NER Para-camp 3

The first North East Regional para-swimming talent camp of 2023 took place on Sunday January 15th at Catterick Leisure Centre. Despite the bad weather, 27 swimmers (our highest attendance to date!) travelled to the event in what was the third training camp of the 2022-2023 NE Regional Para-swimming Talent programme series.

As with previous camps, the day started with welcome and introductions, followed by a strength and conditioning session in the gym led by Paralympian Lyndon Longhorne. The session started with stretching and mobility followed by cardio, incorporating HIIT training using medicine balls, which certainly got our swimmers pulses rising, followed by stretching and preparation for the 2-hour pool session. Lyndon discussed the importance of adequate hydration to our swimmers and encouraged this throughout the day.

Keith Hall (Regional para-swimming head coach) was supported by coaches from around the North East Region:

Zoe Cowan – Richmond Dales ASC

Sue Thorpe – Newcastle Swim Team

Emma Hughes – Doncaster Dartes SC

Joanne Thompson – Doncaster Dartes SC

Dan Firbank – B-TASC

Gavin Campbell – City of Sheffield SC

Jo Barber – Hetton ASC

Martin Lees (Swim England para-swimming development manager) was also at the camp along with Darda Sales and Janet Dunn from Swim Canada. Darda and Janet were observing how the para-camp sessions run in the North East region and were particularly interested in the Start para programme. They spent time discussing classification, membership and athlete development processes and gave some useful insights into what they do back in Canada.

BSL/English interpreter, Debbie Snodgrass, was also present throughout the day to support swimmers with hearing impairments. Ellie Spencer from Richmond College, currently studying Sports Psychology, was also observing. Hoping to study Sports Psychology at University this year, Ellie found the day really interesting particularly observing how instruction and coaching needs to be adapted for different disabilities.

The pool session focused on stroke counting, underwater phases and turn speeds. Keith Hall commented that the swimmers worked really hard and improvements from previous sessions were apparent.

After lunch, Lyndon led the classroom session. This began with a brainstorming session where the swimmers were asked to think about their short and long-term swimming goals. Lyndon then spoke about his own swimming journey starting from his very first interest in swimming, inspired by Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which led to him making the 2012 London Paralympic trials and being a torch bearer for the London games, which he said was one of the best experiences of his life. Following the London trials he then focused his mind on training over the next 4years for the 2016 Rio games. Unbelievably, Lyndon did this whilst also studying at University, but unfortunately did not make the 2016 games. After taking a 3-year break from sport and becoming a dad, Lyndon returned to training and focused on the 2020 Tokyo games which he then went on to compete in, in the S4 category. He is now training and focusing on the 2024 Paris games. His biggest motto in life is believe, achieve and succeed. The parents and swimmers were totally mesmerised by Lyndons’ inspiring story.