Winter league first round - market Harborough (5th place)

Suzi head coach

Saturday saw the first gala of this years winter Leicester league series. The team was quite stretched with a lot of swimmers unavailable, meaning many of those that were there had to swim a lot of races, and up an age group at times. It was a tough draw and we were up against some much bigger clubs with larger teams and more training, but despite all of this, Shepshed put in a fantastic performance and finished in 5^th place, even being in 4^th for a lot of the evening. This was a great achievement, and shows a lot of promise for the next round!The PB table shows the effort the team put in, even after a couple of weeks break over xmas, there are still a fantastic 17 PB’s, so well done! (press on link P B Awards )I would also like to say how great it was to see so many people cheering at the shallow end. I am sure this made a big difference and boosted team spirit – although the walking team banner may have been taking it a bit far , thanks to Alice Cowley and Ian Burdett; the captains for the gala, for leading the cheering squad .Keep up the good training, and keep and eye on the board for the team sheet for the next gala. The next round is Feb 9^th so please try and keep this date free (or let us know if you know for sure you won’t be able to make it) so we have a full team next time. We can only swim swimmers in the final round if they have swum in one of the previous rounds, so it is especially important to try and make the next round if you couldn’t make this round.

Rachel Team manager.

Well done to everyone who came.

This was a very hard gala to start with but you tried your best and that is

all we can ask. Well done to JackBearpark and Alex Callender who swam in their

first individual events. There will obviously be a lot more galas for you

both to swim in if you swim as well as you did tonight.

Well done also to Eleanor Hopewell who got our only 1^st place of the night.

Let’s make it two 1^st next time Eleanor- but a brilliant effort.

To all the swimmers who swam extra races and races you don’t normally do,

You did yourselves and the club proud. You never know when you might be called upon again. Maybe practice these strokes when you do choice in training.

I think there are a few things we have to look at and go over again before the

next league gala for example

1) No slowing down as we are coming to the wall.

We should be sprinting into the wall even before turns.

2) Concentrate and follow swimmers in on relays.

We have to stop talking and messing about and be at the blocks you should be waiting and watching your other team members and encouraging them on.

3) Positive encouragement. We have to encourage each

other to do well and if you don’t come first it doesn’t matter think positive it could still be a PB and there is always next time. There are plenty more galas to come this year this was the first one and the hardest!

To finish with I am going to end on a more positive note there were no DQ’S which is brilliant and just shows you all must be listening and learning at training. Well done Suzi.

Lets aim high and go for a third place next time.

p.s The next gala which is a home gala 19.01.08 is on the notice board. Please, please tick your names off as soon as you can so I can ask other swimmers if you can’t compete. Please remember we are a competitive club and it is because you are a good swimmer that you have been picked for a gala and the club needs your participation.

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