CPNSC Training Camp

Following a year’s absence, WSC swimmers attended a weekend training camp at Crystal Palace over the weekend of the 1st & 2nd October.

During the course of the weekend the swimmers participated in 4 swimming sessions, a land training session, a training run (for the braver members!) and a fun evening.

Arriving relatively early (about 8.45) on the Saturday morning, rooms were allocated and no time was wasted before the first of the two hour pool sessions got under way. Fortunately this year, unlike on our previous visit, the management had got the pool temperature right and nobody turned blue! We had a few minor problems of lane allocation having only been able to secure 4 lanes of the pool (hence the restriction on the numbers that we could take) – in previous years we have been able to secure all 8 lanes in the main pool – but these were sorted out eventually. We have been promised more lanes on our next visit.

After lunch on Saturday, Chris Hall “volunteered “ to take swimmers on a light jog – well OK, a run - whilst the rest of the coaches buried their heads deep in paperwork and cups of tea! There followed a second pool training session.

After supper and some free time, the WSC horde held some team party games to attempt to persuade the coaches for more points to add to the ones that were being added or deducted during the day. Lights out happened (roughly) around 10.00, although some swimmers obviously hadn’t trained hard enough or slept talked together in the same room!

No excuses for the sleep talkers the following morning as breakfast and room inspection all proceeded the first pool session at 9.00am. After lunch an hour land training was followed by the last pool session.

WSC temporarily halted its training to watch the GB Commonwealth Syncro team go through their warm-up and routine. Spurred on by the William Tell overture (which believe me, once you’ve heard it 20 times….) WSC attempted to swim a length. Fortunately we perform better at competitive swimming!

To cap the weekend, awards were given to the team with the most points, the best boy and girl in each lane, the most improved boy and girl swimmer out of the 4 lanes and the best all round contributor from a swimmer for the weekend.

The coaches felt that the weekend was very worthwhile for team building and bonding, demonstrating what a good WSC spirit and atmosphere exists and look forward to the next one, where hopefully more swimmers can come.