Newsletter May 2015

It's hard to believe that another month is almost gone and winter is well and truly here...Iimagine that it is rather hard for some of the kids and parents to be getting up for thoseearlymorning sessions in the cold but please keep trying because morning squad numbers are down and we're at risk of losing some of the flexibility we all take for granted.  On those tough days think of two things - the coaches are here waiting for you and... It could be worse -our kids could be training at an outside pool and we'd need to be sitting in the brisk winter air each morning.  We are very lucky here at AKAC- we have a beautiful pool and great coaches, let's make sure we show the centre and the coaches our appreciation of what we have.

AKAC has had another fabulous month with a really successful May Club night and some more great results in external meets. Club night was our biggest ever and was followed up by a great night out at the Vic on the Park. Thanks to all those parents who helped out in the night.  Parent volunteers make a huge difference to the smooth running of the night and we really appreciate your help.

Welcome to our new members LucyMollineux and Emily Grimes. We are delighted that you have joined us. And a huge welcometo all of the new swimmers who jumped in and gave it a go at race night - welcome to Siobhan O'Donnell, Natalie and Stephanie Nguyen, Annie Harding,  Jessica Sanderson, Erica Beattie, Cooper Drew, Tame Tupou and Andrew Grigson. We hope you join us for the next one. A special mention to squad leader Nick Cooney, for getting in the pool and racing the kids!

Congratulations to Tiana Ornelas who was our highest point scorer on the night. Special mention goes to Jamie Robertson who came in a close second with Chloe Houseman, Tahi Webster and Marc Ornelas hot on their tails and vying for third place.

 

Celebrating success

We've had swimmers competing almost every weekend in May and have seen lots of top ten places and some PB's from our swimmers too. Well done to Tahi Webster, Bella Rocher, Hilary Bretag, Sammy Gregory and Jamie Robertson  who all performed well at the Swimwest Winter Short Course carnival and to Charlotte Fletcher who had some great results at the Cherrybrook Carlile Short course meet.

I write this before we have the results of the Speedo Cup on 31st May but want to say good luck to the 18 club members who are competing!- Scarlet and Alexandra Deas, Chloe Houseman, Khloe Pardo, Bella Rocher, James Trigazis, Lucy Molineux, Natalie Amezquita, Sammy Gregory, Marc and Tiana Ornelas, Illia Tolstun, Tom and Jessica Oates, Tyrone Salomon, Charlotte Fletcher and Violet Adeney AND…land trainer Hiliary Bretag.

 

Save the date Friday 7th August - Interclub Challenge

We are delighted to be running our first invitational meet on Friday 7th August. We will be racing another club in the area - Col Jones Torpedoes. This will be an "official racenight" which means that our swimmers will all have their times recorded and uploaded on to the New South Wales Swimming database. These times can be used as qualifying times for other external meets.

The cost of entry is $10 because it is an official meet.  This will include 2 raffle tickets worth $5.

Please note that to race on this night you will need to be a Member of the club. Our registrar Chantelle Gregory is trying to see if we can get reduced rates given it is so close to the end of the official racing season. We'll be running a "Join in July" campaign especially for you so you can compete on the 7th August.  There is much pride at stake here, we'd love to hold the inter club champions trophy at the end of the night so please join up and come along!:)

Details on how to join can be found later in the newsletter.

 

Volunteers needed

To run this night we are going to need your help-inparticular timekeepers.  Please jump in and practice at our next race night on Friday 5th June.  It's actually great fun and it's nice for the kids to see their mums and dads at the end of the pool.

 

Club Nights

Our next Club Night is Friday 5th June and we’ll be running 25m and 200m Freestyle, 25m and 50m Breaststroke and 25m and 50m Butterfly races. We’d love to see you all there so please grab the race night entry form on the notice-board or from Darren on the pool deck. There is a small fee ($5) to enter. We charge this fee to cover the costs of AKAC caps, ribbons, and trophies and to subsidize uniforms and equipment.

New swimmers are welcome to come along for a trial (ortwo) but please note that for those who enjoy the thrill of competition and want to compete on a monthly basis, after two trial swims you will need to join the Annette Kellerman Swim Club and be registered with Swimming New South Wales.  This is a Swimming New South Wales regulation and it is for insurance purposes. Details on how to join the club can be found below.

Entries are due in theTuesday before we race i.e. Tuesday 2nd June. Please make sure you get your race cards in early so that things run smoothly on the night.

 

In the news

By now you will have all received your book of raffle tickets to sell.  We've got one last week of selling so please go hard! When all tickets from your book are sold please place stubs and money in box on Swim club desk. Please see Megan Wakeley if you need more tickets.  The raffle is being drawn next club night (June5).

