DATE: 15/09/11

Steven Tigg  - Development Coach Of The Year

Hi all

I wanted to send you on a link to a page on the Scottish Swimming website, reporting on the Scottish Swimming annual awards which were held at the weekend.  Steven Tigg - Head coach of our local FIRST programme was presented with the award for Development Coach of the year.   What a fantastic achievement!

http://www.scottishswimming.com/index.php?id=3954

Yvonne Kewell
President

Falkirk Otter ASC

DATE: 02/02/10

DATE: 01/02/10

DATE: 30/12/10 (Updated 21/01/11)

DATE: 20/01/11

DATE: 20/01/11

DATE: 29/12/10

Falkirk Otter ASC will have superb representation at the Scottish National Short Course Championships at Tollcross, Glasgow. 13 swimmers have qualified and will be competing as part of Falkirk Integrated Regional Swim Team (F.I.R.S.T.). Qualifiers are:

Ross Muir, Ryan Davidson, Erin Risk, Ramsay Elfendi, Gregor Birrell, Ian Elrick, Dale McAnish , Alex Waterson, Charlotte McKenzie, Rebecca Murray, Kayley Davidson, Lauren Yorston and Callum Lawrie.

Scottish Swimming’s National Squads

MAGs Meet, Grangemouth 12th September 2010

West District Group 5, Ayr September 4th & 5th

DATE: 12/09/10

Falkirk Swimmers at UK School Games, Sunderland

DATE: 12/09/10

DATE: 10/09/10

Falkirk Integrated Regional Swim Team Age Group Development Squad

As you may already know, Falkirk Integrated Regional Swim Team (FIRST) is a joint venture between Falkirk Otter ASC, Bo’ness ASC and Falkirk council to improve performance swimming in the Falkirk area. It's intention is to provide a development path for our swimmers to enable them to develop and compete at the highest levels including National level and has been an outstanding success in it's mission.

We are now in a position to extend the FIRST opportunity to a wider selection of our swimmers with the introduction of the FIRST Age Group Development Squad.

This squad is aimed at swimmers between 11and 13 yrs of age and will build to around 24 swimmers in size over a period of time. They will follow a program based around both West District and Scottish National Age Group level with a view to some qualifying for British National Age Group Championships.

The squad will be led by FIRST Age Group Development Coach Monica Borland, who brings over 10 years coaching experience with athletes from district, National and International level. Monica is responsible for all aspects of the squad, most notably the training and competition program. She also has a remit to work closely with partner clubs.

There is a specific criteria for selection as follows:-

Entry Criteria

• Swimmers aged 11 at end of year.

• Swimmers must have achieved a top 10 placing at West District ASA Championships in their respective age group in a 200m+ event.

• Should a swimmer have been unable to compete due to injury/illness rankings may be used.

• Swimmers must have a proven record of high attendance within respective gold squad and complied fully with the criteria within it.

• Swimmer must be willing to follow the competition and training program as agreed with the FIRST Age Group Development Coach.

• Able to Complete 2.5km+ per hour/25km+ per week with a high level of technical skill and consistency.

• Swimmers must ALWAYS demonstrate a positive attitude towards training and competing and be supportive of their peers at all times

NOTE: Meeting the above does not automatically mean selection. All movement is at the coach’s professional discretion.

Swimmers who meet the above criteria have already been identified and offered a place with the FIRST Age Group Development Squad which will begin from Monday 20th September.

Good look to those swimmers on this new and challenging opportunity within the club!

FALKIRK INTEGRATED REGIONAL SWIM TEAM (F.I.R.S.T.)

From 28th July to 1st August, Falkirk Integrated Regional Swim Team, F.I.R.S.T., consisting of swimmers from Falkirk Otter ASC and Boness ASC, competed at the British ASA Age Group Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. In total eight swimmers between the ages of 11 and 14 qualified to swim at this event which is the highest level of competition for Age Group swimmers in the UK. FIRST was set up just over 4 years ago as a joint venture between Falkirk Council, Falkirk Otters and Boness Swimming Clubs and the number of swimmers qualifying to compete at this level shows that the level of performance swimming in the Falkirk area has risen emphatically through this programme and that we have created an environment where those athletes with the ability, appetite and determination to succeed at the highest level can! 

