NEWS ARCHIVE - 2019
Parent Evening Sessions
As part of improving our communication with parents at Morpeth ASC we will be offering 2 'Parent Evening' sessions per week for parents to come and speak with Head Coach. We understand that parents can often have questions, queries or concerns and these will be best answered or addressed by speaking directly to the Head Coach. While the club use email to communicate with parents 'on mass' for ease, it is preferred moving forwards that parents bring questions/queries that require a 'longer response' to a face to face meeting.
To book a 15 minute slot please email - Becki at (all slots will be first come first served)
Parent Evening sessions will be:
Monday 6:15 - 7:15pm
Friday 5:15 - 6:15pm* - This session will be effected by competitions
Many Thanks, Becki Head Coach
Club Update - Please read
I hope everyone has settled back into the new season well. This is quick update on squad changes and pool time.
Morpeth ASC is the top club in Northumberland and last season significant progress was made at all levels of the club. We currently have a very healthy membership and the club continues to grow in popularity. Following an encouraging meeting with Active Northumberland last month the club should be able to continue to grow, improve the service we provide and increase the number of swimmers we can cater for.
The aim is for changes to squad structure, squad allocation and training times to be made in January 2020.
In the meantime:
- There will be a small number of squad moves from Monday 4th November 2019. These swimmers will be advised individually via email
- Skill Development 1 & Skill Development 2 - swimmers will be expected to start competing at appropriate level competitions
- We will be introducing a Junior League Training session on a Saturday afternoon 4-5pm up until Christmas for swimmers born in 2011 & 2010. This session will be by invite only, invited swimmers should attend wherever possible. Invites will be sent via email this week
- Parents & Swimmers should take the time to re-read the Squad Criteria
. Squad criteria gives swimmers and parents clear expectations for each squad at Morpeth ASC. Some small changes have been made to this document so please check
If you have any questions regarding the above please arrange a suitable date & time to meet with myself.
Many Thanks, Becki Head Coach
Junior League Final - Results
Congratulations to our Junior League Team today! Division 2 WINNERS!! We are very proud of you all and everyone who swam during the heats. What a fantastic team effort!
Full results to follow....
Division 1 next year
Morpeth Vs Portobello Result
Well done to everyone who competed at the Annual Morpeth Vs Portobello event (in its 48th year!). Morpeth retained the trophy 293 points to 154.
Big thank you to Becky Freeman and Lesley Kennedy for all their organising and everyone who helped before hand, poolside and afterwards.
Great start to the 2019/2020 season.
Becki Head Coach
*IMPORTANT* New squad fees & annual gala payment
Please read this info relating to new squad fees and annual gala payment.
Please be advised that the current sibling discount will not be affected by the change in squad fees.
Summer Shut Down 2020
As previously mentioned, in 2020 Morpeth ASC will have a full summer shut down where there will be no training sessions. Rest and recovery is one of the most important parts of any athletes training programme and this breaks fits in with the competitive season. Taking a break at this time will optimise swimmers recovery and set them up for the 2020/2021 season. This is particularly important for swimmers in Performance and Junior Performance. Hopefully the advanced notice gives everyone the opportunity to organise family holidays etc.
Details of the break are as follows:
Sessions will run as normal up to and including 16th August 2020
Full Summer shut down 17th August 2020 - 6th September 2020
Training resumes 7th September 2020
Many Thanks, Becki Head Coach
Important Information
All members please read this important letter from our Chair Lesley Kennedy
Morpeth ASC Update
Please find below on this page two excellent pieces (courtesy of Nicki Hewitt) from the recent British Summer Championships and Swim England National Meet, held over the first two weeks of the school holidays! Huge congratulations to Libby and Richard who represented the club fantastically on the National stage!
Becki Head Coach
Open Water National Championships 2019
Please find below report detailing the club's recent success at the Swim England Open Water Nationals! A big well done to Kate, Libby and Sam who qualified for this event. Read the full report
Important Information
All members please read this important letter from our Chair Lesley Kennedy
English Summer Championships 31/07/2019 - 04/08/2019 Report
Another busy week at the pool for Morpeth ASC at the English Summer Championships, involving Richard Butterworth and Libby Freeman. Read the full report
Libby Freeman - British Champion at Tollcross
Congratulations Libby Freeman! British Champion in the 13-14 years 200 Back (and still just 12!). 3 second PB in the morning heats then another 2 seconds off in the final for a new PB of 2:16.94!
Read more and full results
New Club Captains
After successful interviews, I can now inform you that Niamh Atchison and Dominic Anderson are your new club captains.
