Summer 2010

Bridge of Don
Newsletter
newslettereditor@bodasc.co.uk

President’s piece
Welcome to our summer coaches will look to within companies that
2010 Newsletter, Kevin for guidance and you feel the club could
support. approach for sponsor-
BODASC has had a very
At the end of May, after a ship please let us know.
busy few months since
the AGM, with a new talk about Open Water There will be reports in
Inside this issue: Swimming from Brian
committee in place we this newsletter from
are working together to Bain, some swimmers many key members of
Coaches Reports 2-5
continue to provide you attended Open Water our club, coaches, com-
Well done Emma 6 with a happy, safe envi- Training at Knockburn mittee and swimmers.
ronment to swim to your Loch and the next day we Without them our club
Postal Swim, One hour 6 full potential. Thank you had swimmers compete would not run as
challenge to all committee mem- in their first Triathlon at smoothly or our swim-
Triathlon success 7 bers and volunteers who Stonehaven. mers be as successful.
give up their time for the The club is encouraging We have a great club and
Open water swimming at 8 club. There is a vacancy everyone to visit our web- are lucky to be based at
Knockburn Loch on the committee for an site, here you will find up our home pool in Bridge
Adult Member; this is a to date information, of Don.
East District Open water 9
Championships supporting role and a news and dates for your Have a lovely summer
gentle introduction into diary. The website is up- everyone and we look
the running of the club. dated immediately, if for forward to seeing you all
Please contact me by any reason the pool has after the break, ready to
email: president@ to close, so please check tackle the new season
bodasc.co.uk if you could it out at with some new meets
fill that role or on 01358 www.bodasc.co.uk being attended. Our
742385. BODASC was founded in meet calendar will be
1980 and we celebrate available on the website
We are delighted that
Please Note : our 30th Anniversary this once confirmed.
Kevin Paterson is Head
Coach at BODASC. To- year. The committee is Have a safe, happy
Club membership fees will working on providing per-
gether with the commit- (sunny?) fun filled sum-
be due in September, the sonalised caps to cele-
tee Kevin is working on mer.
membership secretary will brate this and also to
appointing Lead Coaches
send out a note to remind
for each squad from JT4 provide different medals Audrey
everyone.
upwards to Elite. This at Club Championships Audrey Deans, President
will give coaches owner- to mark this anniversary.
If you have any contacts On behalf of the committee
ship of their squad and
Page 2
Head Coach’s Report
I was asked to take on
the roll as Head Coach
after the AGM in March,
and after a long, long
think I decided to take on
the roll.
This is my first piece as
You may Head Coach for the
also contact newsletter.
I have been a teacher &
me at coach since 2004, but
got involved with the club
anytime,
back in late 2002.
either at Over the last 3/3.5 years
headcoach@ the club has not had a
head coach. However I
gmail.com do feel that I have been
doing the same job, but
or catch me
just in background.
at the pool.
I think the club has really
progressed in this time,
as can be seen with the
number of swimmers
gaining great PB’s, DRP
times and the amount of
top end swimmers.
I hope to continue this
great work with the help
of the coaches, commit-
tee and of course all the
swimmers.
Hopefully more progress
will be seen in the year
ahead.
Bridge of Don
There will be a number of
changes ahead as all
squads are going to have
a lead coach, who will be
responsible for their own
squad and its planning.
These names will appear
on the web page before
the restart after the sum-
mer holidays.
We are also looking at
changing to a new time-
table after the holidays
due to squad move-
ments, and space in the
pool.
If you have any concerns
regarding anything
please speak to your
squad coach first.
Finally, to all swimmers,
coaches, committee
members and parents,
happy holidays, enjoy the
summertime? See you all
back fighting fit and rar-
ing to go.
Kevin
Head Coach.
Summer 2010 Page 3

BODASC supporters club

In this picture, Ash who are involved with the
(McIntosh) can be seen club. If you do, please
giving his full support to send them in to the editor
BODASC, Is he the club’s who will be delighted to
most loyal supporter? publish them.

