City of Stoke-on-Trent Swimming Club

Chairman's Notice Board

Chairman’s Report AGM March 2006

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I would like to start by thanking the COSACSS Committee. In the last year the committee has seen some changes with some new faces on the committee and some changes of roles of the current committee members. In these changes we have become a more focused group with high expectations and committed to taking this club forward.  

The committee’s links with parents and swimmers have taken good steps forward thanks to the presentations organised and made by Anni & Phil Hollings. Also for the future we have introduced in Swimming Development Sub Committee which, will work alongside our excellent coaching staff adopting a more ‘joined up thinking’ strategy for the future. 

Yet again we enjoyed success in our Level 2 Open meet, the Y2K+5 in May 2005, with oversubscribed entry levels from over 400 individuals from 40 different clubs. During the event 18 National Qualifying Times were achieved but more importantly 2 were from our swimmers. Thank you to all the immense efforts of the volunteers and officials making it a great success on the day including Les Brigham’s tireless efforts. Progress on the Y2K+6 is already underway, lets hope for more continued success. 

On the swimming programme 2006 is going to see the launch of the COSACSS ‘B’ Grade gala in late September. This event will be run annually giving the opportunity of club swimmers including our own who are not currently up to the Level 2 Open Meet standard to compete. 

Focusing on achievements in the pool, continued development of all levels of the clubs swimmers is being made thanks to the hard work by our coaching staff. Changes here have seen Dan Ralph leaving the club and being replaced by newcomer Anthony Bosson. Well done to Kirsty Page and Anthony who both this year achieved their Level 3 Club Coach qualification. 

Our swimmers continue to achieve better personal best times & success in the water. Recently at the North Mids the club came 5^th, a fantastic result. About to start shortly are the county championships with the number of COSACSS swimmers qualifying and entering the event greater than it has been in recent years. Also we’ve had 3 swimmers; Eddie Hall, Megan Smith & Charlotte Maskrey qualify and compete in the National Championships in Sheffield. 

As we reflect on the year just gone even more ideas are being introduced to see these statistics improve in the coming year and for the long term. This year will see the introduction of the Junior Squad Galas giving our newest members the development opportunity to experience competition environment from an early age and on regular intervals. 

To all members of COSACSS good luck for the coming year, let’s continue to build on our recent successes.

Steve Newton – Acting Chairman.