Lancashire Lifesavers Area Reports Page

Lifesaving in Blackpool is still on the up although no higher awards have been taken yet! It's just that old favourite the Bronze Medallion, where would we be without it?? Probably all sat at home twiddling our thumbs.

Terry Rogers and Eileen Bailey were stars at the Nationals at Ponds Forge and are looking to improve this year's position, maybe first place this year guys??

Congratulations to Michael and Terry Rogers, Anika Stilton, Daniel Cleator and Emma Clark on passing the assistant teacher award, all are hoping to progress to full TA status. Many thanks go to Pauline Mills who has examined many awards at Palatine this year, and to Frank and Barbara Kay for there commitment to lifesaving in progressing the assistant TA's through there awards.

Thanks also go to Debbie McCabe for all the hard work she has put in over the years.

Dave Robinson
Club Leader

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LYTHAM ST ANNES AREA REPORT
FYLDE LIFESAVING CLUB 2005

Our first Club session of 2005, held on 10th Jan. was followed as customary by the AGM on the 17th• As we are no longer able to use the cafe area upstairs, the Meeting was held in Fairhaven Lawn Tennis Club Pavilion. 30 members and friends attended. Our Club is still handicapped by the unavailability of this dry space from 7.30-8.30pm.

Once again 2 teams were entered in the LIONS ANNUAL SPONSORED SWIM, the Flyers equalling their last year's record of 77 laps. A total of £490 was raised for the nominated charities. Both Junior and Senior teams won medals - the Fiends claiming 2 sets, (for amount collected and number of laps swum in their category)

A course for RTSSD was organised by myself and held at Pear Tree swimming Pool; Meryl successfully gained this qualification. On 12th March I was installed as President of RLSS LANCS. BRANCH by Shaun White, who held office in 2004. Prior to Shaun's election Lytham St. Annes area had not supplied a Branch President since Mr. R. Fort retired in 1965 .. .40 years ago!

At the Branch Eliminator Competition held at the Lido Pool, Blackpool on May 21st our competitors once again acquitted themselves well. Senior girls Heather and Philippa were successful in their section, securing places in the NW Regional finals. Also winning through were Junior pairs Amy Stockdale and Laura Carlisle, Patrick Luke and Matthew Chadwick, with Katherine Turner and Jessica Newton taking Bronze medals. We are proud of all their achievements.

All the seniors have worked very hard to achieve their awards this year, 7 Life Support 3's were gained and 16 Bronze medallions-more than double last year's total. We also had 4 Awards of Merit, 3 Bronze crosses, 2 silver crosses, with several seniors on course for Distinction awards.

Awaiting final assessment for Assistant Teachers' Award are Katherine Turner, Daniel Stockdale and Laura Carlisle. The Club is most grateful to them for their "Support, regularly given, to the juniors. Katy Chadwick, (already qualified) and Lee Ward, (awaiting a course) have also given invaluable assistance. I'm sure Allen would agree that without their help it would have been difficult to achieve the standards set by Meryl. We now need to develop a system, which would free these helpers to have some pool-time to further their own lifesaving skills and re-take/take higher awards.

In conclusion I wish to thank all our regular teachers for their hard work during the past year. They are: Meryl Graves, Allen Ward, (who has also acted as Team Capt.) Nicholas Evans and Richard Gosling. Linda Hansell has faithfully manned the reception desk, and the Pool Staff - especially Stella - have been most supportive.

We sincerely hope that the firm support of lifesavers, their families and friends will continue in our Club throughout the coming year.

Penny Riley
President RLSS LANCS. Branch Area Manager, Lytham St. Annes

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Junior Section of Fylde Lifesaving Club
January 2005 - December 2005

The Junior Section has thrived throughout the year due to the commitment of the helpers. The Section, with 26 members, is divided into 4 groups. Each group has worked with enthusiasm each week at their particular level through the Summary Rookie Awards and the Lifesaving 1, 2, & 3 Awards schemes.

Allen Ward undertook the team manager's role at the Lancashire Lifesaving Championships at Blackpool on 21st May and at the Regional Finals, held at Wigan on Saturday 24th September. At Blackpool, Amy Stockdale and Laura Carlisle gaining first place to secured a place in the Junior Girls' Regional Final. Katherine Turner and Jessica Newton gained a commendable third place and were the reserves for the Regional competition. Helen Rowe Wilcocks and Luisa Amatiello entered the competition for the first time and gained valuable experience. Patrick Luke and Matthew Chadwick were successful in their event at Blackpool and gained a place at the Boys' Regional Finals at Wigan.

Katy Chadwick has continued to support the junior section and has faithfully turned up to give encouragement and enthusiasm to the groups under her charge. Lewis Jones and Robert Turner continued to help until their A level exams took precedence.

Robert was delighted to receive, well deserved RLSS Honours, at the Guildhall in London, for his services to the club.

Patrick Luke, Matthew Chadwick and Nat Roe worked hard to gain their Rookie 4 Awards.
In September three of our members - Katherine Turner, Laura Carlisle and Daniel Stockdale attended the Assistant Teachers' course at Shadsworth.

The new season started in September with each group moving forward to take up a higher award under new supervision.

Allen Ward, with the help of his son Lee, took charge of the new Rookie 4 group of Helen Rowe Wilcocks, Hannah Delamore, Olivia Swift, Samantha Kent, Luisa Amatiello, Kirsty Hansell, Emily Eccles.

Katy Chadwick initially took over the large group left by Daniel Stockdale comprising of Matthew Carlisle, Josh Ward, Simon Gittins, Alex Thompson, Daniel Moore, Abby Hodge, Bethany Powell and Matthew Nelson. All are keen and enthusiastic as they continued to work with interest to gain the Rookie 2 Award. Laura Carlisle has now taken responsibility for half of this group in order to practice her teaching skills.

A new group was formed with a small nucleus of Charles Smith, Ben James Tansey, Niamh Spracklen but by the end of October the number in the group had grown to a full complement of eight youngsters Jodie Turner, Mairead Meechan, Josh Young, Tom Higham, and Hannah Hilton. This group is under the instruction of Catherine Turner, one of our new Assistant Teachers.

Daniel Stockdale, the third assistant teacher has undertaken responsibility for the new Bronze Medallion group of Patrick Luke, Matthew Chadwick, Nat Roe and Adam Robinson.

2005 has been a very difficult year for me and my input into the Junior Section has been peppered with enforced absences. May I take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped to keep the Junior Section running so smoothly and in particular Allen Ward for his regular attendance and for being so supportive to me.

Meryl Graves
Junior Section Leader

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