Cyprus Blog
Follow how the RSC swimmers are doing on their training camp in Cyprus. Headcoach Tony Woodward is sending daily updates.
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25/2/2011 20:43 LAST DAY
Thats it, camp over! We finished the week with an easy session this morning and then split our team with Newbury to have a mini gala with six teams of six. We had team relays, 200 IM races for everyone, 200 Fs for top two swimmers in each team and then each swimmer had turns in 100's of each stroke. Great fun with The Purple Puffer Fish (God knows who thought of that) winning the competition, heading off Schmi in second, Tank Unit in third. Poonang (?!?), Jelly Babies and Ghetto Shed Bois made up the other places. Strange names and for what reason, I know not!!!!
Some great highlights from the week including:
There have been no problems at all this week and all the swimmers have worked, rested and played as a team, a very good team. Other teams have been all over the place at times but our swimmers have been on time for everything, dressed in kit when asked and been an absolute dream. They have been a huge credit to the club, their parents and themselves and this is way better than we'd have imagined.
 I can't thank the swimmers enough, all of them, for their contributions to one of the best weeks I've had in swimming. I had my reservations about how it would go with the wide range of abilities but I needn't have worried. This has been a tremendous success and I'm afraid that most of you will be given the details time and time again over the coming weeks, possibly months!! For those who may say "He would say that", you'll be treated to some great stories and immense laughter at times. The kids will fill you in.Huge thanks to Harry for his support on poolside, at the hotel and also with looking for the missing bed.
Now the biggest thanks, they go to Jayne Fields who has done such a fantastic job organising this trip. It isn't easy doing it for one team but to manage it for two teams is a BIG job. She was also given the role of Team Manager for this trip and has seen the way its done from the 'inside' so to speak. It's been a great team effort and once again, a highly successful one. Thanks to Paul Fields in advance for the calls he will be getting regarding our extradition from Cyprus.
Thanks too for all the guys back home who have covered our sessions through the week and helped the smooth running of the club.
All the swimmers have had logbooks and I urge you to ask for them please and take on what they've been up to this week. The sessions haven't been hard but the hours they have put in have added to a heavy workload in terms of meterage. Most of the swimmers have filled in their comments after each session and then brought them back to us to go through. They have also been asked to write down their high points and their low points, some are entertaining to say the least!!! Many have said they don't want to come home but I'm not sure Cyprus is ready for this type of invasion.
Can I ask you all to take a look at their logbooks, sign them and hand them back to me next week please. I will then return them to the swimmers in due course. Please do this for me as its very important that you see what they have done and their views (if they have any) on how they think they've done. As with all the sessions we do, we evaluate them and see where we need to change the next phase.
See you all in the week.
Tony, Harry & Jayne. |
23/2/2011 16:19 DAY FIVE End of the day has finished with a short downpour and the coaches challenge - an open water swim after training.Eight swimmers took up the challenge, everyone passed with flying (swimming) colours.  One brilliant reason given for not doing it - "Its raining!"Off to dinner then team-bonding games, etc. Still have no idea where Harry's kids get their energy from, they'll hibernate when they get home and sleep for months!!!  Catch you all tomorrowTony, Harry and Jayne |
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23/2/2011 12:16 DAY FOUR AND FIVE ... of THE "MILDLY WARMER THAN THE UK" TRAINING CAMP! Sorry for the delay in update from yesterday but after our now famous Quiz Night and the writing up of Test Sets, the Wednesday morning was upon us quicker than we'd hoped for!!! |
| 21/2/2011 16:22 DAY THREE
Weather much better today, I even had my top off
Once again swimmers have been very good both in and out of the water.
 Today we stopped about 75 minutes into the afternoon session to draw our first TWO lucky Pressure Swim Competitors.
These swimmers had the personal and team challenge to swim 100 Fs in a
time that was to be within 3% of their best time. If they made the time,
they were allowed to swim down and get out early. They would also be
excluded from any other pressure swims for the remainder of the
week. However, if they failed they would go back into the hat and may be
picked out again in the week and the rest of the team would have a
1000m timed swim First lucky swimmers were Jonny Venner and Jenny Martin.
Both swimmers were allowed 15 minutes to get themselves dry
and focused on the task in hand whilst the other continued with the
session. This also creates a fair bit of nerves and tension. The nerves
rose to a higher level after they were told that nobody has ever failed
this before!!
 With all the other swimmers out of the pool, Jonny and
Jenny set about the first challenge of the week and both recorded times
inside their targets (Jenny actually went faster today than she did at Wycombe last week and got told off for not doing it there!!)We are just about to go off for dinner and all is going
(dare I say this) better than expected. There is a long way to go and
the niggles will creep in but at the moment, harmony within the tired
group is top drawer.
 Attached are a couple of photos from yesterday and today,
one from the guys just getting to poolside, one of Chris Currie who
hasn't stopped smiling and one of the intrepid Four MOUSEketeers who get
their energy from God knows where!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Nearly dinner time here and the night has set in.
More tomorrow
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| 20/2/2011 16:39 DAY TWO Hi guys,all online here and having a ball.Sessions have gone very well. Storms all night so a few sleepy heads. Hotel is very good with kids and comfortable for all.ALL swimmers have been a credit to parents and club with their behaviour and attitude, which is more than a couple of other clubs that are here!!
More later, off for dinner now as just finished second session.
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| 19/1/2011 19:50 DAY ONE All well and on their way to bed apparently. |
| 19/2/2011 14:01 Just landed, all safe and well. |
| 19/1/2011 09:22 Jayne has texted to say they are at Heathrow and waiting to board. I will let you know when they have arrived in Cyprus. |
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