{"id":3591,"date":"2017-10-18T12:21:23","date_gmt":"2017-10-18T11:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/surreyswimming.org\/?p=3591"},"modified":"2022-09-01T08:38:44","modified_gmt":"2022-09-01T07:38:44","slug":"national-county-team-championships-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/surreyswimming.org\/?p=3591","title":{"rendered":"National County Team Championships report 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

In his first year as county team coach, David Vine reports on the National County Team Championships.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The team gathered together the week before the County Team Champs for some team building, a photo shoot (much to the horror of those who had just rolled out of bed) and, of course, a pool session.<\/span><\/p>\n

This was a good chance for all the swimmers to meet each other and connect beforehand. The team was briefed on the following weekend\u2019s timetable and the captains were announced.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a team, we decided that next year we would look to spend longer on team-building activities as this would help build the ethos to give swimmers the edge over the weekend.<\/span><\/p>\n

A week later…..<\/span><\/p>\n

The weekend started by meeting at Guildford Spectrum for the coach journey to Sheffield. Bags packed and snacks selected, we set off.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"The team was a mix of those who had represented the county before and some who were getting their first experience of wearing the famous blue and yellow Surrey shirt.<\/span><\/p>\n

We arrived in Sheffield in good time and made our way to the hotel (except for a few boys who found a lift, which gave them a shortcut. They claimed to be saving energy for the next day).<\/span><\/p>\n

After checking in and some rest, the swimmers met for dinner followed by a team meeting outlining the plan for the next day. Then it was off to bed for some well-earned sleep (90% of the swimmers had been up for early morning training. They made a point of highlighting this to the other 10%).<\/span><\/p>\n

The swimmers were up at 7.30am and down for breakfast. We then headed off to get dressed up and into the team spirit with face paints, silly wigs and hats, fluorescent tutus and anything that would make a noise.\u00a0Then we marched down to the pool.<\/span><\/p>\n

The atmosphere as we arrived was already building. After a 40-minute warm-up it was time to retouch the face paints and get ready for the team parades, with each team looking to outcheer the others when they were announced.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ponds Forge is set up so that the 50m pool is split in half, allowing two competitions to be run at the same time. This leads to an atmosphere that is quite electric. Imagine a normal team competition such as the Arena League, then turn that up to 11!\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

It was a great result for the Surrey team to come a respectable ninth in Division One. For those of you who have not had the chance to swim or witness the County Team Champs, it is something quite special.<\/span><\/p>\n

The following finished in the top three:<\/span><\/p>\n