Club Captains

We are delighted to announce our Club Captains for 2024/2025 season:

Female Club Captain: Emma Fields

Male Club Captain: Dylan Davenport

We would like to thank everyone who put themselves forward and last year’s Captains Freya and Jakey for doing such an amazing job.

Join us in congratulating our new Club Captains, Emma and Dylan.

It was lovely to see so many swimmers, parents and supporters at our Club Championship Awards Night on Saturday 30th November.

We were taken through the successes of the year by Head Coach Jamie McLoughlin – from Counties to Nationals and securing a place in the Arena League Premier Division London Final. It was wonderful to hear a summary of the 2023/2024 season and how well many of our swimmers have done.

Jamie then introduced our new Club Captains, Dylan Davenport and Emma Fields. They spoke about their plans for the year ahead, including a new house system for swimmers and re-introducing a sense of family to the Club. We said thank you and goodbye to outgoing Captains Freya Hadnutt and Jakey Hayes – acknowledging that the new Captains had “big boots to fill”!

Rachael Hunt, a BSSC Master, then spoke to the swimmers about her journey from being “too slow” for competitive swimming as a child to her goal of swimming one million open-water meters in 2024!

Coach Joe Collins then awarded over 250 medals to the swimmers. A huge congratulations to everyone for their successes.

We then awarded 15 trophies to swimmers who have done exceptionally well this year. Trophies were awarded to one person, per age group, based on the number of points achieved from their races at the Club Championships in October. The Coaches Awards were based on attendance, dedication, effort, mental strength and sportspersonship.

Thank you to everyone who made the Awards Evening such a success – it truly is appreciated.

I’m delighted to have been chosen as the female Club Captain.

I spent every Sunday for three months helping to coach Poussins as part of my Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award, and I loved it so much. I enjoyed assisting these younger swimmers in finding their love for swimming and I would like to keep inspiring them.

I may not be the fastest swimmer at the club, but I’ve worked hard to get where I am, and I am proud of that. Last season I moved through Cadets and into Juniors; and this season now I am in Elites, which takes perseverance and determination. I found it helpful to have people who believed in me and never let me give up when training was difficult.

I would like to be the person who “never lets people give up” to those in the club who may think that they can’t do it or just need a little bit of motivation.

As a final point, for those who don’t know me I am 6’1” so if you need someone to look up to in the club, I am always here!

Squad: Elites

Proudest swimming achievement: Going sub-30 on 50 Freestyle.

Do you have a highlight from last year? Finally getting under 1.05 on 100m Freestyle.

What does being Club Captain involve? Supporting all swimmers, no matter their age or ability.

What’s your ambition for BSSC this coming year? To place in the top three in Arena League and to move to the Premier Division.

Do you have any advice for younger members of the club? Keep going, your time will come.

Best quote/piece advice: You can do it, just don’t give up.

Favourite stroke/event: 50m Backstroke

Best thing about being a swimmer: The support and friends you gain from all different clubs and meets.

Best poolside snack: Haribo Tangfastics

Hat and goggle etiquette: Always keep your hat and goggles with you at meets in case you have to rush to your race and always carry a spare hat.

Hero: Freya Anderson – she trained for a long time before she got the times she wanted, which shows all hard work will pay off.

Best swim hack: Warm up by stretching your muscles before races so you don’t injure yourself.

Thank you for allowing me the privilege of continuing as your Club Captain for a second year!

This past year has been great for the club: I was given the opportunity to organise a Sponsored Relay with my fellow Club Captain, Freya Reilly, and you all helped to raise over £2000 which was amazing. We also did brilliantly in both the Peanuts league and Arena leagues and I’ve enjoyed cheering you on during Open Meets too. It really has been a pleasure!

After my first year as Club Captain I now know how much I can do as captain and how much I can help you, the swimmers. I will remain a cheer leader at the competitions cheering you on from the side lines (whether you like it or not!) and I already have a plan for another sponsored event. I also now have the pleasure to teach some of you as your coach, so I am able to help you progress even more than last year.

Squad: Elites

Proudest swimming achievement: Achieving qualification times for the 2023 National Winter Championships in 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke.

Do you have a highlight from last year? Organising a successful Sponsored Relay, raising over £2000 for the club.

What does being Club Captain involve? Being a good role model and being able to motivate and push other swimmers to be at their best.

What’s your ambition for BSSC this coming year? For BSSC to win Division 1 Arena League and gain promotion to the Premiership.

Do you have any advice for younger members of the club? Instead of setting yourself big goals, set yourself smaller goals that you can achieve to keep you motivated. E.g 0.5 sec off a pb rather than 5sec. Never give up in a race because you’ll kick yourself if you just miss a pb because if it!

Best quote/piece advice: Always try your best in training because you will be rewarded for your hard work.

Favourite stroke/event: 100m backstroke and 100m IM.

Best thing about being a swimmer: The feeling of having a community around you as there’s always someone around to talk to. Some of my best mates are swimmers at BSSC.

Best poolside snack: BBQ Graze, closely followed by jelly.

Hat and goggle etiquette: Goggles underneath one hat – it’s the only correct way!

Hero: Luke Greenbank because I feel he has motivated me to keep going because I know he plateaued and got faster at a later age.

Best swim hack: Never wear your competition trunks for warm -up, if you can help, it because it will cause extra wear and tear.