The swimmers were supported throughout the event by FIRST Head Coach Steven Tigg whose advice and meticulous preparation ensured the swimmers could perform at their best.

Undoubted star of the team was 13 yr old Charlotte McKenzie who came away with two titles. She won the 100 Backstroke title for the third succesive year in a time of 1.04.94, just outside her own Scottish Record. She also improved on her silver medal last year by winning the 200 Backstroke title in a time of 2.20.51, breaking her own Scottish record which she had set in the morning heats! Charlotte qualified for the final of the 200 IM finishing in 10th place. Charlotte also competed in the 400 IM and 100 Fly.

13 year old Dale McAnish had a heavy programme competing in 6 individual events and two relays! On the second day of the meet, Dale qualified for the final of 200 Fly and 200 IM. He finished in 6th place in the 200 Fly in a time of 2.22.83 and repeated this result in the 200 IM Final in a new personal best time of 2.21.65. Dale then qualified for the final of the 100 Fly, again finishing in 6th place in a new personal best time of 1.03.26. The other events in which Dale competed were 100 and 200 Breast and 400 IM.

13 year old Rebecca Murray swam a very strong 1500 Freestyle, finishing in a time of 19.15.83, just outside her personal best.

The boys relay team of Dale McAnish, Ian Elrick, Scott Campbell and Duncan Scott competed in the 4 x 100 Freestyle and 4 x 200 Freestyle relays. In both events, they finished top Scottish team; knocking 3 seconds off their qualifying times from the Scottish Nationals in April.

The girls relay team of Charlotte McKenzie, Kayley Davidson, Lauren Yorston and Rebecca Murray also finished top Scottish team in the 4 x 100 Medley relay, knocking a whopping 6 seconds off their qualifying time set when the took the Gold medal in the Scottish Nationals in April.

The following week it was the turn of the older swimmers to compete. From 3rd to 7th August the British ASA Youth Championships took place where four of the 15 to 18 yr old boys competed.

Ross Muir (18) had a heavy programme with 6 swims and three relays. Ross took the Bronze medal in his favoured event, the 400 IM, just outside his personal best. He also qualified for three other finals finishing 6th in the 200 Back, 9th in the 200 Breast and 10th in the 200IM. Ross will now have a rest before heading to Delhi with the Scotland Commonwealth Games team where he has been invited to go along for the invaluable experience of being at a multi sport event.

Ryan Davidson (17) qualified to swim in 5 events. Ryan set new personal bests in two of his swims. In the 200 IM he knocked 2 seconds off his pb with a time of 2.14.55, in the 200 Back his time came down 3 seconds with a new pb of 2.12.69. He also competed in 100 Back, 100 Breast and 200 Breast.

Gregor Birrell (15) qualified for both the 100 and 200 Backstroke. He swam superbly setting a new personal best of 1.03.16 in the 100 Back and finishing just outside his personal best in the 200.

Ramsay Elfendi (15) qualified for the 200 Butterfly and had a really strong swim to knock a second off his personal best and set a time of 2.14.43.

The boys relay team of Ross Muir, Gregor Birrell, Ryan Davidson and Ramsay Elfendi competed in the 4 x 100 Freestyle, 4 x 200 Freestyle and 4 x 100 Medley relays. They swam really well in times just outside the qualifying times set at Scottish Nationals in April.

DATE: 06/08/10

Congratulations to Fiona Mitchell, Scott Lafferty and Erin Risk who each won £50.00 in the SASA Raffle and thank everyone who bought raffle tickets.

DATE: 05/08/10

Congratulations to Falkirk Otter and former FIRST member, Ross Muir, who has been invited to join the Scottish Commonwealth Squad in Delhi for the Commonwealth Games in October.

