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London hosted the ASA annual council at Selsdon Park Hotel in Croydon. The morning Council meeting went very smoothly with the emphasis on moving the sport forward in all areas and to prepare for the 2012 games in London. The success of the Swimmers in Beijing has given the sport a real feel of optimism for the future. A lot will depend on Sport England's funding award to the asa which should be known late this year/early next year. 

London's own Kay Grimshaw was elected president of the asa, the first one that London has had since the districts came into being over 100 years ago. Kay was the Region's own president last year, and is well known across the region, but prior to that she has been involved in many areas of the sport including being a coach, an official (FINA), a club secretary, a regional team manager and for some years a taxi-service parent. This represented some 35+ years in the sport.   Her husband Fred, and several of her family accompanied Kay. The retiring president, Alan Donlan, duly handed over the chain of office after thanking everybody for the hospitality that he has received all over the Country.  We may be seeing a little less of Kay this year within London, as she performs her duties as Ambassador for the sport around the Country, but we wish her well in this prestigious role.

After the formal part of the day, the Region proved its organisational prowess by arranging glorious sunshine, which encouraged networking between the delegates, with the exception of the asa legal team who decided the back 9 of the Golf course was more inviting.

The day was rounded off with a delightful dinner, chaired by our own president, Richard Whitehead, with entertaining speeches from Kay Grimshaw and Richard Doubleday, who were all introduced by the master of ceremonies for the evening, Colin Brown.  

Well done to all the team who made the day and night run so smoothly.

 

 

Following nominations from clubs. Two candidates where interviewed on the 15 October by a panel consisting of Vernon Davies, Jean Cook, Den Collen and Kay Grimshaw with fellow Board members and the Regional Director in attendance. Following a secret ballot it was agreed not to appoint either candidate. London Swimming would like to thank both candidates for the time and energy they directed towards this process.

A recruitment strategy will now be put before the November Board meeting.

Vernon Davies was appointed acting chairman.

  

Colin Brown (RD): This week Colin joined Kate Hoey MP (Commissioner for Sport) in presenting evidence to the London Assembly scrutiny committee. You can read the report and view the webcast on http://www.londonswimming.org/news/article/display/421

Colin also met with local authorities in the south partnership to brief them on the government’s free swimming announcement. On Friday Colin will be attending the Swimtastic Awards in Stratford upon Avon.

Next week: Colin has various meetings with local authorities on the free swimming offer and potential facility strategies. Colin also has a meeting with the Prince’s Trust to look at the potential for linking in our training and volunteering programmes. Later in the week the asa finance team as part of our annual governance process will audit London Swimming.

 

 

This week Mark Griggs (EO) completed his IPAS course and is now able to asses candidates on UKCC courses, and he attended a meeting with London Leisure College to discuss tutor training. Mark continues to work on the IOS e-learning project.

 

Fri 7 Nov 08 - Safeguarding & Protecting Children, Dagenham Swimming Pool, Barking & Dagenham

Mon 10 Nov 08 - NPTS: Competitive Swimming, Sutton Civic Offices, Sutton

Mon 10 Nov 08 - Safeguarding & Protecting Children, Vale Farm Sports Centre, Brent

Mon 10 Nov 08 - Safeguarding & Protecting Children, Sutton Arena Leisure Centre, Sutton

Tue 11 Nov 08 - Introduction To Breaststroke, Putney Leisure Centre, Wandsworth

Wed 12 Nov 08 - Teaching Turns - The Basics, Putney Leisure Centre, Wandsworth

Sat 15 Nov 08 - NPTS: Flip N Fun, Morden Park Pools, Merton

Tue 18 Nov 08 – NPTS Fundamentals, Crystal Palace, Bromley

Sat 22 Nov 08 – NPTS Fundamentals, Bridge Leisure Centre, Lewisham

Tue 25 Nov 08 - Introduction To Butterfly, Bancroft's School, Redbridge

Sat 29 Nov 08 - Expert Witness, Sutton Arena Leisure Centre, Sutton

Sat 29 Nov 08 – Snorkelling, Acton Swimming Baths, Ealing

 

Mon 10 Nov 08 - Putney Leisure Centre, Wandsworth

Tues 25 Nov 08 – Camberwell Leisure Centre, Southwark

Wed 17 Dec 08 – Westcroft Leisure Centre, Sutton

 

Mon 16 Feb 09 - Arnos Leisure Centre, Enfield

Sat 21 Feb 09 - Morden Park Pools, Merton

 

Sat 01 Nov 08 - Sylvestrian Leisure Centre, Waltham Forest

Tue 11 Nov 08 - Dagenham Swimming Pool, Barking & Dagenham

Sat 03 Jan 09 - Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre, Barnet

Thu 8 Jan 09 – Camberwell Leisure Centre, Southwark

 

For more information, to download booking forms, or funding opportunities for any IOS course or seminar, please visit www.londonswimming.org

 

This week Jo Calvino (Aquatic Programme Development Co-ordinator) attended the Regional Disability championships to get parents and coaches to complete a survey on the needs for disability, so a start can be made to organise and improve opportunities for disability athletes. Jo has also been confirming details for the Synchro assessment and development day being lead by Elke Sullivan on October 25th, http://www.londonswimming.org/news/article/display/425 and met with Ben to look at marketing for our events, and sport science packages we are hoping to offer the clubs in the near future. Mid week Jo had meetings with facility operators to look at promoting London Swimming events, and she took part in Diverecorder training at Southbank House which was delivered by Frank Clewlow & very well attended with new volunteers wanting to get more involved with Diving events.

 

This week Janna Callan (RDO) has been up-dating her knowledge around disability swimming and is now confident with the Playground to Podium framework. Janna attended a Disability Swimming Day at Mile End Swimming Pool and met some talented young swimmers and high level disability coaches, she also met with the disability club Sharks of Mottingham. This week Janna has resolved her IT issues and now has access to her phone.

Next week Janna will be attending the East London Network meeting. 

 

This week Jemma Konuralp (Swim21 Quality coordinator) has visited further clubs who are re-accrediting next year all of whom want to aim for a higher level of accreditation. Next week she will be preparing for the Regional Panel and finalising Griffins of Enfield's accreditation

 

Bastien Wallace - Project Manager (Barking & Dagenham) has spent this week ‘Getting to know’ activity within Barking & Dagenham, and meeting a few of the asa team up in Loughborough.

  

This week Jo Melchior (EDS – Lewisham) has been following up the progress of the October swim campaign with the various site teams, and assisting with the filming of the National Everyday Swim DVD, which will feature many of the personal & programmes that have been sponsored through Everyday Swim funding. Jo has also been finalising the contents of the 2 legacy booklets she is producing as part of the Lewisham project, as well as helping Jo Calvino putting the final touches to the synchro development day being held in Lewisham next week.