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Beckenham SC International Open Meet 2012

BECKENHAM SC INTERNATIONAL OPEN MEET 2012

Level 1 Licensed Long Course Open Meet

On Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th May 2012

At the CRYSTAL PALACE NATIONAL SPORTS CENTRE

8 lane 50 metre pool with anti wave lane ropes, electronic timing and display.

Two Sessions per day with continuous warm down facility

PROGRAMME

50M and 200m all strokes; 200m and 400m IM and 400m freestyle for all age groups

100M all strokes for 10 and over girls and 11 and over boys

Heat Declared Winner

11/u, 12/13, 14/15 and 16 and over age groups

Awards in each event to top 3 in each age group

Awards for Top Senior and Junior Boy and Girl

Award to Top Visiting Club

Click for Promoters Conditions

To enter your swimmer(s) electronically please click on the boxes below to download (Save to your computer) the files you will need. You might want to download them to your ‘Desktop’. Please also print off the “Getting Started” file below, as it gives a Step-By-Step guide on how to make your entries.

Electronic Entry - Getting Started notes for guidance

After reading the guidance notes, use the image links below to:

• Download and install the Entry Manager program

• View the quick start video

• Import the "Entry File Set" for this competition.

Any general enquiries should be addressed to the event oganiser:

The Beckenham SC Open Meet Secretary

Closing Date for entries - Friday 30 March, 2012 (midnight)

Click here for a copy of the flyer

Michael Gunning Brings Home the GOLD in Barcelona!

20 January 2012

With less than 4 weeks until the British Olympic Selection Trials in March, Michael Gunning traveled off to the Catalonian International Winter Open Meet in Barcelona alongside the London Region swimming team, to take part in a 3 day competition against the International prospect.

The standard of the meet was extremely high with two world record holders and one multiple World Champion in attendance and the majority of the Spanish national senior and junior swim squads in action. The swimmers had to be swimming fast in the morning’s heats if they wanted to progress to either the A or B finals in the evening.

Despite being in heavy training, in preparation for the Olympic Selection Trials, Michael Gunning gave the race of the meet in the 400m freestyle, winning gold in the event from the outside lane, leading all the way and was rewarded with a new personal best time and another British Champs/Selection Trials qualifying time of 4.00.20. This was good enough to earn Michael the 6th place award in the Best Male Performance overall in the competition. The following evening Michael never failed to impress with another outstanding performance after picking up a bronze medal in the 200m fly with a time of 2.04.89, posting the fastest 18 year old time on the European Rankings, so far this year!!

Good luck at the trials Michael! You can see how he does via the British Swimming Website from 3rd – 10th March.

Also flying the Beckenham flag was Lauren Walton and Natasha Sinha, with Lauren Walton making her way into the evening finals in the 200m freestyle B final, going onto achieving a new personal best time in 2.05.59. Lauren also took part in the Woman’s 4 x 200 free relay where the team managed a podium place with silver in a time of 8.28.37. Natasha qualified for the B finals in the backstroke and butterfly events, achieving a national qualifying time in the 100m backstroke event.

Well done swimmers!!

Ellen Gandy London 2012 Progress

January 2012

Ellen Gandy, a life-time member of the club, who won silver in the 200M fly at the World Championships last year, continued her success recently in the important turn of the year Melbourne Meet. Ellen struck gold on the opening day of the Victoria State Championships in Melbourne; she qualified fastest for the 50m.

Butterfly final before taking gold in a personal best 26.54 – just 0.3 seconds short of Fran Halsall’s British record. Ellen underlined her impressive form with a personal best in the 800m Freestyle, touching in 8:47.43 to scoop bronze. She also won the 100m Butterfly title in Melbourne and qualified fastest for the final in 2:10.47, but followed her British teammate, Jessica Dickons, home for silver in 2:11.39. Follow Ellen’s progress via www.britishswimming.org and then click on the section on GB’s swimmers.

YOUR CLUB NEEDS YOU!

When you think of Olympians receiving their gold medals, do you think of their national anthem being played? I know that most people do! Often athletes are seen holding back the tears… Well, a famous Olympian and BSC swimmer never got that chance! When he won his gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, national anthems were not played (political reasons) and so he missed out big time! BBC Radio Five Live’s Colin Murray is travelling the length and breadth of GB for a major Olympic programme to find out one good thing or bad thing about the experience of our gold medal winners. DUNCAN GOODHEW is that Olympic gold medallist who never got to hear the national anthem. He asked that he return to BSC, where it all began for him. We are all going to give him the chance to have that national anthem experience and sing ‘God Save the Queen’ for him!