Ross (18) narrowly missed out on qualifying for the team but has been invited to travel to gain experience for hopefully his qualification for Glasgow 2014. Some of the swimmers from the Development Camp a few weeks ago will have met Ross when he gave a talk on his "swimming journey".

West District Group 3, Dumfries 15th &16th May

North Ayrshire Junior Meet, 8th & 9th May

Falkirk Otter Annual Mini-meet, Larkhall 24th April 2010

    

Scottish National Age Group Championships, Tollcross Glasgow - UPDATE

Just a follow up on the great success of the FIRST swimmers at SNAGs, below is a photo of the swimmers with their well earned spoils!

DATE: 22/03/10

Dumfries Graded Meet, 13th & 14th March 2010

DATE: 11/03/10

DATE: 27/02/10

Falkirk Otter swimmers, Charlotte McKenzie, Ian Elrick, and Dale McAnish have been selected to represent Scotland at the WISE Schools International which will be held at Tollcross, Glasgow from 19th to 21st March. They will compete against swimmers from England, Wales and Ireland. To have three swimmers selected from one club is an amazing achievement and is testament to the hard work the swimmers put in day after day.

DATE: 21/02/10

Congratulations to Falkirk Otter swimmers, Ian Elrick, Charlotte McKenzie and Dale McAnish who have been selected to attend Stroke Camps run by Scottish Swimming. They were selected on their performances at the Scottish Youth Development Squad camps.

Falkirk Otter swimmers performed superbly while representing their schools at the recent Central Schools Swimming Championships. They were held at The Peak in Stirling on Saturday 31st October.

Results are as follows:

Girls 12 & under

Jenna Lafferty (St Andrews PS): Gold 50 Back

Lauren Yorston (Carron PS): Gold 50 Fly

Deborah Meikle (Bantaskin PS): 6^th 50 Fly

Emily Howie (Carron PS): 6^th 50 Breast

Boys 12 & under

Drew Meikle (Bantaskin PS): Bronze 50 Back

Chris Inglis (Ladeside PS): 4^th 50 Back

Callum Lawrie (Dollar Ac): Gold 50 Fly

Marc Elrick (Sheildhill PS): Bronze 50 Fly

Girls 13-14yrs

Charlotte McKenzie (Larbert HS): Gold 100 Back, 200 Back

Rebecca Murray (Braes HS): Silver 100 Free, 200 Free

Hannah Reid (Falkirk HS): 4^th 200 Back

Carla MacAloney (St Mungos HS) 4^th 100 Breast

Katie Johnstone (Larbert HS): 5^th 100 Breast

Tyler Sams (St Mungos HS): 6^th 100 Breast

Boys 13-14yrs

Ian Elrick (Braes HS): Gold 100 Breast, 200 Fly

Dale McAnish (Grangemouth HS): Gold 100 Fly, 200 IM

Christopher Wall (Braes HS): Bronze 100 Fly, 4^th 200 Free

James Macfarlane (Braes HS): 6^th 200 Free

Girls 15-16yrs

Kirsty Park (Graeme HS): Gold 100 Breast, 200 Breast

Erin Risk (Braes HS): Silver 400 Free

Boys 15-16yrs

Scott Campbell (Larbert HS): Gold 200 Breast, 200 Fly

Girls 17-19yrs

Megan Risk (Braes HS): Gold 100 Fly, Silver 200 Free

Boys 17-19yrs

Ryan Davidson (Graeme HS): Gold 100 Back, 200 Back

Fraser Neilson (Larbert HS): Gold 100 Breast, 200 Breast

In addition to these outstanding individual performances Marc Elrick was part of the Shieldhill PS Boys 12 &under relay team that took Gold, while Chris Inglis and Ben Johnstone were part of the Ladeside PS relay team that took Silver in the same event. Emily Howie, Ruth McLaughlan and Lauren Yorston were part of the Carron PS Girls 12& under relay team that took Silver.

Charlotte McKenzie, Scott Campbell, Fraser Neilson and Katie Johnstone made a huge contribution to Larbert HS points total helping Larbert High to win the Top Secondary School Shield.

