Dorset County ASA

Paralympic success for BCS

September 10, 2024 By Dorset ASA

Dorset club BCS is celebrating the success of Leo McCrea who swam his way to a gold medal in the SB5 100m Breaststroke in the final at this year’s Paralympics. Following a great start, Leo was two metres ahead after the first length and determinedly held off the competition to claim gold in 1:27.15 and his first Paralympic medal.

Leo, though sporting the Swiss team colours (his mother’s nationality), is coached by James Ryan and still undertakes all his pool training at Bournemouth Collegiate School where he was a former pupil, while Strength & Conditioning is provided at Bournemouth University where he is now a student. A truly home-grown talent!

BCS Head Coach, Sam Woodward, commented: “We’re over the moon for Leo – what an achievement. It’s such a fitting result for an extremely talented swimmer – it’s been a pleasure to watch him grow and develop through his journey from training at BCS Prep, through to BCS Senior and beyond.”

Alice Tai, another ex-pupil and former BCS swimmer, also made a remarkable come-back in Paris less than three years on from major surgery by clocking up five medals in five events and winning the Women’s S8 100 Backstroke in a Paralympic record time of 1:09.06.

On the home front, congratulations must also go to BCS SC which has been nominated for the Swim England South West Swimming Club of the Year 2024. The National Awards take place on 28 September.

Photo: A victorious Leo with BCS Coach James Ryan.

Channel Swim success for Wendy

August 19, 2024 By Dorset ASA

Many congratulations go to Dorset’s Wendy Bates who successfully completed the gruelling Dover to Cap Griz Nez Channel Swim on 17 August in an impressive time of 12 hours 10 minutes.

The Seagulls Master swimmer, who is clocking up a creditable history of undertaking long swims, must also be congratulated on being selected to represent Great Britain at the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) World Championships in January 2025 to be held in Molveno, Italy.

Well done Wendy!

Photo: A jubilant Wendy after her solo swim across the Channel.

2024 Dorset team for Inter-County Championships announced

August 18, 2024 By Dorset ASA

The Dorset County ASA team for this year’s National County Team Championships at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge on 6 October 2024 has been announced this week with 24 swimmers from six clubs having been selected as follows.

Bournemouth Collegiate – Oliver Cocks, Lucas Rijvers. North Dorset – Oliver Buck. Poole – Freddie Beasley, Macie Cailes, Poppy Collins, Leo Condie, Halle Harris, Jessica Huggins, Daria Korotkova, Amelia Newsum, Jack Palmer, Henry Walker, Leo Wisbey, Hugo Young. Seagulls – Edward Bell, Sophie Kilby, Freya Treliving. Swim Bournemouth – Kira Burgart, Elliott Dunnett, Lucas Garel-Jones. West Dorset – Anna Miles-Simonite, Sadie Robinson, Layla Wareing.

Age groups for this competition are 12/13, 14/15 and 16/17 years, with age as at 31 December 2024.

Coaches for this year’s competition are Barry Alldrick (Poole) and Jeff Sandley (Swim Bournemouth).

Dorset para-swimmers receive Achievement Awards

August 18, 2024 By Dorset ASA

Two Dorset para-swimmers have been recognised for outstanding achievement in the sport and were presented with Dorset County Achievement Awards by County President Karen Yendole at the recent Dorset Development Competition held at Littledown LC in July.

Zack Sturgess of Bournemouth Collegiate SC was presented with a total of three certificates, the first being for his first international selection to represent the England Para Talent Team at the Scottish National Open Championships at Edinburgh’s Royal Commonwealth Pool in June 2024 where he had been selected for five events and clocked up a second and two third placings. A further two certificates were awarded to Zack for breaking two British Para Swimming Records (S10 Category), both long course and short course, in the 1500m Freestyle.

A second Achievement Award for international selection, this time by English Schools to represent England at the World School Sport Games in Rio de Janeiro in August 2023, was also presented to Isabella Haynes of Swim Bournemouth. Isabella was also named by the English Schools Swimming Association as their Top Female Para-Athlete 2023.