Since the start of 2003, Tenby Dolphins have been enjoying a bumper year. With the re-structure of the club training plan in January 2003, under the close supervision of coaching co-ordinator Mr. John Amos, the swimmers were very quickly into success. The development of the junior swimmers is paramount for a club to maintain success, so a great emphasis has been put on junior training this year. Most members attend at least two hours per week every week and many are swimming their first lengths before their fifth birthday.
Tenby have already this year reclaimed the Dyfed League Champions Trophy from Llanelli Swimming Club and retained their Pembrokeshire Senior Team Champions title for the third year running. However, they have had to give way in the Pembrokeshire Junior League to an excellent team from Pembroke for the first time in four years.
With the start-up of the new Pembrokeshire Masters Club at Tenby Leisure Centre, competitive and fitness swimming training is now available at Tenby for ages four to 94 or older if required.
Indeed, with the Government experts claiming that swimming is one of the best forms of exercise, Tenby is leading the way in Pembrokeshire. Having two Welsh record holders, one who is a former English Commonwealth swim team medal winner, can only encourage both young and old in this sport.
This year has seen the best ever success for Tenby at the recent West Wales Championships, with the Dolphins collecting no fewer than 111 medals and awards. Not only do they have 17 new West Wales champions, they also have five new West Wales record holders.
The swimmers who took part are too many to name individually, but the new record holders are as follows: Sophie Stanford 15 year girls 100m breaststroke; Danny Brown 11 year boys 400m freestyle; Michael Nicholas 14 year boys 200m backstroke; nine year boys 4x25m butterfly relay team, nine year boys 4x25m breaststroke relay team.
The gold medals were awarded also in the following events: Tasha Kinsey 10 year girls 50m backstroke; Dean Pellington nine year boys 25m breaststroke; Danny Brown 11 year boys 200m breaststroke, 100m backstroke; Sophie Stanford 15 year girls 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m breaststroke; Michael Nicholas 14 year boys 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley; 14 and over girls 4x50m freestyle relay team, 14 and over girls 4x50m medley relay team; 11 year boys 4x50m freestyle relay team.
Tenby swimmers also collected 15 silver medals, 23 bronze medals, 11 fourth places, 18 fifth places, 11 sixth places, 11 seventh places and four eighth places. A fantastic haul of medals and trophies for such a small club.
The youngest swimmer in the competition for Tenby was Sydney Vickery, aged seven, who achieved a fantastic 22nd place in the 25m freestyle out of 67 entries aged nine or younger. With another two years in this age group, could there be a new West Wales champion for 2005.
Another young lady worthy of mention is Elena Ciccotti, aged nine, who only joined the Dolphins in January this year and is already promising to be a future champion for Tenby, winning bronze medals alongside Dani Gristey (eight), Eleanor Brown (nine) and Lauren Arthur (eight) in the nine year girls butterfly relay and with Eleanor, Sydney and Kira Hardy (eight) in the breaststroke relay.
The nine year boys team were so successful that they were awarded the Dolphin Challenge Trophy for the best nine years boy team in the championships. They were Dean Pellington, Oliver Pellington, Jack Lear, Elliot Scotcher and Steven James, all aged nine.
Overall, Tenby were awarded third place in the relay events behind Swim Swansea and Llanelli, which has never been achieved by a Pembrokeshire club before 2003.
The Tenby Dolphins' coaches and teachers would like to thank each and every parent for their support, and all the competitors for their commitment to the competition. It is hoped they can now move forward to the challenge of the Welsh Championships in July, and for the masters swimmers the British Masters Championships in June.