Saturday 11 October 2014

Club Sessions restart on Tuesday 14 October - Yay!

Hopefully everyone is ready to get back in the pool after a break for the school holidays.  Club sessions start again on Tuesday night at 6pm.  Squad swimming starts on Monday at 5:30pm for Gold and Dynamos and 6pm for Bronze.

There have been some changes to groups and times for some swimmers - we had some late registrations that left some lanes overfull and we had some swimmers in the wrong groups for their age and ability.  A new club timetable will be emailed to all swimmers - please check your lane, time and coach and talk to Anna or Viv if you are concerned about any changes for the swimmers at your house.

We have split the hour groups 3 ways (there were only 2 groups last term) - the level of these swimmers is pretty similar across the groups so we have tried to ensure that we are catering for a better age group mix and that we have reduced numbers a little in the lanes to make it easier for the coach and swimmers.

We have two exciting events coming up
Ribbon Night - Tuesday 21 October, 6pm - All swimmers have a go at racing try to beat your personal best time to take home a ribbon.  (Lane 1 6pm swimmers will be able to use fins if needed)
Spring Carnival - Saturday 1 November - Cromwell hosts the annual Spring Carnival meet and we would love a big team of club swimmers to attend. (suitable for swimmers who can swim 50 metre events)

Queenstown Early Bird Meet

Cromwell had a fabulous team at the Queenstown Early Bird Meet held in the middle of the school holidays on Saturday 4th October.  Gaby Harman, Zoe Harman, Jack Harrison, Joe Harrison, Ryan Jones, Kierran Longman, Cait MacTaggart, Kleff Tan and Lincoln Robertson all gave up a holiday sleep in to go for a swim.

Our team of nine swimmers swam 23 personal best times from 36 individual swims and gained 19 top 3 placings.

Special mention to Gaby Harman who swam an excellent personal best time in the 50m backstroke to book herself a ticket to Wellington for New Zealand Junior Championships in February 2015.  An awesome effort we are very proud of this achievement.

Well done also to Ryan Jones who swam personal best times in all his swims and to Jack Harrison who was first overall in the boys 15 &over competition.

Thanks to all parents who got up early to travel to Queenstown on a day with a snowy forecast.  Thanks to those who were able to help out with time keeping and team management - it is very much appreciated and thanks to Natasha for her work and support on the day.

Click the link to see the team results
Queenstown Early Bird Results

Spring Carnival

We are looking forward to hosting the annual Otago Spring Carnival Swim meet at the Cromwell Swim Centre on Saturday 1st November and we would love to see lots of club swimmers participating in this meet and having a go at some racing.

Please click the link for the meet flyer.  Coaches will be encouraging all swimmers who can swim 50 metres to enter - so talk to your child's coach if you are unsure.

Spring Carnival

Thursday 11 September 2014

Club group lessons start next week on Tuesday 16th September

It was great to meet swimmers and families on registration night and assessment night this week.  Thanks to everyone who has their paperwork all filled in and to those who have paid their fees for the season.

Some squad swimmers still need to complete forms and to pay club membership and the competitive swimmer fee.  Rebecca will invoice squad fees.

All groups start their lessons on Tuesday next week.  
All half hour swimming lessons are from 6pm to 6:30pm
All one hour swimming sessions are from 6:30pm to 7:30pm

There may need to be some shuffling of groups and times to make sure we have children in the right places for their swimming level and next steps.

Please make sure your children are at the pool a few minutes before their session time to get fins and boards from the club boxes and to be ready to get in the pool on time so that we can make the most of each session.

Sunday 7 September 2014

Queenstown Early Bird Swim Meet - Saturday 4th October

This is a great local swim meet suitable for all levels of swimmers.  It would be great to take a big team of Cromwell swimmers over to Queenstown to support another local club at their annual meet.

There are races for all ages and levels of swimming including novices who are having a first go at racing.  We would love to see most of our winter swimmers coming along and having a go.

We can arrange transport via community van or car pooling to help to get swimmers to the meet.

Natasha will hand out entry slips to swimmers who attend winter swimming sessions this week.  If your child is able to go please put the slip into the mail box by the Swim Club notice board at the pool by Friday 12th September.

No late entries will be accepted

Click the link below to go to the meet flyer for more information:

Queenstown Early Bird Meet

Registration night Tuesday 9th September at the pool

Remember to come along to register for swimming for the club summer season.  We will be at the pool from 6pm on Tuesday 9th September.  Children don't need togs for registration night - it is just to get forms filled in.

All swimmers need to bring togs along on Thursday at 6pm for assessment night.  We will take a quick look at their swimming so that we can sort them into groups.

We would appreciate payment on registration.
Club membership: $50
Learn to swim 1/2 hour lessons: $75
Club swimmers 1 hour sessions: $145

Squad swimmers need to complete registration forms and pay the $50 membership fee and $85 SNZ competitive swimmer fee.  Squad fees will be invoiced monthly based on squad membership.

