Stingrays Staffing Updates and Christmas Wishes

2023 has seen many successes for club swimmers at county, regional and national levels. Up to September swimmers were coached by Chris White who unfortunately decided to resign at the beginning of the current season. This presented a challenging situation but we’re lucky to have a dedicated coaching and teaching team backed up with fantastic parental support. Together we’ve weathered the storm with only minimal disruption to the training timetable. The committee thanks you all for your support and patience.

Tim Sadler – Head Coach

We’d like to say a massive thank you to Tim Sadler who has been working as Acting Head Coach since September. Tim has really put in the hours in to understand the swimmers and plan for their future alongside Jez Burton, Abbie Simmonds and James Mansfield.   The recruitment process has been ongoing and we’re now happy to announce that with immediate effect Tim has been appointed as Head Coach. We’re sure this will not come as surprise as many people have specifically asked for this to happen! Tim has shown great skill, determination and leadership since the Head Coach position became vacant. He has continued to deliver great results and we’re looking forward to working with him in the future.

Emma Waller – Coach

The committee are also happy to announce that we have offered the job of Coach to Emma Waller. She has accepted and we’re looking forward to her joining the team after Christmas.  Emma has experience in teaching and coaching children and adults and is also a qualified open water coach and an STA swim teacher trainer. Emma is originally from Salisbury, having learnt to swimming the old pool in College Street, so is looking forward to coaching in Salisbury again.

Sadly we’re losing George, Zoe and Alex from the swim school due to university studies and a house move but are pleased to welcome back Jamie. The swim school is also lucky to have a full complement of volunteer assistant teachers who do a fantastic job of support the teaching staff in lessons.

AGM

A quick reminder that the AGM will be held on 6th January at 7pm in St Johns Place in Lower Bemerton. There’s still a few vacancies on the committee so please have a look at the AGM page on the website in case you are able to spare a few hours. We really need the following:

Club Kit Manager

To manage the ordering windows and supply of Stingrays branded poolside kit and swim hats

Social Media and PR Officer

To help keep the club’s Facebook page and Group updated with meets reports and photos supplied by coaching and poolside teams

Fundraising manager

To maximise fundraising revenues and research any grants or bursaries that may be available the club.   

After the meeting we want to toast the New Year so please bring a plate of food to share and bottle or two. DJ ASJ-ipod will be providing the tunes.

A Warm Welcome…

Tim Sadler – Head Coach
We have pleasure in announcing that Tim will be taking the reigns as Head Coach. He’s been working in the role in an acting capacity for some months now and has earned the respect of parents and swimmers alike with his encouraging and helpful poolside manner. Tim has been getting great results and we’re looking forward with working with him to take the club forwards.  

Emma Waller – Coach
Usually be found at a pool, in a lake or on horseback, Emma is a qualified swim teacher,  teacher tutor, coach and soft tissue rehab specialist. As a parent of a regional level swimmer she understands swimming and swimmers and has worked with children and triathletes in pools and open water. Originally from Salisbury, we’re really looking forward to welcoming Emma to the Club where she will coach squads and Masters.   

James Mansfield – Assistant Coach
James is a squad swimmer and has worked as volunteer swim teacher for some time before fully qualifying. He now works as a swim teacher and assistant coach and is looking forward to studying and training and hopes to gain his Level 2 qualification next year.

Abbie Simmonds - Assistant Coach
Also a squad swimmer, Abbie has volunteered for Stingrays for some time now and now works as a qualified swim teacher and assistant coach. She is also keen to progress and is working towards her Level 2 coaching qualification.

Jamie Goodge – Swim Teacher
Jamie (on the right) has worked for Stingrays in the past but left to concentrate on other teaching jobs. So we, and our learners, are very pleased to welcome him back as a qualified swimming teacher. Jamie is a popular and enthusiastic teacher and we’re all looking forward to working with him.

Sorry You're Leaving...

Sharon Allen – Volunteer Swim Teacher and Coach
Sharon has been involved with Stingrays for a number of years; as a parent, a volunteer swim teacher, a volunteer coach, a meet official and as a highly successful Masters swimmer. She’s decided to step down from some of her voluntary roles to concentrate on her competitive swimming. We thank her for her tireless service to the club and wish her every success in future competitions.

Chris White – Head Coach
Chris Joined the team as head coach in 2019. He was a successful coach and led club members to many successes over the years at County, Regional and National level. Chris decided the resign at the beginning of the season and has now taken up a coaching position at another club where we wish him every happiness.

Alex Richards – Swim Teacher
We’re sad to be losing Alex who has moved to the northern wastelands of Warwick! She’s a qualified swim teacher and has been helping teach at both the Godolphin and Five Rivers venues.  She is also an accomplished open water swimmer and coach as well as a Masters Swimmer, having recently competed at the British Nationals in Sheffield.

Zoe Palmer - Swim Teacher and Assistant Coach
An active squad member, Zoe had been a volunteering and working as a swim teacher and assistant coach at Stingrays for a number of years. She has now left in order to study at Bournemouth University and we wish her all the best for the future.

Freya Rogers – Swim Teacher
Freya is a qualified swimming teacher and J1 official. She was an active squad swimmer and had been volunteering and teaching at the swim school for several years. She’ll be missed but we’re sure won’t miss us as she off to SE Asia and Australia for a few months (we’re hoping she’ll be back!)

George Satchwell – Swim Teacher
George has been volunteering and working as a fully qualified swim teacher for several years. George still swims with a Stingrays squad when he can but has left to take up a place to read engineering and mathematics at Warwick University. We wish him every success with his studies but hope to welcome him back to teach when he is able.