User:Silverfox196/hemelhempsteadswimmingclub

Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club ranks as one of Hertfordshire’s premier clubs. The Club currently has in excess of 220 members from age 5 to Masters Level and our swimmers compete regularly in a wide range of competitions from novice to national standard. We are currently working towards our Swim 21 reaccreditation.

History
Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club (HHSC) can trace its history to 1840, when the village community used clay ‘puddling pits’ carved from the local canal. The Club was formally established in 1913 as a non-profit community-based entity providing training and skill development for all levels of swimmers, with a special emphasis on the youth from the Hemel Hempstead metropolitan area (population 138,000). The Club’s base is in Hemel Hempstead, one of the principal towns in Hertfordshire, with diverse demographics which mirror the National ratings.

We are proud of our history and heritage and we can trace the club back to 1840

1840 Two existing clay ‘puddling pits’ adjacent to canal fenced off and screened from the public for use as swimming pools by Mr Sandars. The pools’ water was untreated and unheated canal water and included fish and other wildlife. There were two pools situated end to end - a public bath open free of charge to males and a private bath for women.

1892 Sides and base of private bath cemented. Public bath remains ‘as built’.

1907 Children allowed to use the baths on Saturday mornings.

1913 (July) First Committee meeting was held to set up ‘Hemel Hempstead and District Swimming and Lifesaving Club’. The Club was established by Mr. NW Brentnall. Its original aim was to “promote swimming, technical education and life saving and resuscitation of the apparently drowned...encouragement in floating, diving, plunging and other swimming arts as would be of assistance to a person attempting to save life”.

Mr. Brentnall was appointed as the Club’s first instructor. Swimming classes for men were held at the public open-air canal side baths on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The ladies section met on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at the open-air canal side private baths.

The Club was affiliated with the Royal Life Saving Society and had joined the Southern Section of the Amateur Swimming Association.

1919 The Club erected an army hut on the eastern side as a headquarters and changing rooms

1920s Mixed bathing allowed.

1923 Pump installed to provide fresh (not canal) water from an aquifer 80 feet below pool.

1933 The pool became a favourite venue for water polo matches. Increasing demand pressures the council to consider building a new, purpose built, outdoor pool.

1937 (May) The brand new Churchill’s Baths (on the site of the current Sports Centre) opened and the canal side pools emptied and filled in.

1939-45 During the war the swimming Club was put on hold with a few swimmers and a skeleton Committee.

1974 A new 33m pool opened on our current location. At this point, the Club was known as ‘Hemel Hempstead Swimming and Diving Club’.

1986 Name changed from Hemel Hempstead Swimming and Diving Club to Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club. At same time Club colours changed from black/yellow to blue/white

1996 The 33m pool closed for a Lottery-funded refurbishment.

1999 The current 25m pool reopened as the home of Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club.

2008 Former Hemel Hempstead Swimmer Richard Charlesworth swims in 1500m Freestyle for Great Britain at the Beijing Olympics.

Competitive Swimming
HHSC swimmers have the opportunity to take part in a number of competitive swimming events both as individuals and as part of a team at local, county and regional level. Elite swimmers may also achieve national times and be eligible for those events (see http://www.britishswimming.org/)

Full details of the club's event schedule may be viewed online by clicking on the Club Calendar or downloaded in tabular form by clicking on the "downloads" menu above. During the year a range of Open Galas will be promoted by the club.

The principle events are as follows:

Hemel Hempstead Club Competitions
The club championships are held in January (middle distance) and June/July (sprint). HHSC Birthday Open: this is an open meet held in October/November annually. All club swimmers who are eligible are expected to compete. In 2010 the 97th Birthday Open will be held on Saturday, 16th October - Details here The Shark's Gala is a fun event for all members of the club from Aquabears to Masters. The timing of this event may vary year on year but is usually in December. Peanuts Trials - Prior to the start of the Peanuts League each year the club holds a trials gala to help with team selection, all swimmers in the qualifying age groups are expected to compete.

Hertfordshire County Swimming
HHSC swimmers compete at the annual Hertfordshire Youth (15-17yrs) and BAGCATs or British Age Group (9-14yrs) County Championships which are held in March each year. The Masters competition is held towards the end of June. Younger swimmers trying to qualify for their first County Championships also have the opportunity to compete in the Development Meet in November (see http://www.hertsasa.org.uk)

Eastern Region Swimming
HHSC is affiliated to the East Region which includes Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. Regional events include:

HHSC swimmers compete at the annual East Region ASA Championships which are held in June each year (see http://www.eastswimming.org ) Chiltern League: this is a junior club-based competition attracting teams from Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire and Bucks. This event has three Rounds each year for each of its two Divisions. HHSC enters one team.

National Swimming
Swimmers who achieve their National Qualification Times can swim in the National Championships for their age group, these usually take place in July. (see http://www.britishswimming.org/)

Herts Swimming League
Hertfordshire Swimming League operates the following county competitions:

Herts Major League – the county’s premier competition, organised into three Divisions with 10 to 12 teams in each Division, and three Rounds each year. HHSC enters two teams each year. Peanuts League – aimed at younger swimmers, again organised into three Divisions with 10 to 12 teams in each Division, three Rounds each year. HHSC enters three teams each year, currently the only club in the County to do so. National Swimming League The National Arena Swimming League (formerly known as The Speedo League) is a National League competition broken down into seven Regions and HHSC competes in the London Area and is currently in Division 1. The London Area is organised into two Divisions with over 40 Clubs spanning from Tring to Hove, Windsor to Norwich.

Who We Are
Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club (HHSC) ranks as one of Hertfordshire’s premier clubs. The Club currently has in excess of 220 members from age 5 to Masters Level and our swimmers compete regularly in a wide range of competitions from novice to national standard. We are currently working towards our Swim 21 reaccreditation.

Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club (HHSC) can trace its history to 1840, when the village community used clay ‘puddling pits’ carved from the local canal. The Club was formally established in 1913 as a non-profit community-based entity providing training and skill development for all levels of swimmers, with a special emphasis on the youth from the Hemel Hempstead metropolitan area (population 138,000). The Club’s base is in Hemel Hempstead, one of the principal towns in Hertfordshire, with diverse demographics which mirror the National ratings.

Since its inception, the Club has evolved into an accredited, competitive and winning community-based Club. The Club is a member of the UK’s Amateur Swimming Association (ASA), is currently seeking reaccreditation within the ASA’s Swim 21 scheme at ‘Skill Development’ level and has the distinction of being the first Club in Hertfordshire to win this accreditation.

The Club is highly visible and successful in County and Regional swimming activities. Its inclusive nature results in an impressive ‘strength-in-depth’ of swimmers enabling it to field multiple teams in multi-Division competitions - teams which compete successfully at all levels of these competitions.

The Club is operated by a team of parent volunteer-professionals in a caring and responsible manner. The team is headed by Joan Keevill, as Chair, with a strong team of Committe Officers behind her. Charles Dainton has been Head Coach since 1998 and has been the engine behind the Club’s competitive success.

The Club draws on the enthusiasm and commitment of many parents and guardians of its membership to provide a wide range of voluntary support including assistant coaches, coaching support, event officials, stewards etc. Parents and guardians also provide the invaluable motivational and practical support throughout training as well as in competition.