Don’t forget to buy somesome 'luxury' food (non-perishable) items for a hamperprize. At the latest can you bring to the club night on Friday 5th June when the prize is being drawn.  We are hoping that we will get enough to make a second hamper for the club challenge raffle cause - for ideas think about something you would like to win!

A big thank you to AKAC centre for donating the gym and squad pack prizes.

 

New website

AKAC has a new website. Thanks so much to Tracy Carter (Publishers note : my pleasure), a friend of the club who has built it for us. We will regularly update it with news and events so please check it out. There is a photo carousel of all of our kids which I hope you like.  If you would like any photos added or removed please let me know. Please check it out at here

 

Advertising

Next time you are in the gym check out our new ads on the big screen - another friend of the club Kelly Considine designed these. Here's hoping that we get a whole raft of new members as a result - all just in time for summer swimming.

 

State Relay Teams

AKAC is going to try and field some relay teams in the upcoming State Championships:

Short course - August  2015                     Long course - January 2016

Last summer we had our first ever 12 and under team compete at State level and all girls swam some amazing newtimes.

There is nothing like a relay experience to build camaraderie amongst swimmers.

The short course qualifying times are pretty tough but we know we can field long course teams in all Age Groups in January and we'll certainly be fielding some teams in August.  The categories are 10 and under, 12 and under and 15 and under.

Stay tuned for more details and in the meantime let Coach Darren Burchell and race Secretary Nyree Webster know if you are interested in being a part of these teams.  Please note strict qualifying times apply.

 

Joining our club

We are really keen to build up participation in the AKAC Club and we encourage you all to talk to other parents and kids when poolside i.e. spread the word about Swim Club. There are lots of great benefits to being part of the club for swimmers and parents whom:

• Have the opportunity to form long lasting friendships with other swimmers, parents, officials, coaches etc as part of a team, especially at club nights or at other club carnivals, while participating in a sport they enjoy
• Receive a New Member Kit on arrival to your club –a welcome pack for new members including parent information booklets, personal best time record booklet, nutritional information, a welcome letter signed by an elite athlete, a swim cap and meshbag
• Experience a new level of competition at club, area, state and national level - At the very least it is great practice for school carnivals!
• Get opportunities to participate in development training, special events and offers including the Junior Excellence program of recognition
• Receive exclusive Swimming NSW Speedo Shop Discount upon presenting a valid membership card at the Speedo Swim Shop in Sydney Olympic Park
• Have the opportunity to develop essential life skills to survive amongst Australia’s water friendly culture

 

How to join the Club:

• Details on how to join our club can be found here:http://nsw.swimming.org.au/page.php?id=53

• Club fees mean that you can join in our Club Racing nights and compete in any competitions across New South Wales.

• Please note that parents should also be members and can join for $25. This too is a NSW Swimming regulation.

• For further information about registration please contact: Chantelle Gregory on chanie71@bigpond.net.au

 

Upcoming  External Meets

• Sunday May 31 – Carlile Speedo Cup –SOPAC

• Sunday 21st June - Aquaburn SC development meet - Loretto Normanhurst

• Sunday 21st June - McCredie Park development Meet -Guildford

• Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June – Metsea Winter Meet – SOPAC - TARGET meet

• Sunday 9th August - Nepean Development Meet -SOPAC

• Sunday 16th August- Windsor Development Meet - SOPAC -please note we are trying to get some relay teams for this meet in preparation for State Championships in January.

Please let our race secretary Nyree Webster know if you are interested in participating in the relays.
Please note – if we have more people than places, it will be the four fastest qualifying times that are in the relay

• Sunday 23rd August - Campbeltown Development Meet (12 and under) - Campbeltown

These are a great way for your kids to get more racing practice and get “official” Swimming Australia times which enable them to compete more broadly. There are lots of junior competitions for Under 12’s and they can be lots of fun for the whole family.  It’s short course season now i.e. 25m pools, which mean the racing is fast and furious.

 

How to enter an external meet

• You must be registered as an AKAC Club Member with Swimming New South Wales.
• Upcoming meets will be sent to all club members and specially designated target meets will be highlighted.
• Entries must be sent to the AKAC Race Secretary along with proof of payment either direct debit or cheque. The race secretary will send account details along with notifications of race meets.
• Latest times for each entry must also be sent through with the entry.
• Our race secretary is Nyree Webster and entries can be sent to: AKSC Squad Race Secretary Email: aksc.racesecretary@gmail.com

Contact Details

For further information about the club please contact: Annette Kellerman Swimming Club

Email: aksc.thesecretary@gmail.com