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Welcome to the EPSC web site. We are an active swimming club based in Walton-on-Thames (about twenty miles south-west of London), catering to all ages. Please use the menu above to find out more.

Swimmer of the month for June is Alex Merrill

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Wednesday 28th to Sunday 1st August: National Age Group Championships at Sheffield Sunday 25th: Last day of normal training before the start of the summer timetable. This date was previously given, in error, as 21st July.

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Fareham Nomads Summer Open Meet

Last weekend, the club entered the last open gala of the season on the fixture schedule before the summer break. The gala is run over the weekend down at West Quay Leisure Centre in Southampton, covering all 50m and 100m events plus 200m free and IM. The first session got off to a flying start with Nicole Brenner taking a 3^rd in the 200 IM for 10 year old girls, with a huge 19 sec PB of 3.10.13. In the boys 11 year old 200 free Morgan Portat swam a great 12 sec PB and Alex Merrill took 6^th place in the 12 year old race in a time of 2.23.02. The older girls were up next in the 50m breast. Hannah swam a superb PB taking 3^rd with a fantastic time of 37.37 and Stephanie Franczak came in 6^th in her first under 40 sec swim of the year. Next medal was taken by Jessica Saunders in the 50m back for 10 year old girls, winning a well deserved bronze with a new PB of 41.01. The boys were not to be outdone, with Alex taking silver in the 100m free with a new PB of 1.03.57. Sarah Lidbetter then got 6^th in the 13 year old girls 50m fly. Thomas Sanford in the 14 yr old boys 100m free came 5^th. Back to the girls Nicole swam a 2 sec PB in the 50 free coming 4^th. A good 4 sec PB for Hanna Lidbetter in 200 IM with her sister Sarah also PBing to gain 6^th place. Thomas then took 4^th place in the 200 free with a PB of 2.11.83 in what was proving to be a very good weekend for Tom. Sarah Lidbetter showed how dominant she is in backstroke taking gold in the girls 13 year old 50 back with a new time of 32.25. Jessica fell just outside of the medals in 50m fly with a new PB. Liam Wiangke was the next swimmer to collect a silver medal with a great 1.38.80 PB in the 100m breast, with Alex taking 5^th in the same event for 12 year old boys. Sarah was placed 6^th in the 50m free for 13 year old girls.

After a short night’s sleep it was a very early start the following morning. Once again Nicole got off to a flying start taking a further silver medal in the 200m free. Thomas continued his impressive form taking 4^th in the 50m breast. Megan Reeves swam an impressive 3 sec PB on her 50 fly for 12 year old girls. Nicole added a further bronze medal in the 100 m free with a massive 7 sec PB of 1.15.70. Hanna achieved a further 2^nd place in a new PB of 1.22.76 in the 100m breast. Alex added a further silver medal in 50m free, with a fantastic swim to break the 30 sec barrier in a time of 29.35! Nicole and Jessica took 4^th and 5^th in the 100m back for 10 year old girls. 6^th places for Thomas in 200 IM and Liam in the 50m breast, with Alex taking a bronze in the same event in a time of 38.63. In the 100m fly both Chloe Philp and Summer Upton swam great 3 sec PBs. Summer having just returned from 2 weeks holiday, was returning to form. Alex was placed 5^th in the 50, fly. Chloe swam a 2 sec PB in 100 breast and Sarah finished off the meet with a gold medal in the final event of the day – 100m back. Overall the club came a credible 13^th out of 30 clubs with Nicole coming 4^th top girl and Alex and Sarah both taking 5^th respectively. All in all a good meet, that provided swimmers with their first opportunity to gain county times for 2011.

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The club are glad to welcome our new Head Coach Paul Martin, who will be taking up his appointment in September. Paul has previously coached for our neighbours Staines S.C. and for those who don't know him there follows a brief introduction:

Paul Martin - Biography

I've been involved in swimming since the age of 11 when I joined Feltham Swimming Club. Although this was really late in swimming terms, I worked my way up the lanes and eventually represented the old Hounslow Borough and Middlesex teams in frontcrawl. My team-mates at this time consisted of several present and future internationals and even an Olympic silver medallist so I felt in really good company.

I left swimming for a number of years in my late teens into my 20's to play squash and cricket. They seemed to be far more sociable than paddling up and down with my head in the water but I kept swimming occasionally when injuries forced me to!

After I got married and had children I took them along to Staines Swimming Club as I wanted them to be involved in some sort of sport. They both stayed in the Club until only a short time ago and during their careers they both qualified for Nationals in Sheffield.

My coaching career started because I was sitting on the poolside watching my children train and thought I had something to offer. I said I was interested in helping and over the next few years took my Level 1 and 2. I stuck with this for a short time and then took the opportunity of taking my Level 3 Coaching Qualification in Sheffield. During this time I taught and coached swimmers from 3 years of age up to Regional Qualifiers. In addition I have coached Staines' top squads when the existing Head Coach was not available and have taken a couple of the swimmers to Nationals.

Away from the pool, I worked for Barclays Bank for 28 years and at Bishop David Brown Secondary School in Woking for the past 3 years so my days are never dull! I also teach swimming at the school and at Spelthorne Leisure Centre for Sports and Leisure Management. Both of my children are swimming teachers as is my wife so you may see them on the poolside occasionally.

This will be my first Head Coach position and I'm really looking forward to helping all Elmbridge swimmers achieve their potential. It's a great Club and I am sure the future will be as bright as it's past.