Elmbridge Phoenix Swimming Club is a highly competitive and successful club, promoting swimming in the Borough of Elmbridge. The club has an enthusiastic membership of about 200 young swimmers, a great deal of time and commitment is devoted to excellence in swimming skills.

The club is in Division 1 of the Premier Speedo League South and also participates in the Rother League.

The club has sixteen hours of water time a week. The youngest cadets are offered 1 hour per week; the most advanced swimmers are offered fourteen hours in seven sessions per week.

History

The Elmbridge Phoenix Swimming Club was founded in 1908. Before the Walton-on-Thames Pool was built in the 1960s, the club held races, river sports and fun galas in the River Thames. Victoria Cross and sculling races, water jousting, costume races and Tug-o-war were interspersed with handicap and scratch swimming Events.

By the early 21^st century the old 33m pool in King's close was becoming more expensive to maintain, and the council thought the land would be better used for housing. In 2006 the leisure centre at Waterside Drive was rebuilt to include an eight-lane 25m competition pool and was renamed as the Xcel Centre. The club moved into the new centre even before its public opening and shortly afterwards the old pool was demolished.

Club Structure

The club is run as an Amateur Competitive Swimming Club. Its activities are overseen by a Committee of four Officers and other supporting members.

The Coaching staff of fourteen comprises the Chief Coach, Assistant Club Coaches and ASA Teachers, who are fully responsible for coaching and training the Club's swimmers.

Coaching

The Chief Coach is Di Hargrave, who joined the club in 1994, and has been instrumental in developing the clubs current success.  Di is supported by a team of qualified ASA Coaches and Teachers.

For training purposes the club structures its swimmers into ability/age groups, so that each swimmer has the chance to develop his/her full potential, with the ultimate aim of building a strong competitive squad.

Swimmers

There are approximately 150-160 swimming members, with 30-40 cadet members.
Cadets become full members on acceptance of them into the Development Squad or at a higher level. Membership is primarily in the 8-18 years age groups.

Competition

The main competitive aims of the club are the Surrey County Championships, which take place annually in Febuary-March. The club is 9th in Surrey at present, and hoping to do better next year!

Every year the club competes in a number of Galas against other clubs.

The club swims in the National Speedo League, these take place annually in October, November and December.  The club is currently in Division Two East of Southern Region.

Next there are the ASA South-East Region Summer Championships, taking place in May-June and July, these are slightly tougher to get into, but Elmbridge Phoenix usually have a good strong entry. Last year the club was ranked 19th overall.

Internally, the club holds four Club Championships a year. These events are open to all club members. In addition there are four Little and Big Leagues a year, where swimmers do 50m sprints.

Our best swimmers are encouraged to compete in the Nationals, as mentioned in the introduction to this page.

Committee

The Committee is elected at an Annual General Meeting. Current officers and committee members are:

The Officers have considerable experience in running a Swimming Club and commit a great deal of time and effort to club activities. They all have children who have either swum at the club or who currently do so.

Social Events

These are very popular! And include a Summer B-B-Q and a Christmas Party, these include various fund raising activities. (We are always looking for ways of keeping fees down!!).