We now wait to see which medallists will qualify to compete in the Scottish Schools Championships at Tolcross, Glasgow in January.

Panto 2009 - Kings Theatre Glasgow, 29th December

DATE: 07/10/09

Canet, October 2009

The swimmers with Garvie Murray, (back row left), Steven Tigg (next to Garvie) and Richard Wyatt (back row, right)

A total of fifteen FIRST (Falkirk Integrated Regional Swim Team) squad members are due to undertake a seven day long, intensive warm weather training camp at Canet, in the South of France.  They will be accompanied on the camp by FIRST Head Coach, Steven Tigg and team manager, Garvie Murray.
 
The purpose of the trip is to further early preparations for the up coming season in an environment not available in the UK. The swimmers will have access to the Canet en Roussilion Swimming Complex which houses one ten lane 50m outdoor pool and one indoor 6 lane 25m pool with two, two hour swim sessions each day plus one and a half hours of land work.  They will cover between 6.5 and 8 kilometres each session, culminating in around 75 kilometres in the week. 
 
FIRST is a partnership set up in late 2005 between Bo'ness ASC, Falkirk Otter ASC and Falkirk Council to develop performance swimming in the Falkirk area.  It allows for more training and competitive opportunities for those swimmers from the top tier of the partner clubs who demonstrate the necessary commitment, attitude and ability to further their swimming careers that began with their clubs.  FIRST is headed by a full time coach and provides up to twenty hours training time per week.
 
In its short history it has managed to establish itself as one of the leading performance development programmes in Scotland and continues to grow.  The FIRST Junior programme is rapidly expanding with the support of the two feeder clubs which should help the programme to continue to make a name for itself.

The squad are pictured with Richard Wyatt from Traffic Management Company, Coneworx who kindly donated 20 poloshirts for the squad to wear on the trip.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the programme should contact either club.

DATE: 04/10/09

Selections For Scotland West at the British Inter County Team Championships, Sheffield 18th October

The club received some fantastic news in the last few weeks with no less than 6 swimmers being chosen to represent Scotland West at the British Inter County Team Championships in Sheffield on 18th October.

The swimmers selected are Ross Muir (17), Ryan Davidson (16), Ramsay Elfendi (15), Ian Elrick(13), Charlotte McKenzie (12) and Dale McAnish (12).

Five of the six swimmers train in the F.I.R.S.T. programme supported by Falkirk Council with Ross Muir now based in Stirling with the Scottish Institute of Sport.

Given that the team consists of 24 swimmers, this means Falkirk Otter ASC is making up a quarter of the team!

Congratulations and the very best of luck to the swimmers!

DATE: 14/09/09

West District Sprints at Ayr on 5th and 6th September

GOLD RUSH!

^{The club had a sensational weekend at the West District Sprints at Ayr on 5th and 6th September. The swimmers won no less than 13 INDIVIDUAL Gold medals, with Dale McAnish breaking the Scottish Records for 12yrs Boys in 50 Freestyle, 50 Backstroke and 100 Individual Medley on his way to 5 Golds out of 5! Dale also broke the West District Records for 50 Breaststroke and 50 Butterfly. Charlotte McKenzie broke the West District record for the 100 Individual Medley for 12 yrs Girls on her way to also picking up 5 Golds out of 5! Ryan Davidson also added to the gold rush with 3 individual golds.}

^{These results consolidated Falkirk Otter ASC’s position in 3rd place in the West District points table where there are approx. 50 affiliated clubs!}

^{Results were as follows:}

^{Girls 10-12 yrs}

^{Charlotte McKenzie: Gold 50 Free, 50 Back, 50 Breast, 50 Fly,100 IM}

^{Rebecca Murray: 5th 50 Free}

^{Girls 15-16 yrs}

^{Kirsty Park: 5th 50 Breast}

^{Boys 10-12 yrs}

^{Dale McAnish: Gold 50 Free, 50 Back, 50 Fly,50 Breast, 100 IM}

^{Boys 13-14 yrs}

^{Gregor Birrell: Silver 50 Back, 4th 100 IM, 5th 50 Free,}

^{Boys 15-16 yrs}

^{Ryan Davidson: Gold 50 Breast, 50 Back,100 IM, Bronze 50 Fly, 50 Free}

National & Regional Squad Selections

A New Addition For The Reed Clan!