NZ Short Course Champs results

Jack Harrison had a really good meet in Wellington last week.  He swam personal best times in 7 out of 8 swims and competed positively against the best swimmers in the country.  His best finish was gaining a finalist spot in the 400 IM.  He went into the final placed 10th and took 5 seconds off his time to improve his placing to 8th.  Back to training this week in preparation for South Island Champs and Queenstown Early Bird.

Saturday 30 August 2014

New Zealand Short Course Champs


Jack Harrison will be representing the Cromwell swimming Club as a member of the Otago team at the New Zealand Short Course Champs this week.  He has been working hard in the pool - putting in extra training sessions and is all ready to compete in Wellington.  The meet runs from Tuesday to Saturday and Jack is competing in seven individual events.

Good luck Jack - the Cromwell club will be cheering you on.  Swim fast and make us proud!

Thursday 21 August 2014

Amaka Gessler Swim Night Monday 25 August 6-7:30pm

We are very lucky to have Commonwealth medalist and Olympic team member Amaka Gessler visiting next week.  Natasha has volunteered her to talk to our swimmers and take a session with them on Monday 25 August.  All club and squad swimmers are welcome to attend.  Swimmers from the Wanaka Swimming Club have also been invited to join us.


Amaka will talk to the swimmers at 5:30pm in the pool meeting room.   She will cover:

  • Nutrition
  • Competition and stress
  • Training
  • Her Olympic experience 
The pool session will be from 6-7:30pm as usual on Monday.  Swimmers who do not usually attend on Mondays over winter will be welcome to join us.  The session will cover:

  • 30-40 minutes training and technique
  • 20-30 minutes fun activities & fun races

The cost for this special opportunity to be inspired by a top New Zealand representative swimmer will be $5 per person - please bring cash on the night.

Monday 11 August 2014

Otago Winter Champs results

Our team had a great day at Moana Pool on Sunday competing at the Winter champs. 

There were some great personal best times set from our younger swimmers with special mention to Kierren for taking huge chunks of time off all his swims. 

There was also a bag of top three placing ribbons brought home from Gaby, Jack and Sean. 

Click the link below to see the results

Great job guys and big thanks to Natasha as coach, Di as team manager and to Janyne, Sharon and Anna for time keeping and officiating at the meet. 

Looking forward to the next meet for our Cromwell swimmers. 

Thursday 7 August 2014

Good Luck to the Cromwell Team competing at Otago Winter Champs on Sunday

Head coach Natasha and a keen winter swimming team are risking the winter road conditions to travel to Dunedin compete at the Otago Winter champs on Sunday.

Good luck to Jack Harrison, Kierren Longman, Sean Tan, Amy McAuliffe, Cait MacTaggart, Gaby and Zoe Harman.  Go hard - we know you will do us all proud!

Swimmers please make sure you are at the pool at 8am on Sunday in Swim club uniform.  Di McAuliffe will be team manager.  Remember to bring a positive attitude, healthy drinks and snacks (no fizzy drinks and please limit lollies), racing togs, goggles, cap and towels.

We will look forward to hearing about the results next week.

Saturday 26 July 2014

Welcome back to our winter swimmers

Winter swimming sessions started on Monday last week and it was great to see everyone after a wee break over the holidays.

If you didn't make it last week you are welcome to come along Monday or Tuesday night 6pm and join in with Natasha.

Full club registrations will be week 8 this term.


Raffle Results

Congratulations to our raffle winners.  They were all very pleased to receive their prizes.  Thanks to everyone who donated goods and helped out with selling tickets.

1st prize - Nola Naylor
2nd prize - Jimmy
3rd prize - Jessie Dalzell

Friday 11 July 2014

Otago Winter Championships 10 August 2014

This is a one day meet being held on Sunday 10 August in Dunedin.  This meet would be suitable for all Bronze, Dynamos and Gold swimmers.  Entries are due with Swim Otago on Friday 1 August and will need to be in the club mail box at the pool, signed by Natasha at least 3 days before this.  Marie will confirm the cut off date.  If there is sufficient interest we will book the community van to travel to Dunedin.  Talk to Natasha after the holidays to choose your swims.

Follow the link below to the meet flyer on the Swim Otago website.

Otago Winter Champs meet flyer

Thursday 10 July 2014

Winter Raffle

Thanks to everyone who has supported our raffle by donating goods, selling tickets at Cromwell New World or buying tickets to support our winter fundraiser.  There will be people at New World today and tomorrow and some tickets being sold around the community by individuals.  The raffle will be drawn on Monday 21 July.  Three draws for our three fabulous hampers.


Monday 7 July 2014

Winter Swimming

Winter swimming continues in Term 3 starting on Monday 21 July 6pm


Lanes are booked for Monday and Tuesday nights 6 - 7:30pm.

Club Swimmers
Welcome one or both nights please email cromwellswimsec@gmail.com to confirm the day/s you are coming and how long you will swim.

$5 per session for 1/2 hour
$8 per session for 1 - 1 1/2 hours

Squad Swimmers
Lanes and times will be the same as for Term 2
$16 per week Bronze squad Monday & Tuesday nights 6-7:30pm
$40 per week Dynamos and Gold squad 5 available sessions per week

All swimmers will be invoiced for the term once numbers are confirmed.

Swim Club flyer July 2014