Sudbury Storms

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I started swimming when I was 11, training with the Guinness Swimming & Water Polo Club in Dublin.  I have experience of open water, water polo and racing and progressed through all the age groups reaching national level in racing and water polo.  After moving to this area in 2012, my son expressed a wish to join a swimming club and once he joined Sudbury Storms, I was asked if I would like to help out.  This then lead to me taking and completing my ASA Level 1 Coaching Award.  At the end of 2017, I took and passed my ASA/Swim England Level 2 Coaching course.

The Club is building up a good network of coaches and parent volunteers and is going from strength to strength.  As the saying goes, 'a club is only as good as its members', so if any parents can give their time and support, no matter how small, it is always gratefully received!

I first joined Sudbury Swimming Club when I was 10 years old. I stayed with until I was 18 years old, swimming in the open air pool sin Sudbury.  I then came back into the sport in 1986, when the club had moved to Kingfisher Leisure Pool, and have been here ever since.  I have made some good friends on my journey as a Master swimmer travelling the UK and Europe - winning my Bronze medal in the World Championships last year.  At the beginning of 2016, I achieved ASA Level 1 Coaching qualification to help the club.  I now coach regularly with Sharon  on Tuesday mornings, sharing it weekly with Jan.  I also try to help out whenever required.

I first became involved in the club after our Grandson, George Butler, joined the club in 2014.  I was asked to do the ASA Level 1 coaching course and passed last November.  I had been a swimming teacher/coach back in the 1990’s and more recently an international Archery coach being part of the bronze winning team in Athens.  I am also working through a Judge level 1 course to help with timekeeping and Officiating at home galas. I have been involved in swimming since the 1960’s where I was a competitive club swimmer, then teaching juniors and adults at my children’s swimming club.   One of my personal achievements is learning to Scuba Dive at the ripe old age of 57.

When Stuart was swimming back in 1987, I just sat watching him going back and forward.  I began to think, I can do this.  I had a quick course of lessons to learn butterfly and how to dive - the rest is history.  Stuart and I have enjoyed our sport together.  We have travelled and swam events all over the place, including Barbados last year, and then the Europeans in London this year,  At the beginning of the year, I also achieved ASA  Level 1 Coaching qualification to assist the club.  I now regularly coach a Tuesday morning session with Stuart.

I first came to swimming after my daughter, Caitlin, started with the club in October 2012.  After sitting poolside during our first gala, I was asked if I would like to do a little timekeeping.  Thinking this would give me something to do, I agreed.  5 Years later, I am a former Chairman of the Club, help with setting up and taking down the pool for our events, Coaching as a Level 1 ASA Coach, I am a qualified Starter British Swimming Offical and a Referee in training.  I also handle the non-Masters press releases for the club, and I am the Webmaser.

Like many others, I became involved in the club when my daughter Millie started swimming in Sept 2014.
I was asked to help out with the timing system about a year later and have been doing it ever since. I have recently been involved in the newly formed Fund Raising Team and joined the committee as Fundraising Officer and Vice Chair in October 2017.

I came to the club when my daughter started swimming.  I have spent a short while on the committee previously, but now with more time on my hands, I have returned and have taken the role of Vice Chairman.  I am also completing my training as a Level 1 British Swimming Official.

For this year, I have the honour of being President of Suffolk ASA after serving Swimming in Suffolk for a number of years.  I coach at the county camps and am the Assistant Team manager for Suffolk.

I am also the team manager for Sudbury Storms and often attend Galas at which the team attend.  I also deal with membership, invoicing and arrange our open meets.  I previously coached at the club, I am involved with swimming at a county level also.  I swam as a youth myself and my boys Chris and Luke joined the club around 10 years ago.

Melanie joined the committee during last year to boost our numbers.  She is the parent of two of our swimmers.

Mark has been with Sudbury Storms for a number of years whilst his son and daughter (Katie) have swum for the club.  His son Matthew is now our Transition coach.

Mark is often seen around poolside and is a real asset to the club, being able handle everything from helping a new member complete their membership forms, to finding new locks for the cupboard, via repairing the odd lane rope.

I have been on the committee for a couple of years, and have been the clubs welfare officer for several more.  As most people, I got involved in swimming because of my children.  Ryan, who is now in University, Nathan who is swimming now, and Katie who is just starting.  I also manage the food and the kitchen for our home meets.

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