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 follow the links at the left to find out more.

Elmbridge Phoenix Swimming Club 1908 - 2008

The club were delighted to receive the following letter from Bill Sweetenham (former National Performance Director of British Swimming) in celebration of our centenary:

Swimming, both from a competitive and a participation base has improved significantly in the 100 years since Elmbridge Phoenix Swimming Club (formerly Walton Swimming Club) commenced some 100 years ago. It is pleasing and very satisfying that the club has moved forward at this same progressive rate of improvement.

Swimming as a competitive sport is arguably the most progressive sport in the world today with an amazing record of unprecedented all-time best performances and world records. The sport today has a massive participation base and could easily be considered the world's most participated-in sport. Competitive swimming enjoys an almost injury free activity. It is a sport that is commenced at a very young age and is continued into very senior ranks and is a pre-requisite for all other water-based sports.

In the early years, Walton Swimming Club commenced its training by utilising the Thames River. The old Boathouse was utilised as changing rooms and the training and competition was based on swimming from one side of the Thames to the other. However, in these early days this could only be done between March and October. How the club has moved forward from these days!

The club divided in the early 70s and as a result, a new name was initiated and the Elmbridge Phoenix Club came about. The club quickly advanced and embraced a much more competitive profile and enjoyed initial success with the mens relay team and then into many other events. This success continues today.

The club in more recent years has had tremendous success with major podium performances in youth and age group events and is breaking through with these same results at the national senior level. Three swimmers have been selected for the World Class Programme and this is due to the very positive and competitive nature of the club organization, and reflects the coaching at all levels of the club.

The club has an excellent history and a record of excellence in the teaching and coaching standards and expertise. It is appropriate that in this centenary year of the club, it is dedicated to achieving SWIM 21 status.

As the former National Performance Director of British Swimming, I had the pleasure of visiting several times and observing at close range the coaching and training of athletes at Elmbridge Phoenix Club. It is my opinion as a multiple Olympic coach that the athletes, parents, officials and coaching staff of the club are doing an outstanding job. I remain in contact with the coaching staff regularly as part of including the coaches in my Newsletter Group.

I offer all in the club every success for the future and extend my congratulations to all who are part of the club's history. The tradition of excellence that is part of this club's current and past culture is a standard that club members should be proud of, and for other clubs to aspire to.

Congratulations and best wishes to all in this, your centenary year.

Kind regards,

Bill Sweetenham, AM (Order of Australia)

Elmbridge Phoenix welcomes enquiries from anyone interested in swimming competitively.