Many congratulations to Alan Reed and family on the arrival of their baby son Torin Reed who made his appearance at Stirling Royal Infirmary  on Saturday 29th August at 12:23 weighing it at a healthy 7lb 9oz. Mother and son both doing well. In case you're wondering Torin means Chief of Thunder, so expect a feisty young chap!

DATE: 30/08/09

DATE: 09/08/09

Three Falkirk swimmers swam superbly at the recent British Youth Championships at Sheffield.

Ross Muir lead the way with Bronze in the 17/18yrs Men’s 200IM and 400IM, breaking his own Scottish records in the process. It was the 4th time in a month that Ross had broken his 200 IM record! Ross also finished 9th in the Final of the 100m Breaststroke.

Kieran McGuckin, also competing in the Men’s 17/18 years age group, swam superbly to finish 7th in the 100m Backstroke and 200m Breaststroke events and 9th in the Final of the 200 IM.

Ryan Davidson, competing in the 15/16yrs age group, swam excellent personal bests in both the 100m and 200m Breaststroke.

DATE: 30/07/09

British Age Group Championships, Ponds Forge, Sheffield, July 22nd - July 26th 2009

Falkirk Otter ASC had its biggest team of swimmers ever at the above championships with sensational results and performances.

Dale and Charlotte with their well deserved medals

Charlotte McKenzie

Charlotte won the Girls 12yrs 100m Backstroke , becoming British Champion for the second year running. Charlotte lead the race from start to finish, breaking the Scottish record with a time of 1.07.98. Charlotte had already won the Silver medal in the 200m Backstroke  in  a race she had lead all the way, but was pipped for gold by 0.01 secs. She also qualified for the final of the 200IM finishing in 9th place.

Dale McAnish

Dale won Silver in the Boys 12yrs 100m Butterfly. Dale lead the race after the first length and although over taken on the second length he fought back strongly just missing out on the Gold by 0.11secs. His time of 1.04.50 broke the existing Scottish record but sadly the Gold medallist was also Scottish so takes the record. Dale had already won the Bronze medal in the 200IM where he really pulled out a huge swim with a fantastic PB. Dale also qualified for the 100m Freestyle final finishing in 8th place with a 1.5 second pb.

Gregor Birrell

Gregor, swimming in his first British Championships, swam a pb in the Boys 14yrs 200m Backstroke with a time of 2.21.39 and also swam a time of 1.05.66 in the 100m Backstroke.

Ian Elrick

Ian, also swimming in his first British Championships, swam a time of 1.08.06 in the Boys 13yrs 100 Butterfly.

It was a tremendous achievement from the swimmers to qualify for the event and to go out and perform under the pressure of the biggest Championships for age group swimmers in this country is a credit to them and to FIRST Head Coach Steven Tigg.

A New Addition For Eleanor!

Many congratulations to Eleanor McGlashan who coaches the D1 swimmers on Monday nights. Her daughter Wendy (who also used to swim for the club) gave birth to a baby boy, Liam Michael on 17th July 2009.

Liam Michael

Scottish National Open Championships at Tollcross, Glasgow from 25th to 28th June

West District Group 4  at Tollcross, Glasgow on 20^th and 21^st June

Qualifiers for the Scottish Gas National Open Swimming Championships

M and B’s Meet at Johnstone Pool on 7^th June

Trojan Time Band Meet at Whitburn Pool on 31^st May

Alloa Open Meet at The Peak in Stirling on 30th and 31^st May

West District Group 3 Championships at Dumfries on 16^th & 17^th May

NEW2U!

Looking for training kit, fins, bags etc?

