Sport

Popularity of swimming on the rise

Published

7 years ago

May 19, 2017

Craig Nelson and Sam Jones: Pictured at the Welsh Easter Nationals in Swansea

ONE of the most popular sports in Pembrokeshire at present is swimming, where there are over 425 young swimmers training in and competing for local clubs.

These Clubs come under the umbrella of Pembrokeshire County Swimming (PCS) which is a Swim Wales Performance Club, based in Haverfordwest Leisure Centre.

PCS in conjunction with Pembrokeshire County Council offers professional coaching under Head Coach Craig Nelson [who leads and coordinates the PCS county squads programme] and Assistant Coach Sam Jones, who takes a lead with the younger PCS county squads.

The Herald are delighted to feature the sport of swimming further and have been discussing many aspects of the bespoke swimming programme in the County with Sam Jones.

He said: “Competitive swimming in Pembrokeshire is one of the best supported sports in this county highlighted by the fact it is able to provide two full-time professional coaches working with closely with all development clubs and county standard swimmers.”

Jones was enthusiastic in outlining the objective: “The objective is to produce ‘the County’s very own Olympian of the future. With the support of Pembrokeshire County Council our programme offers our best young talent the potential to reach their dream.”

Nelson and Jones have vast experience in performance swimming and both swam to a high standard in their individual focused events, when swimming at the National Performance Centre, Swansea. Between them, the coaching team’s experience from their own participation provides a Commonwealth medal, Youth Commonwealth finalist, three British National medals and several National qualifying entries, which is a fine CV for any coaching team.

Jones is fully focussed now on supporting the pathway for swimmers in the development programme, all of whom are dual registered with their host club.

Pembrokeshire has five development clubs swimming out of the main leisure centres in the county (Tenby Dolphins, Pembroke & District, Haverfordwest Seals, Milford Haven Tigers and Fishguard Flyers) whilst Preseli Panthers, an associate member at present are in the process of acquiring full membership.

“These development clubs are the link from the Pembrokeshire County Council Learn to Swim sessions, into one of the five PCS squads, ” Jones explained. “The Junior Academy Squad offers swimmers showing potential at nine years old in their Development clubs, to regular skill camps, focusing primarily on techniques dives and turns, key elements for progressing further in the sport.”

The Senior Academy Squad, made up mainly of children 12 years of age, train once a week with the Performance swimmers, in conjunction with their Development Club hours whilst the Junior National Squad develop their training alongside Performance swimmers by a further six hours.

The National Performance Squad offers 11 to 15-year-old young people a full time training programme, exclusively with county coaches for up to seven sessions a week.

The National Performance Squad is the pinnacle of the County squad pyramid structure, where 11 to 18 year old swimmers can access over 16 hours of water based sessions, alongside weekly strength and conditioning workshops and three hours of land based training.

Sam said: “This offers swimmers the opportunity to meet the stringent British and International qualifying times, where the youngsters commitment and dedication is immense.

“The rewards for such effort is worthwhile if the swimmers get to represent their country or swim in the British finals held at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.”

Next week the Herald will be highlighting Sam’s coaching diary as he set up the final stages of the training programme for individual swimmers, in preparation for the Swansea Open Meet being held this weekend at the National Pool.

Sport

The stage is set – Senior Cup Final

Published

6 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Herald Sport

It’s the time of the year again, Saturday see’s Bridge Meadow host the senior cup final. The sun has been shining and both teams will be dying to get on the pitch. This year the final will be contested by Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road.

League champions Goodwick will go into the final as favourites, and most around the county expect a Goodwick win. It has been an outstanding season for Goodwick however cup success has evaded them so far. Clarbeston Road have impressed everyone this season and really deserve their place in this years final.

Neill Crawshaw will referee the game, with Tudor Walters and Stefan Jenkins running the line.

There will be a unique contest on the pitch as brothers Will Haworth and Laurie Haworth come face to face on opposing teams. Adrian their father was a great player in the county, and played in many cup finals himself.

The stage is set, Clarby will feel less pressure than Goodwick and will be a threat with Haworth, John and Davies in attack. Meanwhile Goodwick are also blessed with quality players in every department, there is no weak link in O’Sullivans team. Cup football and finals in particular never go as people predict. On paper Goodwick are firm favourites, Clarbeston Road will be happy the game will be played on grass though and not paper, anything can happen! Hopefully it’ll be a good crowd down at the Meadow for the show piece of Pembrokeshire football.

News

70 Pembrokeshire clubs benefit from Sport Wales funding

Published

16 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

SEVENTY Pembrokeshire clubs have been successful in receiving grants from the Be Active Wales Fund over the last financial year.

In total the clubs received more than £407,800 from the grants scheme from Sport Wales in 2023/24.

The fund backed 25 different sports, ranging from archery, basketball and cricket to sailing, short mat bowls and weightlifting and everything in between.

The Be Active Wales Fund is open to applications from not for profit community clubs and groups to help develop and sustain their activities.

Grants range from a minimum of £300 up to a maximum of £50,000.

The scheme will support coach education courses, the purchase of essential items of equipment right up to larger projects such as floodlighting and boats for sailing clubs.

For advice and support with your application contact Alan Jones or Lois Hilling at Pembrokeshire County Council’s Sports Development department, Sport Pembrokeshire on [email protected]

The Be Active Wales Fund is always open for applications.

More information is available on the Sport Wales website.

Sport

Clarby stand in the way of Goodwick double

Published

1 day ago

April 24, 2024

Herald Sport

Two thrilling semi finals last weekend has meant Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road will meet in the senior cup final this coming Saturday.

Goodwick faced Pennar Robins in their semi final who pushed the champions very hard. Carl Vincent will be disappointed but proud of the Robins as they gave a great account of themselves. However in the end Goodwick’s quality and experience just was too much for Vincent’s team.

The other semi was an absolute thriller, and after a nail biting game Matthew Fox’ Clarby progressed to the final. A offside call has sparked a lot of debate around the county. However it seems that linesman Jenkins made an absolute perfect call so credit to him for that.

Both teams would have wanted a nice week of preparation for the final, maybe without any games to play. Unfortunately this hasn’t been possible due to the fixture backlog and both outfits have played already this week.

Goodwick will be favourites of course, however if anyone can upset the apple cart Saturday it’s this Clarbeston Road team. Fox’ outfit have impressed over and over this season. Without too much pressure on them, they are in a good place going into the final.

The double at one staged looked like the minimum Goodwick would be aiming for this season. However losses in other cup competitions, means its Senior Cup success or just the league title for the outstanding team of the season. Oddly becoming champions with no cup success maybe seen as a huge disappointment considering their dominance this season. A unique pressure. However if anyone can handle that pressure it’s O’Sullivans outfit.