Author: Jo Cox

METRO CHAMPIONSHIPS
July 15-17, 2016

30 swimmers attended the Metro Championships last week. All swimmers applied their best skills throughout the competition. Our new Assistant Coach, Cameron Gledhill, was impressed throughout the weekend with the high level of skill and the resilience our swimmers showed in all races, distances and strokes.

It is very pleasing to see swimmers focus on their underwater swimming throughout the race. Short Course swimming is great for conditioning this, but it takes concentration in training and then during the race. Our Abb Team did a great job of executing this.

Congratulations to our 6 medallists:
Tane Bidois – Gold 100 back; Gold 100 free;
Samantha Cox – Silver 100 back;
Claudia Fydler – Bronze 100 back;
Holly Nelson – Bronze 200 back; Bronze 100 free;
Emily Ong – Bronze 100 fly;
Becca St Vincent – Silver 100 free

Coaches look forward to building towards Abb Invitational, Club nights, NSW Age and Open SC Championships. I can see our improvement from SMNE Championships and I look forward to watching our swimmers extended themselves in the 6 weeks.

Happy Swimming
Amanda Isaac
Head Coach

Bare chested men in grass skirts parading onto the pool deck for a medal presentation? Clearly we weren’t at Sopac! Bula from Damodar National Aquatic Centre in Suva, Fiji and the 11th Oceania Championships.

Australia’s 20 strong swimming team, including Abbotsleigh’s Natasha (Tash) Ramsden, was competing against the Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Hawaii, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga.

Australian Team Leader and dual Olympian Martin Roberts explained that “this event was an outstanding opportunity for our young pool and open water athletes to develop their international performance skills”. Competition was particularly fierce because several athletes from other nations were preparing for the Rio Olympics.

Australia won a total of 50 medals, and finished up runners up to New Zealand. Natasha swam 50m fly, 50m and 100m freestyle, and several relays. She returned with 2 gold and 3 silver medals including a new Oceania record in the mixed 4x50m freestyle relay team.

“What an honour”, posted Tash, “Thank you Fiji for hosting such a welcoming and successful meet – it was such a privilege being able to represent Australia and meet new international friends along the way”.

Hi Team – Here are the meets that will be held at Abbotsleigh for Term 3. We look forward to seeing you on the blocks and thanking our parent volunteers in advance for their ongoing support at these events.

Abbotsleigh Invitational: Sunday 31st July; Official Timing at this meet
Abbotsleigh Meet: Thursday 4th Aug; Non official meet-run by Black & Gold squads
Club Night: Thursday 11th Aug; Official Timing at this meet
Club Night: Thursday 15th Sept; Official Timing at this meet

If you are unsure of what evens to enter – please speak to your coaches

Here is the news you have been waiting for. Introducing Cameron Gledhill as Abbotsleigh Assistant Coach. Cameron will commence his role on Monday 11th July.

Cameron started coaching in 2011 and is a Silver license coach since 2011. He has coached in both the USA and Australia, at all levels from development level up to the Australian team coaching staff. He started swimming in Canberra in 1998, top 10 at age Nationals in 100, 200 breast and 200 IM, moved to the USA and swam for Curl Burke Swim Club. Cameron won State Championships in 100 breast and 200 free, was awarded a scholarship to Virginia Tech University, achieved a bronze medal at US National Championships in the 50 breast and was named 4 time all American. Cameron will move from Canberra to join us.

Coaches that Cam had whilst he was a swimmer had some of the most profound influences on who he is today. He believes that coaching, although results and performance based, has an even more important role in the development of better people. Assisting athletes through their development, allowing them the opportunity to set goals, learn about work ethic, he believes, is one of the most fulfilling things anyone can do.

Cameron has a keen interest in everything rugby. He has spent the last few years in the army and has probably fired more rocket launchers than your average person.

We look forward to seeing Cameron on pool deck on 11th July!