremely easy way to understand.

[Steve]

Can't believe I haven't seen Terry Denison's name yet. Don't forget he did coach our last olympic gold medalist!!
Maybe there's noone here who has been coached by him; there's no doubting his credentials or contribution to british swimming, but if noone has met him then they are unlikely to call him a favourite.

[Pete]

I've met Terry Dennison very briefly. He seemed a very nice guy. He stopped me at National Long Course a number of years ago to comment on the amusing Tee-Shirts we were wearing. He has done a great job at Leeds over the years. Glad to see he still remains a part of the club. Unfortunately they do not appear to be the force they were under Terry.

[gazagroove]

well at the moment, im in a dilemma of which club to go to!
Although she is leaving Amersham in July, Christine Green has been a sensational coach.

Ive only been at Amersham for 9months and
She has taken me from a knee operation back in September to NQT!
I couldn't possibly thank Christine enough for her killer sets! (they are killer!)
I give her full credit and she is a fantastic coach to be coached by!

Gareth

[geochuck]

Doc Councilman not my favorite but he did revolutionise swimming... Here are some animations of his theories... http://people.westminstercollege.edu/faculty/ccline/clinetv/swimmers.html

[little mermaid]

I have had a few coaches to and i would say that Doug Campbell, Richard Thorpe and Steve Thomas would me my favourite coaches they have all been great thanks!! :)

[Pete]

Richard Thorpe now there is a name from the past. Little Mermaid! Next time you see him ask if he remembers coming up to Cranleigh to train with his then Millfield pal Malcolm McHaffie. Who is Richard coaching?

[Arianna]

Richard is coaching at Millfield, but leaving at the end of this term. I believe he is going to Clayesmore? Think thats right Little Mermaid? http://smilies.sofrayt.com/fsc/fairy4.gif

[Pete]

Ian Newell at Shiverers is always great with his swimmers at meets. He has that great knack of making sure his swimmers listen and making it fun at the same time. He treats everyone as a special individual. He is also great fun when the coaches actually get a lunch break and sit down together at meets.

[Pink Paraffin]

There's a number of recently retired GB internationals who I have heard cite Bill Sweetenham as their favourite coach. Does anyone know if this is true? ;)

[Martin-Y]

He recently spent a week on deck with some of Ben Titleys girls, at their request. What does that say do you think.

[Pink Paraffin]

He recently spent a week on deck with some of Ben Titleys girls, at their request. What does that say do you think.

Too serious an answer - I was just being wicked :p

[Martin-Y]

Oh, I missed the "wicked wink" smilie. You should probably have that wooden spoon smilie as well !!

[Old 'Un]

Came across this site during a particularly slow day in the office, and read this thread with some interest.

Certainly my favourite, Bob Pay (Bob if you ever read this or someone mentions this too you, I STILL have my 1980 US Swim Tour t-shirt somewhere in the bottom of a drawer somewhere, just waiting to show the kids). At the time that I knew him he not long moved from Kingsbury Swim club to Harrow, where he took the team to renewed heights, developed and established a formidable team, and attracted new blood, both novice and established.

We always had a healthy rivallry with Barnet (but that was because we were better than them - although i'm sure that some would care to disagree), but nevertheless Bob maintained a very healthy respect from swimmers and his peers from an early period. (OK gonna get off me soap box at this point).

Another top bloke was Paddy Hayes - Believe it or not he started off as a centre manager, and took an interest in swimming before commencing early morning sessions. A volitile man, but again earned respect, and got results.

Don't suppose anyone here remembers Dave Glastonbury ??? or what happened to him?

Oh how I could go on with tales of the old days, with Ricky Burrell (aka Cap'n Mo'Hawk), Sue Jenner, Gary Abrahams Gabor Hegadus, and a few others, but my eyes are misting up with the longing for chlorinated skin (sheesh you really noticed it at school if you got caught in the rain!)

OK, back to work.....


ps Damn good site. Wish we had summat like this in my day!

[Pete]

Gary Abrahams! Now that is someone I have not seen for a few years. Is he still coaching at Eastleigh? If so check he is still using my drills and say hello to him. He had a real knack of producing good backstrokers. I expect that was influenced by Dave Heathcock. Gary was the first swimmer to use the long underwater start back in 1980 in Moscow.

[Taxiandbank]

Gary Abrahams! Now that is someone I have not seen for a few years. Is he still coaching at Eastleigh? If so check he is still using my drills and say hello to him. He had a real knack of producing good backstrokers. I expect that was influenced by Dave Heathcock. Gary was the first swimmer to use the long underwater start back in 1980 in Moscow.
Where are the rest of the 4 x 100 medley team?

[Old 'Un]

Yup, I remember the furor he caused when he did.

He also had a penchant for mysteriously turning up in the bar at Crystal Palace during the Southern Counties, as well as developing a reputation for causing a few false starts.

Ricky Burrell I recall ended up tied naked to a lamp post after a particularly heavy session.

Sue Jenner married Nigel Goldsworthy (out of Swiss Cottage) I think, Martin Fenner (backstroker) ended up in Newcastle.

What ever happened to Gaynor Stanley, Peter Michelson, Rick Bailey (former Barnet coach) Andy/Simon Grey, Dave Lowe (the Zimbabwian who turned British - and first Brit sub 50 for 100m free)????

Sheesh, I'm getting old.

[Pete]

David Lowe coached at Haslemere a few years ago. Went off to Swansea after that but not sure what he is doing now.

[Old 'Un]

Dave Lowe went "all respectable" and coached ????

My, how times have changed.

It's surprising the volume of swimmers who turn to coaching afterwards.

I still love the water, and enjoy the odd reminise.

Occassionally when I see an old face or bump into someone, my father and I suddenly harkon back 25 years to the "Do you remember days"

Dave was a great 'flyer despite being quite slim. Also has uber supple shoulders and would make me wince everytime he'd stretch out. Also a bit of a Foster - anything over 100m was long distance. Don't suppose the fags and booze helped too much either.