Swim England is calling on its members, clubs, coaches, teachers, swim schools, swimmers and facility operators to back its #OpenOurPools campaign.
Chief Executive Jane Nickerson has said millions of people are being let down by the Government’s decision not to allow pools to reopen on 4 July.
So we are urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to reopen facilities up and down the country as soon as possible – and there are a number of ways you can get involved..
Swim England and it’s CEO, Jane Nickerson express their dismay at the announcement today that has not included any mention of when pools may be re-opening and have launched an #OpenOurPools campaign.
These workshops have been organised to help clubs understand the requirements of Stronger Affiliation, the compulsory standards that clubs have to evidence as part of affiliation to Swim England. If you are a SwimMark club, no action is needed, and you don’t need to attend the workshop. To book a place on one of the 4 workshops planned, please email [email protected]
23rd June, 7pm
25th June, 1pm
4th July, 1pm
14th Juny, 6pm
Congratulations to Bernie on receiving this award in recognition of the huge amount of work he does as a volunteer with Masters. Bernie has twice been President of Suffolk and for many years was Suffolk County Championship Secretary but would be most known throughout the Region as East Region Masters Secretary. He is still secretary for Team Anglia Masters. Now he is heavily involved with the running of British and National Masters Championships. You can read his reaction on the Swim England website.
Further to the Swim England ‘Returning to the Pool’ guidance issued today, the region has set up several forums for Chairpersons and Head Coaches over the next few weeks to help and support your club’s return to the water.
Please allow your club committees some time to examine the document and formulate their plans as they have some considerable work to do. We are confident they will contact you as soon as they are able to with further information and guidance about how it will affect your athlete
Just a note to express how proud and grateful the region is during these unprecedented times.
Humble David Robinson said he was greatly honoured to be named the recipient of the Swim England Alfred H Turner Award – but believed there were more worthy winners.
“I do not think I do any more than hundreds and hundreds of other people,” said the surprised 74-year-old. “It seems unbelievable that it’s for me.” Yet David is certainly playing down the commitment he has made to swimming. Having joined Mildenhall and District Swimming Club in 1979 when his two children started lessons there, David has since dedicated a large proportion of the last 41 years to the sport. Despite never being a competitive swimmer himself, he has held various voluntary roles at club, county and regional level – and, prior to lockdown, was still regularly officiating at events across the country.
“When looking at the list of previous winners and reading their stories I feel greatly honoured to receive this award and thank whoever it was from the East Region that nominated me,” he said. “There are plenty of others who are more worthy I think. When I have attended the President’s dinner after the Swim England AGM, I see people go up and they all seem to have done so much more. I think I just plod along.”
David’s record suggested that’s far from the case. He has been a member of the Suffolk County ASA for 35 years and a member of the East Region’s board since it was formed in 2005. Roles he has held at club and county level include team manager, secretary, chairman and president. He says being appointed East Region President in 2011 is one of the highlights of his time in the sport. David has also been masters manager and records officer for the East Region, secretary and treasurer of the Fenland Swimming League and he is currently a vice-president of Mildenhall and District Swimming Club. And when you add to that his work as a national referee and also trainer of officials, it’s clear why he was selected to receive the accolade.
“I did not envisage being part of the club for so many years,” he said. “But I love the sport and I’m missing it – I’ve made a lot of friends in the swimming fraternity. Pre-lockdown, I was officiating most weekends of the year and if I wasn’t at a swimming gala, I’d be at a swimming meeting somewhere. During this period, I’ve been doing a bit of research and updated some masters relay records from the last 10 years. That’s kept me going for a little while. I’ve kept myself busy but I’m running out of little jobs to do now.”
While David is extremely thankful to who nominated him for the award, he saves special gratitude for his wife, Jane. “I would like to thank Jane for her support of my ‘hobby’ over the last 40 plus years,” he said. “She has never complained when I’ve said I’m not able to make something because I have committed to a gala.”
Swim England East Region is delighted that Dave has been recognised in this way and the award is totally deserved.
As part of National Volunteers’ Week Swim England East Region would like to say a big thank you to all our volunteers that give up their time to help our clubs, counties and the region. Check out our social media channels to see our clubs also saying thank you!
As we are sure you are aware, on Wednesday 27th May Swim England issued a statement cancelling all national events scheduled to take place in latter part of 2020.
In respect of swimming, this included the Swim England National Winter Championships, traditionally the culmination of the domestic short course swimming season. Last week, FINA also announced that the 15th World Swimming Championships (25m) would take place one year later than planned, in December 2021.
It is somewhat superfluous to state that all of the above actions are responses to the uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
In light of the above information, the Swim England Swimming Leadership Group considers that it will be neither possible nor practical to stage regional swimming championships in early November of this year. After very careful consideration, the group has determined that regional short course championships will not take place in 2020.
The group has also decided that no competition licences will be issued at levels one or two for the remainder of 2020. Meets that have already been granted licences for forthcoming events in 2020 at levels one and two will have the option to be downgraded to level three or four in the first instance.
Swim England will be writing to the limited number of promoters whose meets fall in to this category to inform them of this change.
Notwithstanding the above information, it should be kept in mind that licensing at all levels remains suspended until further notice, with all currently issued licences being provisional in status. The Swim England Swimming Leadership Group will issue a timeline for the resumption of competition, licensed or otherwise, including Masters, once appropriate information is known. The group has adopted this stance, rather than suspending all competition until an arbitrary date, as its members are keen to see the competitive element of our sport return as soon as it is safe and reasonably practicable to do so.
Thank you for your ongoing support during this difficult time. If you have any queries, please email [email protected]
Following the announcement by Swim England that all national events are cancelled until the end of the year, Swim England East Region has taken the decision to cancel the following competitions:
Masters Championships, planned for 27th September 2020
Disability Championships, planned for 11th October 2020
Short Course Swimming Championships, planned for 6th, 7th and 8th November 2020
We very much regret having to make this decision as we know that it will be a huge disappointment to our athletes, however it is unrealistic to think that mass gatherings will be possible within these timescales, neither are we clear when our athletes will be able to return to training.
Swim England has today announced that all national competitions have been cancelled for the remainder of 2020. The region’s management team will now review and provide an update for region competition in due course.
Spaces are still avalable on the Swimming Coach Conference on 6 June. It is free to attend and is being held virtually by the Swim England Swimming Talent Team, plus special guests. For a place, please email [email protected] by Friday 29 May. A timetable of topics is available to download.