DATE: 13th February 2012

VENUE: Beckenham Spa Pool

TIME: FROM 6PM

Whether you are a master, water polo player, swimmer, coach/teacher, parent, committee member…WE NEED YOU to be there to make this a ‘night to remember’ for Duncan. He will also be interviewed and there will be time for some questions on the night. The Spa is delighted to be working with us on this exciting event. Note - the Monday training schedule will go ahead as normal.

So – we need Union Jacks; BSC flags; but mainly you and your voices!

Ellen Gandy claims 200m butterfly silver in the World Championships

27th July 2011. Shanghai

Ellen Gandy wins the first World Championship medal of her career, taking 200m Butterfly silver in 2:05.59. The 19-year old missed out on gold by just 0.04 seconds.

Congratulations Ellen - from all at Beckenham SC !

RISING STAR: Ellen Gandy, still only 19, won 200m butterfly silver at the World Championships in Shanghai

Click here to see article from the Telegraph

Click here to see the video

DOUBLE GOLD and SILVER for the Gunning Brothers!

29th July 2011.

Following Luke Gunning’s victory in the 200m Butterfly earlier in the week, Luke ‘doubled up’ to take the 13 year old 100m Butterfly crown in a much closer race in the National Age Group Championships! The Double National Champion was neck and neck with his closest rival and despite turning in second at the halfway point, Luke fought back to overtake his opponent and touched first by a tenth of a second.

Gunning said “After winning my 200m Butterfly earlier in the week, I did not want to celebrate much because I still had my main event to come. I knew that all the swimmers would be out to get me so I had to work twice as hard to get the gold again. I love racing and it was such a tough race and when I hit the pads I had no idea that I had won in such a good time, and I was over the moon!!”

Michael Gunning, after savouring his brother’s golden success, took to the water himself and impressed in the National Youth Championships starting with the Open Water Swimming race. The 2000meter Swim was held in Rother Valley Country Park, and there was no keeping Gunning from rising to the top claiming a National Silver Medal in this swim.

Having only started Open Water in the past year, a thrilled Michael said “Having another National Medal this year is fantastic and I’m so happy with that swim. I have not long been swimming Open Water and to get in this meet for the first time and win a silver medal is great! Obviously I would have loved to get the gold but I tired my best and I can’t change anyone else’s performance so I am happy.

Open Water swimming is different in general because there are so many other factors to consider. The water was 17oC and it was so cold and I am not used to the water being so cold. I have been on many Open Water camps but nothing can prepare you for the race itself, you have just got to do it! I kept pushing through the race and finished in 21min so I’m pleased. I also got called for drug testing after my swim and I did panic a bit because they kept following me around everywhere until I done it. I tried to keep calm and it was successful even though it took ages, and my party had to wait for me.” The National Silver Medallist also said “During the week of competition, we all received some good news over from the World Championships in Shanghai, and Ellen Gandy had won a World Champs Silver Medal!! We were all so proud and it really was one of the highlights of the week.”

Well done the Gunning Brothers!!!

GOLD for Gunning at Day 2 of the National Championships!

22nd July 2011.

Day 2 of the National Championships is well and under way and Beckenham Swimmer Luke Gunning seals a GOLD MEDAL in the Final of the 200M Butterfly swam earlier this evening. Luke qualified for the final in the heats this morning ranked in 1st Place, after achieving a phenomenal time of 2.15.50 shaving a tremendous 5 seconds off his personal best, and stood up to the mark in the evening session at the finals! Gunning touched in 2.11.29 making him the TOP BRITISH SWIMMER IN HIS AGE GROUP!! The gold-medal winning performance by Luke was commentated by World Record Holder and Commonwealth Champion Sarah Price who witnessed this stunning performance! Luke Greenbank came 2nd with Matthew Stevenson coming in third.

“I’m really pleased with that,” said Gunning. “Last year I came 4th in this event and to come back this year and to win a gold medal is fantastic!

“I felt really good in the heats this morning so I just wanted to get in and give it my best shot in the final. It was a hard field and I just went out so fast so I was in a good lead but the last 50m hurt so much and I just came back strong and just went for it! It was amazing to hear the applaud at the end and it was a great moment! I’ve got a day off tomorrow and I’ll be back in the water for my 100m Butterfly on Sunday so just looking forward to that now! I have received so many good luck/well done messages and I would like to thank everyone for all the support back home. It means a lot.”

Gunning finished 4th place last year in the 200m Butterfly at the National Championships in 2010, brining home a bronze medal in the 100M Butterfly, his main event that he has still got to swim later this week!

