October 11, 2024 By Dorset ASA
Dorset County Championships 2025 merchandise is now available to order from All4Swim. Hoodies and crew neck quick dry t-shirts come in a choice of Jet Black, Bottle Green and Red Hot Chilli, all with matching hood linings and gold Dorset County ASA branding. Cost is ÂŁ34.95 for hoodies and ÂŁ17.95 for shirts. Matching silicone swim hats come in a choice of black and gold, price ÂŁ7.95. Visit the Merchandise page at All4Swim https://www.all4swim.co.ukÂ
October 11, 2024 By Dorset ASA
The 2024 Dorset County Swimming Team headed to the annual National County Team Championships in Sheffield last weekend with hopes of holding on to their Division One placing having gained promotion from Division Two in 2023. It was not to be as the four county teams of Scotland North, Cheshire, Cambridgeshire and Dorset, all of which were promoted in 2023, found themselves back in Division Two for 2025 but nevertheless the event produced some exciting racing and an array of personal bests from our swimmers.
The start of the competition saw a colourful parade where team captains Jessica Huggins and Freddie Beasley introduced Dorset to the competition while Dorset President Karen Yendole enjoyed the hospitality that all county presidents receive.
Layla Wareing broke into the top three placings, finishing third against a hard fought battle with Hampshire and Sussex in the 12/13 100m Freestyle and breaking the minute with a creditable PB of 59.75. Next best placing came in the 12/13 100m Breaststroke with Leo Condie who battled neck-and-neck with Essex and Yorkshire to take fifth place in 1:12.19 while knocking over four seconds off his previous short-course PB set at the 2024 Dorset County Championships. Other top ten placings came again from Layla Wareing finishing ninth in the 12/13 100m Butterfly with a PB of 1:08.22 and Jessica Huggins in ninth in the 16/17 100m Butterfly in 1:02.65. Tenth placings also went to Elliott Dunnett in the 16/17 100m Butterfly (57.72 PB), Halle Harris 16/17 100m Backstroke (1:04.06) and Daria Korotkova 12/13 100m Backstroke (1:09.22 PB).
Sincere thanks must go to all of our swimmers together with coaches Barry Alldrick and Jeff Sandley, team staff of David Clark and Amanda Osgood, and Dorset Official Lyn Young.
The Dorset Team was as follows: Bournemouth Collegiate – Oliver Cocks, Lucas Rijvers; North Dorset – Oliver Buck; Poole – Freddie Beasley, Macie Cailes, Poppy Collins, Leo Condie, Halle Harris, Jessica Huggins, Daria Korotkova, Amelia Newsum, Jack Palmer, Henry Walker, Leo Wisbey, Hugo Young; Seagulls – Edward Bell, Sophie Kilby, Freya Treliving; Swim Bournemouth – Kira Burghart, Elliott Dunnett, Lucas Garel-Jones; West Dorset – Sadie Robinson, Anna Miles-Simmonite, Layla Wareing.
September 10, 2024 By Dorset ASA
Dorset club BCS is celebrating the success of Leo McCrea who swam his way to a gold medal in the SB5 100m Breaststroke in the final at this year’s Paralympics. Following a great start, Leo was two metres ahead after the first length and determinedly held off the competition to claim gold in 1:27.15 and his first Paralympic medal.
Leo, though sporting the Swiss team colours (his mother’s nationality), is coached by James Ryan and still undertakes all his pool training at Bournemouth Collegiate School where he was a former pupil, while Strength & Conditioning is provided at Bournemouth University where he is now a student. A truly home-grown talent!
BCS Head Coach, Sam Woodward, commented: “We’re over the moon for Leo – what an achievement. It’s such a fitting result for an extremely talented swimmer – it’s been a pleasure to watch him grow and develop through his journey from training at BCS Prep, through to BCS Senior and beyond.”
Alice Tai, another ex-pupil and former BCS swimmer, also made a remarkable come-back in Paris less than three years on from major surgery by clocking up five medals in five events and winning the Women’s S8 100 Backstroke in a Paralympic record time of 1:09.06.
On the home front, congratulations must also go to BCS SC which has been nominated for the Swim England South West Swimming Club of the Year 2024. The National Awards take place on 28 September.
August 19, 2024 By Dorset ASA
Many congratulations go to Dorset’s Wendy Bates who successfully completed the gruelling Dover to Cap Griz Nez Channel Swim on 17 August in an impressive time of 12 hours 10 minutes.
The Seagulls Master swimmer, who is clocking up a creditable history of undertaking long swims, must also be congratulated on being selected to represent Great Britain at the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) World Championships in January 2025 to be held in Molveno, Italy.
Well done Wendy!
August 18, 2024 By Dorset ASA
The Dorset County ASA team for this year’s National County Team Championships at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge on 6 October 2024 has been announced this week with 24 swimmers from six clubs having been selected as follows.
Bournemouth Collegiate – Oliver Cocks, Lucas Rijvers. North Dorset – Oliver Buck. Poole – Freddie Beasley, Macie Cailes, Poppy Collins, Leo Condie, Halle Harris, Jessica Huggins, Daria Korotkova, Amelia Newsum, Jack Palmer, Henry Walker, Leo Wisbey, Hugo Young. Seagulls – Edward Bell, Sophie Kilby, Freya Treliving. Swim Bournemouth – Kira Burgart, Elliott Dunnett, Lucas Garel-Jones. West Dorset – Anna Miles-Simonite, Sadie Robinson, Layla Wareing.
Age groups for this competition are 12/13, 14/15 and 16/17 years, with age as at 31 December 2024.
Coaches for this year’s competition are Barry Alldrick (Poole) and Jeff Sandley (Swim Bournemouth).