We thought that you may

have other fun photos of
friends, family & pets

Coaches report: JT4

everyone whether it is in
Well, what can we say… JT5 will be very sadly a pool, the sea or your
those JT4 swimmers who missed (very tempted to bath!
have shown up to most hang on to you but you Enjoy the long lies on a
or all of their sessions were just too good). As Saturday and come back
have done incredibly for those of you who
well. We are so proud of have worked hard and ready to work hard. Well
you for coming along, just need a bit more of done to everyone in JT4!
having fun, listening, im- our time, we are really
proving and trying so so looking forward to seeing Happy summer holidays,
hard! You have all been you after the summer
fun to work with and
Lorraine &
break.
those who are moving to
Keep up the swimming
Dani
xxx

Coaches report: JT5

Well done to both our This term I've been par- JT5 is hard work, and I'd
JT5 classes this term for ticularly impressed with encourage everyone to
their continued hard our starts and our keep working at it.
work. streamlining off the wall,
You've been a pleasure
both of which are looking
We've seen some swim- to teach this term, and I
great.
mers putting in excellent hope everyone has a
attendance and making Remember to keep doing great summer!
great improvements. this at all times though!
Let's aim to keep this up!
Thanks

Michael
Page 4 Bridge of Don
Newsletter

Coaches Report : JC1

This is my last report as fore leaving to further my teach and I know that at
a teacher and a coach. I own swimming career. I times I have pushed you
would just like to say then came back to teach hard, but you have re-
thanks for all your sup- and coach with the club sponded so well. Hope
port over the past year, I and I have learned so you all keep up your
have really enjoyed much during this time. swimming.
working with you all and
BOD have been such an
you have all improved
amazing team to train With love
and come on so much.
and work with and I wish
I have been with BOD for you guys every success Debbie
14 years from learning in the future.
to swim myself through
JC1 have been a great
squads and training be-
group of swimmers to
“Debbie, thank
you for all that
you have put into
swimming with Coaches Report : JC2
the club . We all
wish you lots of It’s been another great
success and fulfil- We would like also to term working with JC2 for
Summer is here already. congratulate all those me. Everyone has come
ment in your fu- JC2 has been a really big who have been moved on so much, and I’ve no-
ture career” squad this year. Everyone ticed a lot more effort
up to JC3. well done!
has really worked hard, being put in to training
with lots of work on tech- Thanks to all our pool-
sessions, which is show-
nique and distance, and side helpers too, you are
ing in the results of com-
the results have been a great help. Also to the
coaches that have cov- petitions.
some great improvements
in both. ered for Kevin on his Keep up the great work
away days. Its been a guys, and try not to eat
During competitions JC2 great first six months, so too many ice-creams
swimmers have done keep up the good work over summer, I want to
really well with medals and continue to work see you all fit and well for
and PB's. hard. when you get back in the
You have been a great Hope you have a Great pool!
credit to your squad and summer, enjoy your 5 Thanks everyone,
club. This shows that all weeks off and we will see
the hard work pays off.
you all in August.
Keep up the good work.
Emma

