Happy New Year for 2012!

As we look forward to the imminent arrival of 2012, it is worth casting our eyes back over the events of 2011, the achievements and the challenges.

Starting with a bang in the first weekend of January 2011, the Corsham Open Meet was a great success with many of our swimmers competing hard, winning medals and achieving County qualifying times. This momentum was carried through to the County and Regional Championships, and in both events a record number of Corsham swimmers qualified and took part. It is also good to see young swimmers progressing through the Learn to Swim programme in widths through to Tags and looking to be our star team members of the future.

The A Team reached the senior Wiltshire Moonraker League Final for the first time, with the U15 boys taking the honours which they repeated in the County Championships. The Summer League was just as competitive with a special mention to the C Team who again showed how enthusiastic and hard working they are, making the more senior swimmers look over their shoulders.

2011 also saw the first Open Water Training Weekend at the Cotswold Water Park, and the memories are still strong of the cold swimmers running to the hot showers (wish they had been!), campfire jollity and a number of the Club realising that this very different type of swimming may be their forte.

Add to this innumerable excellent performances by so many individuals in the various galas, sprints and championships, not to forget a County Captain from Corsham being appointed and in October one of the Club swimmers winning National Gold medals so as you can see there is much to reflect on with some satisfaction.

However that brings us back to the challenges for 2012 as we all need to work together to drive the Club forward. There have been significant changes in the Coaching Team in 2011 which has caused some adjustment but among the new faces please note that six Club members attained ASA Level 1 in Teaching/Coaching late in the year which boosts our capabilities - well done to all of them. We also start 2012 right away with a number of the swimmers competing in the Tigersharks Open Meet next weekend, followed by the Winter League Round 2 a week after, and then our own Open Meet immediately after that. So no rest just yet!

The Club is run solely by volunteers who work hard to keep things running and seek to make improvements wherever possible. So why not make a 2012 New Year's Resolution to get involved and bring your ideas to the table. There are many ways to help out and the Executive Committee and Coaching Team are always happy to have a chat.

So to wrap up (about time some may say!) I wish everyone a Happy New Year and look forward to working with you all in the Best Club in Wiltshire.