A, B and C Squads
We are pleased to let you know that Bradford Council has confirmed we are able to increase our session numbers at Ilkley pool from 15 to 18 swimmers.
This means that, with immediate effect, we are now able to accommodate all junior swimmers training twice a week at Ilkley pool (with the Friday sessions at Eccleshill now coming to an end for junior swimmers; thank you to those parents and swimmers who have been making the journey over the past few weeks).
It also marks a step back towards normality for our squads, with the following changes being put in place with effect from next Tuesday, 8th June:
– all C Squad swimmers will return to a “fully normal” training pattern from 6pm – 6.45pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays;
– the majority of B Squad swimmers will return to their normal start times of 6.45pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays; these sessions will run for 55 minutes to 7.40pm;
– older B Squad swimmers will be joined by some A Squad swimmers for 55-minute sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7.40pm – 8.35pm; and
– all other A Squad swimmers will train in 55-minute sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.35pm – 9.30pm.
Parents of A and B Squad swimmers, please await a further e-mail later today confirming which session your child has been allocated to. Swimmers will swim at the same time on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The length of session times for A and B Squad swimmers, and the allocation of swimmers to the different sessions, is something which committee and coaches have given significant time/thought to over the past few days. We appreciate that session times/allocations are not perfect – and still fall short of the 3 x 60+ minute sessions which these squads usually would train for each week – but we are still operating in constrained circumstances as a result of Covid restrictions, and we have reached the decision that it would be fairest for all A and B Squad swimmers to offered 2 x 55 minute sessions each per week at Ilkley pool rather than some swimmers being allocated longer sessions than others. Also, it is very much hoped that these session times will only need to be in place for a matter of weeks before the Government lifts restrictions, which should mean us being able to go back to “fully normal” training times for all squads.
On that note we continue to press Bradford Council for news of when our Monday pool time will be returned to us, and regarding the return of Masters sessions to the pool.
Masters and Volunteering
The majority of us on the committee balance busy jobs alongside our children. The additional burdens created by Covid have pushed us to the limit of the time we reasonably can provide to the club as volunteers. We greatly need more help, including coordinating the return of Masters swimming to the club, and are always on the lookout for new members to the committee. All Masters swimmers and parents of junior swimmers are asked to consider whether they could assist in some capacity. Please e-mail me or any other member of the committee if you would like to discuss ways in which you could help.
Fees
To the extent any parents of junior swimmers have not yet paid their June fees, they are asked to do so as soon as possible in line with the e-mail previously sent by our membership secretary, Andrea Harrison. However, please do contact Andrea for a confidential conversation regarding how the club might be able to help if you are in any difficulties meeting your swimmer’s fees in light of the pandemic. A further e-mail will follow shortly regarding fees for July onwards, but with further changes hopefully afoot, it is a fast-moving feast!