Kevin & Diane

Summer 2010
Coaches Report :JC3
Thanks once again to the
JC3s for another term of
hard work, both from re-
turning and new squad
members. I feel like
we've had a lot going on
this term, with some
highlights being the De-
velopment meet, Ythan,
Peterhead, April Showers
and our own recent time
trials.
Well done to our new
squad members who
have quickly adapted to
training with the JC3s,
including the increased
distances. I'd also like to
say well done for various
Coaches Report : Elite/Associates
It’s been a really busy 6
months. There have
been many meets and
the Elite squad represen-
tation is increasing at all
levels, from mini meets
through to the Westhill
Invitational. There have
been masses of PBs and
medals and every meet
has had memorable per-
formances from Elite
squad swimmers. The
season finished on a
high with seven Elite
swimmers at the devel-
opment meet, all achiev-
ing good PBs, and with
some bronze times and
medals as well. Well
done to you all.
We’re hoping to build on
technique improvements
made recently, with our
breaststroke and butter-
fly kick improving consid-
erably!
We have a good attitude
in this squad, and a lot of
enthusiasm. However,
let's make sure we're
paying attention to coach
instructions and to our
training sets for the
whole session! So let's
cut down a bit on the
splashing, and on the
writing of people's names
on each other's backs
(we know who you are,
it's fine)... I can also con-
your success so that next
year you’ll all be swim-
ming further and faster.
Some of you are getting
close to North District
Age Group Championship
times, and even Open
Championship times so
there are plenty of chal-
lenges for you still to
meet.
We’ve tried a couple of
new ventures this year.
For the first time I can
remember we had a dis-
tance time trial, we had
our one hour swim, and
we have also had a go at
open water swimming .
It’s been great to see the
enthusiasm and good
humour with which you
Page 5
firm that after a lengthy
consultation period, kick
boards will be banned as
weapons with immediate
effect!
This aside, I'd like to say
congratulations to all our
squad swimmers, and I
hope all are looking for-
ward to a well deserved
summer break.
Come back ready to work
again!
Peace.
Michael
have tackled the open
water swimming and a
special well done to the
six swimmers who took
“Thanks to
part in the East District
Open Water swim at Lo-
you all for
chore Meadows. I know
some of you intend to
your hard
enter more open water
meets over the summer
work this year
so good luck in that.
It’s been a long and tiring and for
season so make sure you
get plenty of rest over representing
the holidays, try out
some new activities and your club so
come back refreshed
and raring to go. well”
Alison
Page 6
Inside Story Headline
Well done Emma
Emma Mitchell has en-
joyed a wonderful year
of swimming success
including taking part in
the Disabled Swimmers
Events National Junior
Swimming Champion-
ships held in Sheffield
in March. In this picture
Emma is proudly show-
ing her Bronze medal
which she won for the
50m breaststroke.
Emma has also been
selected to take part in
the UK School games in
Sept. for the 100m
Breaststroke. This is a
fantastic achievement
and really shows what
potential Emma has for
the future. Since the
first UK School Games,
Postal Swim: One Hour Challenge 2010
Congratulations to all
swimmers who took part
in our first "One Hour
Challenge Swim", each
swimmer was entered
into the Postal Swim op-
erated by the British
Long Distance Swimming
Association and all have
just received their
badges.
British Swimming has po-
sitioned the event very
highly and for disability
swimming it sits just below
the World Class pro-
gramme. Athletes take
part in a multi sport com-
petition that provides
them with an invaluable
educational and inspira-
tional experience.
Emma will be representing
Scotland North & West at the
games and we all wish her
much success. Go Emma!
“On Friday 5th of March I had
to leave home at 6am to get
to Stirling to catch the bus
first to Edinburgh then Glas-
gow to pick up the rest of the
Scottish squad. After Glas-
gow, we had a 257 mile jour-
ney down to Sheffield. When
we arrived at the hotel my
nerves were getting the bet-
ter of me. I was terrified be-
cause I didn’t know hardly
anyone who was in the team
except my roommate, Hope
from Highland. On Saturday,
I was very nervous about
what to do and how every-
Stevie Brands swam fur-
ther than everyone with a
massive 3775 metres
and was presented with a
new BODASC trophy by
Bruce Deans.
Hannah Coldwells and
Gemma Morgan were the
next best female swim-
mers with 3705 metres.
Michael Miller led for the
boys with 3745 metres,
Bridge of Don
thing worked. But it all got
better as the day went on
as everyone was kind and
friendly. At lunch time, I
got lost in the giant maze
which was Pond Forge
(the pool). The best part of
that day was when I came
first in my race for 50m
breaststroke. I felt on top
of the world! On Sunday it
was much clearer, but I
was shattered by the time
we finally went back to the
hotel. We packed to go
home just after tea. On
the bus Paul (the swim co-
ordinator) gave out all the
medals. I got a bronze for
my breaststroke. I first
thought I was going to get
gold but medals were for
first, second and third
overall in your disability
class. We once again had
to stop at Edinburgh and
Glasgow then Stirling on
the way home, where my
lift was waiting. We finally
got home about 10ish to
Bridge of Don, I was
sooooo tired!!”
with Iain Macdonald
on 3495 metres and
Campbell Tough on
3200 metres.
It was a great event
and we look forward
to making it an an-
nual feature of the
BOD calendar.
Summer 2010 Page 7

