Some Chartered Accountants have a more personal approach - Griffin Chapman, proud to sponsor Colchester Swimming Club	About the Club The Club is broad based and caters for all aspects of swimming. Our activities include beginners' lessons, stroke development, competitive swimming, fitness training, water polo and life saving. Our younger swimmers regularly compete in time-based galas, progressing to league and open competitions at County, District and National level. Information about the squads, training times, fees etc appears below; more general information such as Club policies can be found on the Noticeboard page. Our pools Galas and Meets take place at Leisure World, Colchester CO1 1YH (directions & map);we train there and at the Garrison Pool, Colchester (location map). Joining the Club Anyone wishing to join should contact the membership secretary and will be required to attend a session for assessment. The individual will then be put into the appropriate group based on their skills. Swimmers can choose training times appropriate to their squad. Training times A variety of training times are available, depending on squad, at Colchester Leisure World fitness pool and the Garrison pool. Parents should be aware of arrangements for their children's safety and their own responsibilities - details. Training times Improvers' term dates Improvers train on either Wednesdays or Fridays. The Summer term runs from week commencing 16th April to w/c 25th June inclusive, with a break in half term w/c 4th June. Re-enrolment will take place on Weds 13th June and Fri 22nd June. The Autumn term runs from week commencing 12th September to w/c 21st November inclusive, with a break in half term w/c 31st October. Re-enrolment will take place w/c 8th November. Squad structure Squad details and current criteria A new squad structure was introduced from 1st January 2012. For further details of the rationale behind this decision, and information about the new structure and how it will operate, please see here. The new squad criteria can be found here. Fees Swimming fees include from £42 a term for beginners and improvers, from £90 a quarter for squad swimmers, £78 a quarter for water polo and £40 a term for life saving. Fee List. If you wish to make life easier and avoid forgetting, pay by standing order in future. E-mail the membership secretary for details. Time trials A chance for younger swimmers to get an official time. Details Competitions Information about Galas, Open Meets and Licensing can be found here. The Club hosts its own Open Meet annually and also holds Club Championships each year. Supporters' section Without whom none of this would be possible! More History Swimming in the River Colne, an oval pool, Referees in boats, wooden floats... Read On!
Training times (LW = Leisure World, G = Garrison) IMPORTANT: Temporary changes, for example reduced summer schedules and pool closures, will appear on the home page. A new squad structure was introduced from 1st January 2012. A revised timetable will appear here soon. In the meantime please see here. <>Fees Squad structure A new squad structure was introduced from 1st January 2012. For further details of the rationale behind this decision, and information about the new structure and how it will operate, please see here. The new squad criteria can be found here. Full information will appear here soon.   <> Training Times Quarterly fees A new squad structure was introduced from 1st January 2012. A revised fee table will appear here soon. To make life easier and avoid forgetting, why not pay by standing order in future? E-mail the membership.secretary for details. <> Squad structure <> Training Times Time trials These are held at Leisure World every 8-10 weeks, for our emerging squads. Watch the Club notice board at the Pool for details. Please make every effort to attend, as it is important that we have up to date times to aid selection for Galas. There will normally be the opportunity to swim for Bronze, Silver and Gold speed awards (according to ASA times) over 25m and to gain personal times over 50m. Supporters' section The Supporters' Section organises various social events throughout the year and provides invaluable help in all areas of the running the Club. The Section runs a Club Shop, from which a wide variety of swim wear and accessories is available at discount prices to the shops. Club branded wear is also available. There are many jobs where an extra pair of helping hands makes the Club run that bit more smoothly. If you wish to help, in whatever way, please e-mail the supporters.secretary. The early years In Spring 1884 a number of leading business and professional Gentlemen of Colchester met at the Red Lion Hotel and decided on the formation of Colchester Swimming Club. That summer, a swimming competition was organised in the Public Bathing Place between the banks of the River Colne near North Station. All the events were scratch races, and during the evening the Band of the Colchester Volunteers played for the competitors and spectators. The Mayor presented the prizes. In August 1884 a second competition was held which was to be the inauguration of an Annual Festival. A Life Saving Section was also established, which became very popular. "Come on in - the water's lovely!" From 1884 to 1932 all events and competitions against other clubs took place in the River Colne. Being river water the temperature at times was quite cold, and in times of drought the water level was very low, but these circumstances did not deter the enthusiasm of the Members. During these years canvassing was carried out for a covered indoor pool, but the Club and people of Colchester had to settle for the next best thing, an open air pool sited on the old bathing place, which was opened in 1932. The "new" open air pool "Please would spectators NOT run onto the pitch at the end." A grand opening Gala was held, with swimmers coming from all over England. The programme for this event, which is held in the Club archives, mentions many names still well known in business and the professions in the Town. The gala attracted a crowd of 1,700 people! The Membership of the Club had fallen to 27 as the idea of swimming in the River Colne became less attractive, but within 2 years of the outdoor pool opening this figure had risen to 243 which created a number of problems for both the Club and competitive swimmers. "Oi, Ref - stop putting your oar in!" The new pool was shaped like an egg and only the middle section could be used for competitions! This section was 55 yards long and races had to be judged by officials standing some distance away from the swimmers. Water Polo matches were refereed from a boat. During the era of the outdoor pool the Annual Festival and Inter Club Galas continued and the East Anglian Swimming League was formed. An arrangement with the Local Education Authority enabled children from local schools to attend the pool on Monday evenings for tuition by Club Members. "And the award for the wettest swimmer goes to..." In the latter part of the evening, races for both male and female members were held, points being awarded for entering the events, and resulting finishing positions. A trophy was awarded at the end of the season, to the swimmer gaining most points. Water Polo was also included in the evening's activities, so Monday became the Club night up to the start of the Second World War. One of the highlights in the swimming world during this period was the annual Long Distance Race between the Hythe and Wivenhoe, which took place in the River Colne. This event was open to males and females and covered a distance of approximately 2.5 miles. "Can you throw in a couple of floats, Coach? Aaarg!" In 1934 the Club was able to obtain the services of a professional coach, and training under her direction took place on Sunday mornings and afternoons. Obviously at that time the present day floats were not available, so the heavy duck boards from the changing rooms were used instead. The Social side of the Club was very active and to generate funds monthly club dances were held, which were very popular. They continued until the first year of the war, when the profits were donated to troop comforts and the local hospital. Until after the war, the Office of Club President was held by the sitting Mayor of Colchester. Since then (until 1990) the President has been the MP for Colchester. "It ain't half hot, mum!" In 1953 the Colchester Garrison pool was converted into a larger indoor heated pool. It was opened primarily for the use of troops but eventually outside organisations were allowed access, and the Club were allowed Friday evenings for their training sessions. The rest, as they say, is History....but can anyone bring us further up to date?

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