Well done Niamh and Dominic
Lesley Kennedy (Chair)
IMPORTANT Session Changes
There will be a number of changes to training times from Monday 10th June. The changes along with all other training times will be reviewed over the summer. Please read carefully.
Tuesday mornings
- C2/Seniors - 6-7:30am
- Adult Swim - 6-7:30am - (2 lanes available) Please see below information regarding Adult Swim.
Wednesday evenings
- Junior Performance 7-8pm
- Performance 7-9pm
- Seniors 8-9pm - 2 lanes available - however swimmers need to use this time and space more. Currently there are not enough swimmers regularly attending this session. Those swimmers who do attend regularly do a great job on a Wednesday night.
Saturdays (From 22nd June 2019)
- Performance 7-9am
- Junior Performance 7-9am
- Adult Swim 9-10am - (2-3 lanes available) - Please see below information regarding Adult Swim
Adult Swim
- Morpeth ASC are opening up some lane space for Adult Swimming
- Sessions will NOT be coached initially but potential for this to start if interest in this following trial. Swimmers will just access lane space for now
- This is a trial over June/July to gauge interest. Please spread the word if you know anyone who would be interested
- Open to all competent swimmers aged 18+
- £5 Per Swim to be paid at each session (Pay as you Go but swimmers need to join Morpeth ASC)
- Please spread the word and encourage swimmers to attend (parents are more than welcome!)
Many Thanks, Becki Head Coach
Land Training Update
Land training will continue Tuesdays 5-6pm for swimmers in Performance and C2 who are identified by the Head Coach. There will be no session 4-5pm from now.
Swimmers in Performance and C2 identified by the Head Coach will take part in a 12 week block of work. Further details will be communicated to these swimmers this week. This session is aimed at swimmers for whom land training is an immediate priority. We plan to continue to explore opportunities for land training for younger swimmers in other squads. However I would like to emphasize that younger swimmers especially (12 & Under) can benefit substantially from being involved in other sports such as gymnastics, dancing, martial arts etc. For older swimmers who have not been identified for this block of land training please continue to work hard and attend pool sessions regularly. Regular attendance at pool sessions will greatly enhance the chance of swimmers being identified as requiring land training the in the future in line with Long Term Athlete Development.
Many Thanks, Becki Head Coach
MASC Chairperson
Dear Swimmers, Parents, Guardians, Coaches & Committee Members,
I am pleased to introduce myself as the new Chairperson at Morpeth Amateur Swimming Club.
I have a daughter who currently swims at MASC and I have served on the committee for the past year. To many of you, I am a well known face on the balcony and at swimming galas, but for those of you who don’t know me, I’m sure I will meet you in the near future.
I have spent several weeks acquainting myself with the workings of the club but there is still much for me to learn, so please bear with me.
I would like to thank the outgoing Committee members for the years and years of commitment and time that they have given to the club in their various roles – Simon Watson(Chair ), Lynda Garland (Competition Secretary and former Chair), Helen Seymour (Swim Mark coordinator) and Kay Howe (who will continue to coach and is of course coordinating our 50th celebrations).
I would also like to take this opportunity to introduce to you the new committee members elected on 25th April 2019 – Kirsty Cunningham (Competition Secretary), Ruth Tweedie, David Parsisson and Fiona Blacklock. Ruth Tweedie will also serve as Swim Mark coordinator.
I look forward to the year ahead working with Head Coach Becki McGuire and continuing the good work at MASC.
Lesley Kennedy (Chair)
Lions Swim Update
Just an update from the Lions Swim 2019, many thanks to everyone who supported this great event,whether it was swimming, helping on poolside or sponsoring the swim, the club raised a total of £668.50, of which we will receive 75% of that amount and it will be used toward the Clubs 50th Celebration evening in July. A big thank you to everyone involved and especially to Lindsey Henderson who pulled everything together in and out of the pool.
Well Done to ALL!!
Approved Swimwear
Following a brief conversation at training, if anyone wants to double check if racing suits are FINA approved then you can check on the FINA website. Select the brand and a full list should appear.
Becki Head Coach
Land Training Update
Land training will continue Tuesdays 5-6pm for swimmers in Performance and C2 who are identified by the Head Coach. There will be no session 4-5pm from now.
