The Swim England North East Region has reached a thrilling new milestone with the 2024 Regional Super Camp, an event that marked a transformative leap forward in our mission to inspire, educate, and celebrate the exceptional swimming community across our Region.
Held on Saturday 23rd November 2024, this inaugural event brought together an unprecedented 200+ swimmers, representing the four age groups of 13, 14, 15 and 16 years, along with their dedicated coaches, team managers, parents, and industry specialists – all under one roof at the Sunderland Aquatic Centre for a day to remember.
Breaking New Grounds
In previous years, our camps catered to a single age group, capping the number of participants at 36 swimmers. While impactful, this approach limited the scope of what we could achieve. This year, we completely reimagined the camp structure to:
- Celebrate More Athletes: We expanded our reach to recognise and celebrate the hard work of young swimmers across the Region, each honing their craft with dedication and determination.💪🏻
- Engage Families and Coaches: The camp welcomed the families and coaches who play vital roles in every swimmer’s journey, fostering a supportive environment where all contributors could come together.🤩
- Educate and Inspire: We developed an enriching programme aimed at improving every link in the athlete journey – empowering swimmers, enhancing coaching techniques, and strengthening family support systems.📈
This all-inclusive format allowed for an atmosphere of collaboration, learning, and celebration, creating a day that will inspire our Region’s swimming community for years to come.
Highlights of the Day
The 2024 Super Camp offered an array of workshops and activities led by top-tier professionals and celebrated names in swimming, including:
🏋️ Nutrition & Physio Workshops: Delivered by local specialists Lucy Walton and Tom Wing, these sessions provided invaluable insights into maintaining peak physical condition for athletes.
🎤 Special Guest Speakers: Swimmers and parents were inspired by motivational talks from Elliot Clogg and Kevin Pickard of AP Race, offering insider advice on excelling in and our of the pool and how parents can support this for their child.
👨🏫 Olympic Expertise: The camp also welcomed Kevin Renshaw, who is one of the Region’s finest homegrown Olympic coaches. He has coached multiple World and Olympic medallists and was on hand to deliver cutting-edge Coach CPD sessions and also contributed to athlete development themes, leaving a lasting impact on our coaches and swimmers alike.
The star-studded lineup, paired with tailored skill-development sessions, ensured every participant left with new knowledge, inspiration, and confidence to take their journey to the next level.
A Day to Remember
Imagine the energy of four teams of coaches and team managers alongside four groups of swimmers, all participating in tailored workshops, training sessions, and motivational talks. The buzz in the venue was palpable! Behind this incredible day was a team of over 30 professionals, whose expertise ensured the event ran seamlessly. A massive thank you goes to our Head Coaches, Skill Coaches, and Team Managers who made this historic day possible. Their expertise, enthusiasm, and commitment ensured the day ran seamlessly:
Head Coaches
- Danny Martland (Tadcaster York Swim Squad)
- Jamie Fowler (City of Leeds SC)
- Paul Woodley (Derwentside & Gateshead Swim Team)
- Becki McGuire (Morpeth ASC)
Skill Coaches
- Jack Moulton (City of Sheffield SS)
- Chris Philpott (Peterlee ASC)
- Joe Gavelle (Rotherham Metro)
- Julian Harforth (Harrogate District)
- Tom Rhodes (Kingston Upon Hull)
- Jordan Allerton (Doncaster Dartes)
- Dave Cuthbert (Tynemouth)
- Vicky Holt (Tadcaster York Swim Squad)
- Tim Redfearn (Skipton SC)
- Guy Fawkes (Billingham ASC)
- Lindsay Simpson (South Tyneside)
- Katy Batley (Alnwick Dolphins)
- Lizzie Ryan (Derwentside & Gateshead Swim Team)
- Chris Tibbs (North Tyneside ASC)
- Jay Manners (Derwentside & Gateshead Swim Team / North East Region)
- Ian Dale (North Tyneside ASC, also Team Manager)
- Harvey Williamson (City of Wakefield)
- Craig Robinson (Bradford Grammar School)
- Alexandra Roberts (Billingham ASC)
Team Manager
- Julie Robinson (City of Sunderland ASC)
- Andrew Blunt (City of Sunderland ASC)
- Tracey Blunt (City of Sunderland ASC)
- Jonny Carlisle (also Skill Coach, SwimCity/BOSSS)
- Leanne Dearlove (Middlesbrough ASC)
- Stevie Leeming (Middlesbrough ASC)
Looking Ahead
The 2024 Regional Super Camp has set a new standard for what is possible in Regional Swimming. With smiles on every face and inspiration in every heart, this event is a springboard for even greater achievements and possibilities. We are already excited to build on this success and continue to support the next generation of swimming talent in the North East.
Thank you to all swimmers, families, and coaches who made this day unforgettable. Together, we are shaping the future of swimming in our Region.
