Latest News

Always a showcase for local talent, this year’s Dorset County Championships at Littledown was no exception with a special presentation held on Saturday 8 February to acknowledge outstanding achievements of our members, some of which were retrospective and others more recent.

The presentation began with Halle Harris and Oliver Jones, both of Poole SC, together with Seagulls’ Jonathan Thring all of whom had set a bevy of new County Records. Awards also went to Oliver Jones for his First International Selection representing Team England in Dubai in 2023 and Poole’s Charlie Meek who represented Team England in Sweden in 2024.

Moving on to Para-Swimming, Zack Sturgess of BCS received recognition for setting a new British Swimming LC Record in 200m Butterfly, and awards went to West Dorset’s Harry Stewart for First International Selection for Team GB at the Para Swimming European Championships in Madeira 2024 and again representing Team GB at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Finally, a massive and very warm welcome was given to 2024 Paris Paralympian and 100m Breaststroke gold medallist, Leo McCrea of Bournemouth Collegiate.

Our all-important coaches were not forgotten with an award for coaching excellence going to Leo’s coach from Bournemouth Collegiate, James Ryan. Next, for her First International Selection as Team England Group Coach at the Swedish Grand Prix 2024, came Jan Hutchings of Poole and last but not least, exceptional coaching awards for selection as Team England Head Coach for the Commonwealth Youth Games 2023, British Swimming Head Coach Toronto 2023 and Team England Head Coach Luxembourg 2024, were presented to Barry Alldrick.

The final awards of the day went to some of Dorset County ASA’s die-hard Open Water and Masters swimmers. The first, for a six-man Channel Relay Swim in 2023 which, with an average age of 77 years and 105 days, resulted in a Guinness World Record for The Oldest Male Relay Team, went to Poole Masters’ Robert Lloyd-Evans and his team-mate Bob Roberts from Weyport Masters. The next, for a solo Channel Swim in August 2024 which she completed in 12 hr 10 mins, went to Wendy Bates from Seagulls Masters and finally, for their First International Selection representing Great Britain at the World Ice Swimming Championships in Italy in January 2025, and competing in water temperature of around 2C, awards for exceptional achievement – and endurance! – were presented to Seagulls’ Wendy Bates and Elizabeth Mills of Poole Masters.

The Dorset County ASA Achievement Awards were presented by DCASA President Karen Yendole, together with the President of Swim England South West Region Maurice Leaver and President of Somerset ASA, Paul Chillingworth.

Photos (courtesy of Deby Sturgess):

Presidents (top left, l-r): Paul Chillingworth, Maurice Cleaver and DCASA President Karen Yendole.

Coaches (lower left, l-r): Barry Alldrick, Jan Hutchings and James Ryan.

Para-Swimmers (top right, l-r): Zack Sturgess, Harry Stewart and Leo McCrea.

Masters: lower right, l-r): Elizabeth Mills, Robert Lloyd-Evans and Wendy Bates.