Articles
Coast Grand Prix November 2014
The first real competition of the season for Duncan Scott was in Aberdeen at the new Sports Village. The 17 year old headed north with Stirling University teammates on the Friday. He swam a super 1500m breaking his own personal best (PB) and a West District record.
Saturday morning heats, a much needed rest and then back for finals. Delight for him to be on the podium with fellow Commonwealth Games 4 x 200 silver medal relay team members Stephen Milne and Robbie Renwick. The Scots relay team time has world ranking with 5th place. Duncan’s time in the 200 Freestyle is now the fastest for a 17 year old all time in the UK and another west district record. The 200 Back later in the evening, record no 3.
Sunday, again morning heats followed by the finals in the evening. He broke district records in the 400 Free and 200 Fly and finaled in the 200 Breaststroke. Great seasons start for the youngster who heads to North Carolina USA next week for more racing before a two week training session with the Japanese in Tokyo.
British Swimming strengthens ties with Japan ahead of Tokyo 2020
By Nick Hope BBC Olympic sports reporter
British Swimming hopes a partnership with Japan will boost medal prospects at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
The deal will see GB swimmers head to Japan for training and acclimatisation programmes over the next six years.
Three British Youth Olympic medallists form part of an eight strong group for the first camp in Tokyo next month.
"We're trying to accelerate the development of those we expect to be in their prime by 2020," said Tim Jones, of British Swimming.
The 'head of performance pathway' continued; "The quality of youth swimming in Japan is beyond anything in comparison with the rest of the world, except perhaps the USA.
"They work harder and for longer hours than we do from a younger age - because of their education system - so there will be things we can learn."
Jones - a former international swimmer - previously worked for British Gymnastics, who operated a similar 'acclimatisation approach' ahead of the 2011 Tokyo World Championships, which were crucial to London Olympic qualification.
Hannah Miley Warms Up For World Title Defence As New Chapter Starts In Scotland
Hannah Miley, Commonwealth 400m medley champion for Scotland this summer past, will warm-up for the defence of her world short-course crown in Doha next month at the new Aquatics Centre in Aberdeen this weekend.
The first stage of the Scottish Grand Prix will be held at the Sports Village from Friday until Sunday under the guidance of the City of Aberdeen Swimming Team (COAST). The series continues in Edinburgh and Glasgow early next year.
The Aberdeen meet might have attracted a bigger British entry had it not clashed with the British University Championships but the likes of Robbie Renwick, Duncan Scott and Andrew McGovern, members of Scotland’s home Games squad in Glasgow this year, will compete.
That Aberdeen now has a £22 million 50m Aquatics Centre makes the Granite City a potential host to international events. All good news for Scotland in a year in which the national team stepped up to do a fine job at a home Games in Glasgow.
2020 camp is full of Eastern promise
12 November 2014
A select group of young swimmers will head to the Far East next month as part of a partnership between Britain and Japan that aims to enhance medal prospects at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Eight of Britain’s brightest talents will travel to Japan as part of the Tokyo 2020 (3TP) Project where they will train with their hosts’ national squads while acclimatising to the environment and culture.
The overriding essence of 3TP is one of partnership and as such both junior and senior swimmers from both nations will train together at camps in Japan and Britain through to the Tokyo Olympics and beyond.
The British contingent will include Youth Olympic and European Junior medallists such as Luke Greenbank and Georgia Cotes.
"We're trying to accelerate the development of athletes we expect to be in their prime by 2020," said Tim Jones, British Swimming Head of Performance Pathway who will lead the groups to Suzuka for the boys and Shizuoka for the girls.
Speirs Centre in Alloa has very grand reopening
Published: 25 Oct 2014
THE newly renovated Speirs Centre in Alloa opened its doors last weekend, with a free community fun day for all the family
The centre, which officially reopened on Saturday (18 October), includes a temporary exhibition place, a modern library facility and local and family history facilities with access to all of Scotland’s birth, death, marriage, old parish records, open censuses and more.
It also features customer service facilities for all enquiries, payments and bookings, wi-fi and computers for public use.
Council leader Gary Womersley officially opened the centre, saying, “The family fun day was a great success, throwing open the doors of this wonderfully refurbished building to the people of Clackmannanshire.
“I am delighted that as part of the Making Clackmannanshire Better project we have been able to make the investment in this important but previously underused historic building, which can now be enjoyed by the community and visitors for a wide range of services.”
The first exhibition at the venue is a celebration of the Commonwealth Games and aspects of sport in Clackmannanshire, highlighting the sporting achievements of local people featuring a variety of items from the council’s collection as well as articles donated by individuals.