You can catch the action on the British Swimming Website on the LIVE results.

On Day 1 of the competition, Kunmi Ogunfeibo competed in his best event, the 100m Backstroke, were he happily qualified for the final in a cracking time of 1.02.98! His race was the 7th Final of the evening where he finished 8th place in 1.03.46. Kunmi was among the four boys who were competing in the 4X100m Freestyle relay team consisting of Kunmi Ogunfeibo, Harold Pearson, George Chan and Luke Gunning. The Beckenham boys managed to come 27th out off all of the National clubs competing.

Well done boys, and well done for Luke’s Gold medal!!

Big Beckenham call up for Sheffield event

20th July 2011

BECKENHAM Swimming Club members will notch up another national success this summer when 13 swimmers take part in the annual national age group and youth championships in Sheffield.

The action at Pond’s Forge will take place over July and August, with Beckenham SC head coach Tony Beckley delighted with the big call up for his swimmers.

The action at Pond’s Forge will take place over July and August, with Beckenham SC head coach Tony Beckley delighted with the big call up for his swimmers.

With more than 300 members, Beckenham SC has gained success swimming at county, regional, national and international levels.

Current GB star Ellen Gandy is a lifetime member of the club and credits her success to the dedicated training and support she received from a young age.

“The swimmers making their way north to Sheffield will no doubt wish to emulate her success,” added Beckley.

Read the report in the Newshopper.

"Members of the 13-strong BSC 'Beckley dozen" off to Nationals". BAGCATS: Harold, Kunmi and Luke. (Not photographed George) Youths: Michael, Lauren, Rebecca, Henry, Sophie, Natasha and Fearn (Not photographed Steffi and Rachel).

Beckenham SC put in a good performance at the Arena National Championships 2011.

17th April 2011.

Well done to all the swimmers who competed for the Club at the National League B Final at Ponds Forge on Sunday. We finished a more than creditable 8th against Clubs many of whom are large City Squads.

Beckenham SC Elementary Gala 2011 - Session 1

20th March 2011

Well done to all swimmers but especially those who were competing for the first time. It was fantastic to see such a full balcony of spectators cheering and clapping the swimmers.

The gala ran smoothly thanks to the many helpers, some were parents of swimmers competing but a lot of officials and parents turned up to help even though their own children were not swimming.

Thanks also to the coaches for helping to organise the swimmers and the swimmers themselves who all behaved very well on poolside and turned out some great swims.

It was great to have Zara Long (ex Beckenham swimmer) at the Gala who was, and still is, the youngest ever British Swimmer (13!) to swim 200m IM at the Olympics (LA 1984 and then Seoul 1988) and it was great to see her presenting the children with their medals. Thank you Zara.

Linda Deane also gave up her Sunday afternoon to set up the club shop for anyone who needed last minute kit which was greatly appreciated.

Julia and Matt

Gala organisers

Well done to all the swimmers. Click here to view or download the results.

GB Water Polo teams going to the Olympics

14th March 2011

Great Britain will have two water polo teams at London 2012, British Olympic Association officials have announced. Despite winning four golds in the early part of the last century, it will be 66 years since Great Britain last participated in the water polo events at the Olympics, when they finished seventh out of eight.

The decision follows consultation between Team GB and British Swimming to ensure both team's would produce credible performances worthy of a host nation invite. However, water polo saw its UK Sport funding cut at the start of the Olympic cycle with the majority of the funds pumped into the more successful women's team, which is based in Manchester ...

... click here to read more

... click here to read the comments of GB captain Craig Figes on WaterPoloUK

If Sean King stays fit and in contention, he could well become our first Water Polo Olympian!!!!

Ellen Gandy wins 100m Butterfly at the British Gas Swimming Championships

5th March 2011

Ellen Gandy booked her place at the World Championships by winning both the 100m and 200m Butterfly at the British Championships at Manchester Aquatics Centre with some of the fastest times seen in the World in those events this year. Many congratulations to Ellen.

Click here for the TV link

Kent County Championships 2011

11th March 2011

Congratulations to all the Club’s swimmers at the final weekend of the Kent County Championships. The final unofficial total of medals was 102 Gold, 70 Silver, 76 Bronze and a further 140 finalists medals.

Subject to confirmation from the County it appears that the Girls duly took the points trophy for the most points scored by any Club and the Club also took the Combined points title.

Well done to all our swimmers on their numerous personal bests and in particular to the medallists/finalists.

For more information and photos please visit the Results page