Richard hails success of talent camp
SWIMMING: Coaches and swimmers from across the region are busy celebrating their part in the new Active Sports Talent Camp initiative.East Anglia became the first to host one of the UK residential camps when hundreds of sporting youngsters joined forces for a recent two-day training and workshop event.
SWIMMING
COACHES and swimmers from across the region are busy celebrating their part in the new Active Sports Talent Camp initiative.
East Anglia became the first to host one of the UK residential camps when hundreds of sporting youngsters joined forces for a recent two-day training and workshop event.
Held at the University of East Anglia, the camp proved a massive hit with the county's swimming fraternity – offering concentrated sessions with top coaches, nutritionists, and also with professional sports stars.
In all, 13 swimmers came from Ipswich alone.
"The camp was a terrific success," commented ASA coaching and talent development co-ordinator, Richard Gordon.
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"It was a perfect reward and opportunity for Suffolk's stars of the future, and it proved that the camps will certainly be of great benefit to young sports people in the future."
Aimed at talented boys and girls between the ages of eight and 16, the camp was the first of nine which will be held across Britain.
The focus is on various sports, including rugby, womens' football, hockey, netball, athletics – and of course, swimming.
"We were very fortunate to have the support and enthusiasm of some very committed coaches and professionals," added Richard.
"Now the aim is to secure more lottery funding to continue with the initiative – and to expand it so that we can make the most of the swimming talent in particular."
He said: "The plan is that the sports camps will take place every two years, so our aim would be to run an ASA swimming-specific camp in the intervening years.
"It's something we'll be looking at very carefully now that we have the experience of the talent camp on which to work."
