About Us – our story so far

The Club

The history of Brompton Swimming Club (BSC) is not long. BSC grew out of 10 families getting together to ask for a few extra swimming sessions per week after their children had finished with Stage 8 of the ASA programme run through the Virgin Active Swim School. In response, the Sub Zero squad was formed in 2006 and began training two times a week. By the end of that year, the squad had grown to 30 children training in two different squads over 4 days.

Over the next few years, the club reorganised itself, changed its name to Brompton Bees Swim Club and by February 2009, was a recognised affiliate club competing within Middlesex County. Since then, we’ve kept growing in number and in strength. In 2011 Brompton Bees SC changed their name to Brompton Swimming Club. We now cater for over 100 swimmers, have a successful training programme over seven days a week. BSC has a very competitive programme and competes at all levels, from development meets to regional level and beyond.

Club Aims

BSC’s aim is to create an enjoyable, supportive learning environment where champion swimmers can be created. The club wishes to encourage all swimmers of all age groups and abilities to take part in competitions. By providing a healthy environment, we hope to breed and support champion swimmers all the while giving every swimmer a chance to enjoy the many aspects of competition and its many rewards.

Coaches

Head Coach: Craig Coltham

Craig grew up in South Africa where water has been part of his life before he could start walking. He swam competitively for four years from the age of 11 and played for his regional water polo side,Western Province, for three years from the age of 14. As a member of the Junior False Bay Surf Life Saving Team, Craig was the main swimmer chosen for the district and regional competitive events. His passion for swimming extended to open water swimming from the age of 16, an activity he still actively enjoys.

His education encompasses a wide range of aspects covering individual and group understanding, behaviour and performance. He has a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management and Industrial Psychology, has amassed a variety of swim teaching and coaching qualifications and is well versed in sports psychology. His passion for learning and understanding human behaviour and performance is a lifelong journey.

His love for coaching started in his last year of school where he was asked to be the assistant coach for both the school swimming team and the lower open water polo team. Since then, he has taken his coaching to new heights — covering both indoor and outdoor swimming —  enabling athletes to fulfil their goals and dreams.

Craig’s vision: Focus on the individual and the team will grow stronger!  Brompton SC  provides an encouraging environment for its swimmers to reach their full potential in competitive swimming. It is essential that athletes are given a fully comprehensive and well-balanced environment to achieve their goals. As Head Coach, it is my role to provide the guidance and support – in the form quality coaching, continuous education on self-improvement and performance and an effective training plan – to enable swimmers to reach the heights they are capable of and so fully deserve.

 

Senior Coach: Klaudia Meszaros

Klaudia grew up in Hungary where she was a competitive swimmer between the ages of 7-15. Her love for swimming developed thanks to her professional Hungarian coaches and her parents who made sure she kept training day after day, year after year.

Klaudia has a long history with Virgin Active and Brompton Swimming Club. She initially started teaching at the pools in 2002 when it was still Holmes Place. When the squad was founded, Klaudia was one of the original swim coaches and then became squad secretary. By 2007, she was a fully qualified ASA Swim Club Coach and a Level 1 Triathlon Coach. In 2008, Klaudia left to study at Cambridge, where she gained a BA (Hons) in International Business Strategy, and where she was also the Swim Coordinator of David Lloyds Leisure Club for a year. She returned to Brompton SC and her swimmers in 2011.

Klaudia has swum the Aspire Channel Swim (2003 & 2006) at Fulham Pools and Butlins Swimathon (2004), where other than raising awareness and money for the charity, she came 30th out of 520 female individuals in her age category (30-39 yrs) and155 out of 1943 overall.

Klaudia’s vision: “I believe every child can succeed. With help from their parents and coaches, they can stay focused, develop the discipline of hard work and learn to continuously fight any inklings of self-doubt – all instrumental in achieving success. I want every swimmer to think that if they want something, they can get it.”

Coach: Rebecca Newson

Rebecca started competitive swimming when she was 8 years old. Representing Western Province Schools between the ages of 8 and 17, she won medals at Junior Nationals and qualified for Senior Nationals. At the age of 19, Rebecca took a break from swimming to further her achievements in Surf Lifesaving where she represented the U21 South African Team at Tri-Nations in 2001 and medalled at the World Lifesaving Champs in 2002. Since then, she has taken up running, cycling, surf skiing and canoeing. At present, Rebecca competes in Masters Swimming and the odd Age Group meets.

Rebecca started coaching and teaching swimming in 2000. In the intervening years, she has also obtained a Personal Training Diploma and Therapeutic / Sports Massage Diploma. Before coming to England in April 2011 Rebecca also ran a small sports massage  practice from January 2008 to March 2011.

Rebecca’s vision:“I am passionate about sport, swimming being at the top of my list. I love teaching and coaching swimming and helping anyone who wants to learn, improve and excel whether it be for recreation or competition. I have been involved in swimming for over 20 years, I spend most of my life in the water, and I feel that, while still learning more every day, I have a lot of knowledge to share with new and upcoming swimmers. Sport has been my greatest teacher in life. I have learnt so many valuable life lessons- patience, persistence, punctuality, trust, morals- some of the virtues we strive to live by, respect, confidence and humility.”

Assistant Coach:  Joanna Basista

Joanna has many years of swim teaching and coaching experience. She swam proffessionally for 13 years and was part of the Polish Olympic Team for back stroke. Updating….