We have started a new service called NEW2U. This is based on a swapshop type idea whereby items will be offered in exchange for a small fee to the Club.
These will be items such as:-
Items that a swimmer no longer needs or they have out-grown, e.g. fins.
Items that become available to the club, e.g. Promotional items, clothing, swimming aids etc.

Donna Gardner has kindly agreed to coordinate this, click on the image below for details...


 

Check and join the Falkirk Otter Forum to see items currently on offer.

A group of our swimmers had an outstanding meet at Edinburgh International at the Commonwealth Pool from 13th - 15th February. There were some fantastic performances, especially from double Gold Medallists Charlotte McKenzie and Ian Elrick, with nearly everyone setting new personal bests. Results were as follows:

Mens

David Smith: 4^th 200 Back, 6^th 100 Fly, 8^th 50 Fly

Kieran McGuckin: 4^th 100 Back, 5^th 200 Back, 7^th 50 Breast

Boys 11-12yrs

Ian Elrick: Gold 100 Breast, 200 Breast, Bronze 200 IM, 100 Fly,200 Fly, 5^th 100 Free

Boys 13-14yrs

Gregor Birrell: 4^th 100 Back, 7^th 200 Free, 8^th 100 Fly

Scott Campbell: 6^th 200 Fly

Girls 11-12 yrs

Charlotte McKenzie: Gold 100 Back,200 Back, Silver 200 IM, 200 Fly, 5^th 100 Breast,100 Fly ,8^th 200 Free

Girls 15-16 yrs

Megan Risk: 6^th 200 Fly

DATE: 15/02/09

JAGs Meet, Grangemouth 7th February 2009 - Young Otters bring back Best Club Trophy

A large group of our younger swimmers had an outstanding day at the JAGS Meet at Grangemouth on 7th February. Some of them were swimming at their first gala and yet they came away with the Best Club Trophy. There were some fantastic performances and nearly everyone set new personal bests on the day.

Girls 8 yrs & under

Anya Reed: Gold 25m Free, 100m IM

Emily MacFarlane: Gold 25m Breast, 5^th 25m Free, 25m Fly, 100m IM

Kirstin Lawrie: Gold 25m Back

Erin Sutherland: 4^th 25m Breast

Jenna Lafferty: 4^th 50m Free, 5^th 50m Back, Breast, 25m Fly

Deborah Meikle: Silver 25m Fly, 6^th 50m Breast

Girls 10 yrs

Louise Cuthbertson: Bronze 100m IM,4^th 50m Free ,5^th 50m Back

Lauren Yorston: Gold 50m Back, Bronze 50m Free, 4th 100m IM, 5^th 50m Breast

Girls 11 yrs

Ashley Donaldson: 4^th 50m Fly

Carla MacAloney: Too Fast 50m Fly

Tyler Sams: 5^th 50m Fly

Boys 8 yrs

Chris Inglis: Bronze 25m Breast

Gareth Struthers: 5^th 25m Back

Boys 9 yrs

Marc Elrick: Gold 50m Breast, 100m IM

Callum Mitchell: Silver 25m Fly, 50m Free, Bronze 50m Back, 4^th 50m Breast, 100m IM

Andrew Wall: 4^th 25m Fly

Boys 10 yrs

Jack Gardiner: Gold 50m Fly,4^th 50m Back, 5^th 50m Breast

Ellis Lawson: Bronze 50m Fly,6^th 50m Free

Drew Meikle: 5^th 50 Fly

Boys 11 yrs

James MacFarlane: Gold 100m IM, Silver 50m Fly, Bronze 50m Back, 6^th 50m Free

Christopher Wall: Bronze 50m Fly,4^th 100m IM,5^th 50m Breast

David Kerr: 4^th 50m Breast

As if these great individual performances weren’t enough our relay teams won three silver medals and a 4^th place!

Other swimmers who competed and performed superbly were Jordan Colley, Jenna Cooper, Aimee Donaldson, Emily Howie, Erin Lawson, James McKenzie, Hannah Reid, Cameron Struthers, Orla Sutherland and Maddy Thorpe.