News

The good news is that we have secured extra pool time, we are very thankful that the staff from Hyndburn leisure centre have worked with us in finding us extra hours. As of Monday 4th October the hours are:-

Top Group

Monday 6.00-7.00pm Accrington Academy

Wednesday 7.00-9.00pm Accrington Academy

Friday 7.00-9.00pm Hyndburn Leisure Centre

Saturday 1.30-3.30pm Hyndburn Leisure Centre

1st Group

Wednesday 8.00-9.00pm Accrington Academy

Friday 8.00-9.00pm Hyndburn Leisure Centre

Saturday 2.30-3.30pm Hyndburn Leisure Centre

Cubs

Wednesday 7.00-8.00pm Accrington Academy

Friday 7.00-8.00pm Hyndburn Leisure Centre

Saturday 1.30-2.30pm Hyndburn Leisure Centre

Lessons Group 1

Wednesday 7.00-7.30pm Accrington Academy

Lessons Group 2

Wednesday 7.30-8.00pm Accrington Academy

Covid 19 kept us out of the pool for 178 days with Otters finally returning to the water on Thursday 10th September at Hyndburn sports centre. We are on limited pool time with variations to our usual days & times whilst Mercer Hall is again facing repair works & we hope to resume our lesson groups in the not to distant future.

Training

Top Group
Thursday 7-8pm
Friday 8-9pm

1st Group
Friday 7-8pm
Saturday 2.30-3.30pm

Cubs
Saturday 1.30-2.30pm

After 24 weeks away from Mercer Hall we finally returned on Wednesday 10th April

As most people will now be aware Mercer Hall has had to close due to a burst pipe. Thankfully Joyce has been able to secure pool time at other venues.

Top Group & Higher 1st Group

Monday 8.30-9.30pm Accrington Academy

Thursday & Friday 8.00-9.00pm Hyndburn Sports Centre

Saturday 2.00-3.00pm Hyndburn Sports Centre

Cubs & Lower 1st Group

Thursday & Friday 7.00-8.00pm Hyndburn Sports Centre

Saturday 1.00-2.00pm Hyndburn Sports Centre

Lessons

7.00-7.30pm & 7.30-8.00pm Hyndburn Sports Centre

Please like our Facebook page for up to date news & gala information

Well done to all swimmers who competed in our first gala of 2016. Age groups 6,7,8,9 & 10 each swam 4, 1 length races & the 11+years swam 4, 2 length races. The times for the 4 races are then added together & trophies presented to the fastest 3 swimmers in each age group.There was a good turn out which makes it much easier for Derrick to make his team selection for the Friendly League galas & also provides times for those wanting to compete in external galas.

Our first Friendly league gala is against Darwen at home Monday 14th March 7.30pm warm up. Team sheet is on the noticeboard.

Saturday 23rd January saw the Great Harwood Otters presentation disco held at Great Harwood Cricket Club. The sell out event was held to share the swimmers achievements over the previous year with their coaches, families & friends.
Local business’s kindly donated prizes for the raffle.

At the Otters annual gala held in November Sienna Davies & Logan Hindle were victorious in their races & were presented with the Allan & Ann Maddoc Novice Shields.

Other awards were presented for achievement & performance in training the F.J. Neale Trophy for Endeavour was awarded to Merle Walmsley & Etienne Ward.

The coaches award was given to 1st group swimmers Molly Johns & Ronnie Calverley-Sumner.

Merit awards Cubs Nicholas Ward, 1st group Cameron King & Top group Emily Robertson.

Top girl cub 2015 Alice Hindle & Top boy cub Jacob Hacking.

A special annual award in honour of Milly Walmsley donated by her family was awarded to Ella Grimshaw as most improved swimmer of 2015.

The prestigious Shackleton Otter which was last presented 5 years ago was awarded to 11 year old Stevie Hacking for bringing the most recognition to the club.

A very surprised Joyce Miller membership secretary & treasurer was awarded with her own trophy for lifetime commitment to the club.

The Otters held their Annual Club Presentation night at Great Harwood Cricket club thanks to all who attended it was another great night.

SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS.
Allan & Ann Maddoc Novice Shield
Girl Winner      Kaci Duxbury
Boy Winner      Nathan Johns

F.J NEALE TROPHY FOR ENDEAVOUR
Girl Winner      Laila Wardle
Boy Winner      Stevie Hacking

COACHES AWARDS
Girl Winner     Katie Lambert
Boy Winner     Callum Galloway

MERIT AWARDS
Cubs              Kyle Johnston
1st Group     Connor Galloway
Top Group   Emma Guilfoyle

CUBS AWARDS
Top Girl Cub      Rose Scales
Top Boy Cub      Etienne Ward

Sixteen young Otter swimmers headed to Bolton One Leisure Centre, to compete for their respective schools in the ‘English Schools Swimming Association’ North West Individual Championships, the clubs swimmers were in fine early season form triumphing in many races, and being highly placed in many others, as the impressive Bolton One’s pool clearly suited them and they continued to post P/B after P/B.

Derrick Miller head coach and two of his coach team David Beswick and Jane Davies accompanied the swimmers they were delighted with all the swimmers performances, Derrick said “this is a high quality event and our Otter swimmers excelled in each race, they came away with a clutch of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for their schools, I was very impressed with their positive attitude both in and out of the water, they were a credit to both their schools and this club, we train up to four times a week and target our training to be both efficient and effective, and when all that training comes off in such spectacular fashion I  and the coach team couldn’t be more pleased for them.

Swimmers who competed were:

Harris Clegg who competed in three events (100F/S, 50 Fly, 50 B/S) Won 3 Golds and is now the English Schools North West champion in all three events.

Stevie Hacking who competed in two events (50 F/S. 50 B/S) Won 2 Golds and is now English Schools North West champion in those events.

William Crisp who competed in two events (100B/S, 50 F/S) Won 1 Gold and (P/b in the other race) William is now an English Schools North West champion.

Edward Crisp who competed in 2 events (100F/S, 50F/S) Won a Bronze and posted a P/b in other race.

Jarvis Davis who competed in 1 event (100B/S) Won a Silver.

Arielle Methven who competed in 3 events (100B/S, 50F/S, 50B/S) Won a Bronze and posted P/b’s in the other races.

Laila Wardle who competed in 2 events (100F/S, 50Fly) posting P/b’s in both races.

Joshua Bleasdale who competed in 2 events (100F/S, 100 B/S) posting P/b’s in both races.

Ryan Wardle who competed in 2 events (100F/S, 100B/S) posting P/b’s in both races.

Oliver Ward who competed in 2 events (50F/S, 100B/S) posting P/b’s in both races.

Emily Robertson who competed in 2 events (100F/S, 100B/S) posting P/b’s in both races.

Ella Grimshaw who competed in 4 events (100F/S, 100B/S, 50F/S, 50B/S) claiming a 4th place in 100F/S and posting P/b’s in the other races.

Mae Anderson who competed in 2 events (50Fly, 50F/S) posting P/b’s in both races.

Georgia Beswick who competed in 2 events (100F/S, 100B/S) a P/b and claiming a 5th place in a very tough and close group race, also P/b in other race.

Sophie Donovan who competed in 3 events (100F/S, 100B/S, 50F/S) posting P/b’s in all three races.

Natasha Barker who competed in 2 events (100F/S, 100B/S) posting two very good season P/b’s.

Great Harwood Otter Swimming Club held our Annual Presentation and Family Disco night at Great Harwood Cricket club, the evening was filled with Swimmer Awards, Dancing, Quizzes and Fun Games and a fantastic night was had by all who attended.

After the serious business of awarding our talented swimmers their awards we thanked and presented our volunteer coach team with flowers and chocolates.

Head Coach Derrick Miller said ‘our Otter swimmers are excelling in training and this bodes well for the upcoming season’

On the night a clutch of ‘Special Awards’ were presented

Allan & Ann Maddoc Novice Shield

Boy Winner  Cooper Baron

Girl Winner  Elouise Scales

F.J. Neale Endeavour Trophy

Boy Winner  Ryan Wardle

Girl Winner  Katie Lambert

Coaches Award

Boy Winner  William Crisp

Girl Winner  Ella Grimshaw

Merit Awards

Cubs  Jack Whittaker

1st Group  Laila Wardle

Top Group  Emily Thomas

Cubs Award

Top Boy Cub  Thomas Dignan

Top Girl Cub  Eliza Wall