Thanks for the Memories
The Borough of Stockton Swim Scheme (sponsored by Air Products Ltd) staged its Big Bash Party on Saturday night at the Moby Grape. The event gave the scheme the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on its fantastic first decade.
Individually Jemma Lowe was the first swimmer from the scheme to compete at the Olympics, when she reached two Olympic finals in Beijing. Jess Dickons along with Jemma won a bronze medal at the World Short Course Championships in Manchester earlier this year. Catriona Bruce competed at the European Junior Championships and Andrew Winspear came home from the UK School games with three gold medals.
The event also allowed the scheme to honour out going Chairman Cliff Ward and it also gave the opportunity to new club chairman Phil Taylor to deliver a humorous account of the coaching career of head coach Graeme Antwhistle who’s meteoric rise in the world of swimming coaching has led to him going to the Beijing Olympics and being appointed assistant coach at British performance centre at Bath University. Graeme will take up his new post in October.
Graeme was presented with numerous gifts including a personalised number plate which spelt out Coach; this gift was from the coaches and A squad swimmers. Graeme said that “everything was in place within the scheme so that the sky was the limit for it’s next generation of swimmers”
The formal presentations were followed by party attended by many former swimmers and supporters as well the current crop of swimmers who don’t often get the chance to let their hair down due to their intensive training schedule. Entertainment was provided by local rock band Jarvis Humby.
Gordon Bruce the clubs publicity officer said “The club has come a long way in 10 years and we are developing all the time. Next month we will be staging our first open gal at the brand new Leeds 50m International Swimming Pool which would have been unthinkable 10 years ago” We would like to thank all of the companies and individuals who have contributed towards this through sponsorship or other forms of support”