Swimmers in Performance and C2 identified by the Head Coach will take part in a 12 week block of work. Further details will be communicated to these swimmers this week. This session is aimed at swimmers for whom land training is an immediate priority. We plan to continue to explore opportunities for land training for younger swimmers in other squads. However I would like to emphasize that younger swimmers especially (12 & Under) can benefit substantially from being involved in other sports such as gymnastics, dancing, martial arts etc. For older swimmers who have not been identified for this block of land training please continue to work hard and attend pool sessions regularly. Regular attendance at pool sessions will greatly enhance the chance of swimmers being identified as requiring land training the in the future in line with Long Term Athlete Development.
Many Thanks, Becki Head Coach
MASC celebrates 50 Years!
Morpeth ASC was first established in July 1969 which means we are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion we are planning a “Celebration Evening” later in the year - July 6th - for all of our members, so save that date in your diaries!
We really hope every member of the Club will get involved and join in the celebrations.
In order to keep ticket prices for this event to an absolute minimum we will need to do some fundraising events, the first of which was our Easter Egg Raffle.
Please do let the Committee know if you can lend a hand or have any fundraising ideas, and together we can make this an exciting and successful year for Morpeth ASC.
Regards, Simon Watson (Chair)
IMPORTANT - Changing Rooms
Can all swimmers please aim to use the wet side changing facilities at all times, especially on a Sunday when between 5-6pm as this is when the dry side changing facilities are closed for cleaning. We appreciate the changing rooms are busy so can we please encourage everyone to put their bags and clothes in lockers and refrain from keeping their things in a changing cubicle. All belongings are left at the owners own risk. Anything left in a changing room could be moved. Lockers are lockable with 20p to guarantee the safety of all belongings.
The leisure centre staff have had problems cleaning the wet side changing rooms at other times in the week because some swimmers have left kit in cubicles or draped over locker doors. Please put all belongings into a locker properly so that they can do a good job without your kit getting soaked.
Issue with Spam
We have been alerted by Parentmail that there are some people experiencing problems with emails going straight into spam folder. If you know of anyone in the swim club having this problem please encourage them to use the Parentmail APP.
Message from Parentmail
Outlook/Hotmail Spam Issue We are aware of an issue with Outlook and Hotmail inboxes incorrectly classifying our emails as spam, meaning parents may be unaware of emails they are receiving from ParentMail. We have made contact with the provider and we are treating this as a high priority. In the meantime, we highly recommend all users download the ParentMail App to ensure you are receiving messages. We will update you as soon as this issue has been resolved, and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
MASC Needs You!!
Please find below the details of the club's Annual General Meeting. We have a number of people stepping down from the committee this year after many years of service so are actively seeking new members to join our ranks.
You don't need to have any previous swimming experience or knowledge (if you do then that would be great!) but if you can spare a couple hours a month to help run the club it would be appreciated. If you want to know more about what might be involved then you can 'reply' to this email with any questions you have or simply have a chat to any of the current members who are often around poolside or the balcony.
The committee is an essential part of the club - without it we cannot function so please don't just assume 'someone else' will do it - we need you!!
AGM Notification
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Declaration Form
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Thanks, Simon Watson (Chair)
Lions Swim 2019 - Riverside Leisure Centre, Morpeth
Fantastic effort from all the swimmers, thank you all for coming down to help raise money for the club and Morpeth Lions.
Big thank you to Jon Bensley, Gillian Law and Mark Freeman for being team captains!! And Sarah Stephenson who was our extra pair of hands.€Lion swim results:
- Lane 1: 90 lengths - Gracey, Gabrielle, Megan and Mirella
- Lane 2: 119 lengths - Joe, Dale, Flynn, Alex, Oscar and Harry
- Lane 3: 136 Lengths - Ellie, Sophie, Freya, Emily, Abigail and Maisie
- Lane 4: 106 Lengths - Sadie, Sonny, Sophie, James and Milo
New pool - Event Saturday 16th March
The council are putting on a consultation this Saturday (16th March) at the town hall. This will include the provisional ideas for the new pool in Morpeth.
The architects will be there as well as the county council officers who will be gathering opinions. It would be great if as many of you as possible could get along to support the development of the new pool. Please see the link below for more details.
https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/News/2019/Mar/Community-invited-to-hear-latest-on-Morpeth-plans.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3xp4JiP1CjWx4uA0h0WF2ouSW5h1m1N_9ME7Mw5_Tj33UCmdb4fRsRCEs
Many Thanks, Becki Head Coach
Club Membership Renewals
It is Club Membership renewal time again. Please read the information below carefully and complete confirmations and payment by 1st Feb 2019.
Renewal Information
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Thanks, Claire (Membership Secretary)  |