“Well done
to each and
everyone of
you who
completed
the one
hour
challenge”

Fleet-Feet Triathlon success

Despite heavy rain and
strong winds almost 90 Finlay Deans and Meg
excited kids dragged Patterson were runners
their mums and dads out up in their age groups
of bed early and headed too. A brilliant introduc-
to Mackie Academy on tion to the sport of triath-
Sunday 30th May 2010 lon. Well done to all.
to take part in Fleet-Feet
Kids Triathlon.
Shortly after all the kids
had received the briefing
the first swim heat got
under way.
BOSACS swimmers had a
great day. In the 13yr
olds Ailish Crombie won
the girls race in a time of
23:22.
Page 8 Bridge of Don
Newsletter

Open Water Swimming: Knockburn Loch, 29th May 2010

“This will be After a few minutes the experieince of open

the coldest Ten brave BODASC swim- screams had subsided water swimming in
mers (and one dad), tried and the group swam up Scotland but others were
water you
out the open water ex- the loch and around the enthused, if a little
experience perience with Brian Bain, island, negotiatied the frozen, but plan to
all season” North District Open Wa- long weed and the compete in their first
ter Convenor, in the pur- numerous tadpoles and East District
pose built training loch some even managed a Championships later in
just outside Banchory, smile for the final sprints June.
The scenery was beauti- round the bouy.
ful but the water was a
cool 10 °C which left our For some
swimmers gasping for this may
breath. Spectators wore have been
fleeces and jackets - it their first
was breezy. and last
 Summer 2010
East District Open Water Championship, 13 June 2010
Six BODASC swimmers . Hope your
competed in their first
open water champion-
ship on 13 June at Lo-
chore Meadows in Fife.
Huge respect goes to the
girls who took part,
namely Jasmine, Gemma
M, Ellis, Hannah, Gemma
E and Stevie who braved
the cold water (no wet
suits allowed) and really
did our club proud.
Stevie, who competed in
the 2km race put in a
really excellent time as
did all the other girls who
took part in the 1km nov-
ice race.
. the water was so cold, I
Page 9
numbers
have
washed off
by now
girls !
Congratulations to Hannah
Coldwells who took the
bronze medal in the 1km
race in 16 minutes 30 sec-
onds. Hannah said “It was
very scary at the start as
couldn’t move until Jas-
mine shouted at me and
got me going! I was also
worried in case I went the
wrong way round the
course. There were 5 peo-
ple in kayaks who made
sure you didn’t get into
trouble in the water.
Everyone really enjoyed the
swim and some of us are
going to enter the Scottish
Championships at Strath-
clyde Park later in July.”
 Based at Bridge of Don Swimming Pool, a 25 metre pool
located at Bridge of Don Academy and Community Educa-
tion Centre, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, Scotland.
The Club has approximately 100 children, aged from 5 to 20
and takes swimmers from learning to swim stages to com-
peting at North District Level. We also feed swimmers in to
the City of Aberdeen Swim Team (COAST) which takes swim-
mers through to competing at National level.

V ISIT OUR WEBSITE: Swimmers with the club have the opportunity to :

www.bodasc.co.uk Develop their swimming skills

Improve their fitness

Make new friends

Meet friends at regular training sessions

Dates for your diary:
Swim in friendly local competitions
September Splash
Enjoy organised swimming trips in Scotland,
4th September 2010 mainly in the North East

Please help raise money for the club online

Dear parents and guardians

I would like to highlight a simple way to help raise funds for the club when you shop online.
If you sign up for a free account at http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/bodasc and follow the provided links to your favour-
ite retailers then when you make a purchase from that store the club will receive a percentage of the value of your pur-
chase. After you’ve arrived at your chosen online shop using the easy fundraising link simply browse and buy from the re-
tailer’s site as you would normally. No further action required.
In tough economic times we are all watching our spending. When you have a purchased planned; whether it’s bagging a
bargain in the sales, doing the weekly food shop or renewing the car insurance please consider going to the shop via easy-
fundraising.
Fundraising allows the club to purchase new equipment and keep the cost of our swimming lessons down which benefits
us all.
Take care,

Graham Bruno
Club Teacher & bodasc.co.uk administrator