On Saturday 6th December, we welcomed 36 Northumberland & Durham athletes to the Sunderland Aquatic Centre for their first face-to-face Development Camp of the 2025 – 2026 season.
The Development Camp supports 12-year-old swimmers (age as of 31st December 2025), helping them build physical literacy, refine technical skills across all strokes, deepen their understanding of Swim England’s culture and talent pathways, and develop in line with the Optimal Athlete Development Framework. It also provides experience training in new environments with different coaches, promoting an integrated and inclusive learning journey.
The day began with the first pool session. Before entering the water, Head Coach Lindsay Kinlen led a pre-pool warm-up to prepare the athletes. Once in the pool, swimmers were divided across five lanes and introduced to their lane skills coach. After a brief warm-up, they moved straight into an Artistic Swimming sculling activity delivered by Lynne Brakaj from Gateshead Artistic Swimming Club. This session highlighted the importance of sculling, buoyancy, and core strength, key elements in helping athletes understand how to move efficiently through the water. The group then focused on freestyle and backstroke technique, particularly effective body position during kicking.
Following the morning pool session, athletes broke for lunch and spent time completing their athlete packs, reflecting on what they had learned. After lunch, it was time for land training. Head Coach Lindsay guided the athletes through mobility work, dynamic stretching, and core exercises, all directly linked to improving performance in the water. Skills Coach, Jay Manners, supported the session by demonstrating each movement, ensuring athletes clearly understood the expectations.
After land training, the group headed back to the pool, but not before stopping for a team photo. A series of reaction games followed to re-energise the athletes before the second pool session. This session focused on skill acquisition through long-axis strokes, with an emphasis on developing an effective freestyle and backstroke pull. The day concluded with tumble turns, streamlining, and dolphin kick work. Athletes were encouraged to apply the body position and kicking skills learned earlier, while also developing an awareness of stroke counting and efficiency.
Throughout the day, we were joined by Dawn Peart, the newly appointed Chairperson for Northumberland & Durham County. Dawn observed the camp, engaged with athletes and staff, and shared valuable insight as we continue shaping the county’s future.
A huge thank you to all athletes and staff for making this first face-to-face camp such a success and to Tesco Sunderland for supplying fruit and water for the staff and athletes for the camp. We hope you had an enjoyable and productive day, and we look forward to seeing you again on Saturday 16th May.
Head Coach
Lindsay Kinlen, South Tyneside SC
Skill Coaches
Adele Carberry, Middlesbrough ASC
Andrew Young, Guisbrough ASC
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ryan, Teesdale Tigersharks
Jay Manners, Derwentside & Gateshead Swim Team
Mason Jacques, Chester-le-Street ASC
Phil Horner, Eston SC
Lead Team Manager
Michelle Stonehouse
Team Managers
Beth Attwood
Marianne Clarke
A massive THANK YOU to Tescos Sunderland for supplying us with delicious snacks for the athletes and team staff!
