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Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club is a swimming club based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom and was established in 1913. Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club (HHSC) ranks as one of Hertfordshire's premier clubs. The Club has in excess of 220 members from age 5 to Masters Level and their swimmers compete regularly in a wide range of competitions.
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Overview
HHSC aims to help all swimmers fulfil their competitive potential and to be considered the best swimming club in the area.
HHSC regularly has swimmers representing the club at the Amateur Swimming Association Eastern Regional Swimming Championships in Norwich and in the Hertfordshire County Age Group Championships. Their aim is to increase the number of swimmers competing at the County and Regional level. They do this by offering swimmers up to 11.5 hours of pool training time per week.
About The Club
Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club (HHSC) can trace its history to 1840, when the village community used clay 'puddling pits' carved from the local canal. The Club was formally established in 1913 as a non-profit community-based entity providing training and skill development for all levels of swimmers, with a special emphasis on the youth from the Hemel Hempstead metropolitan area (population 89,000). The Club's base is in Hemel Hempstead, one of the principal towns in Hertfordshire, with diverse demographics which mirror the National ratings.
Since its inception, the Club has evolved into an accredited, competitive and winning community-based Club. The Club is a member of the UK's Amateur Swimming Association (ASA), is accredited within the ASA's Swim 21 scheme at 'Skill Development' and 'Master Swimming' levels, it has the distinction of being the first Club in Hertfordshire to win this accreditation.
The Club is highly visible and successful in County and Regional swimming activities. Its inclusive nature results in an impressive 'strength-in-depth' of swimmers enabling it to field multiple teams in multi-Division competitions - teams which compete successfully at all levels of these competitions.
The Club is operated by a team of parent volunteer-professionals in a caring and responsible manner. The team is headed by Andrew Farrow, as Chair, with a strong team of Committee Officers behind him. Oliver Waddington is the Head Coach since August 2016.
The Club draws on the enthusiasm and commitment of many parents and guardians of its membership to provide a wide range of voluntary support including coaches, coaching support, event officials, stewards etc. Parents and guardians also provide the invaluable motivational and practical support throughout training as well as in competition. In October 2010 the swimming club purchased its own six lane digital Scoreboard from funds raised within the club.
Locations
Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club is based at the Sportspace Sports Centre in Park Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 1JS. Facilities at Hemel Hempstead include a 25m indoor pool, a 17m flexi pool and a 10m diving pit. The club notice board and trophy cabinet are in the main reception area of Sportspace and the Club Shop is also run from there. On Wednesdays they swim at Berkhamsted Sports Centre, Douglas Gardens, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire HP4 3PA. In September 2012 Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club started to train at Inspire Luton Sports Village in the new 50m Pool.
Competitions
HHSC swimmers have the opportunity to take part in a number of competitive swimming events both as individuals and as part of a team at local, county and regional level. Elite swimmers may also achieve national times and be eligible for those events
During the year a range of Open Galas will be promoted by the club.
The principle events are as follows:
Club Competitions
Hertfordshire County Swimming
HHSC swimmers compete at the annual Hertfordshire Youth (15-17yrs) and BAGCATs or British Age Group (9-14yrs) County Championships which are held in January/February each year. The Masters competition is held towards the end of June. Younger swimmers trying to qualify for their first County Championships also have the opportunity to compete in the Development Meet in November
Eastern Region Swimming
HHSC is affiliated to the East Region which includes Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. Regional events include:
National Swimming
Swimmers are selected for the National Championships by being ranked in the top 24 of their age group, these usually take place in July/August.
The Masters team (swimmers over the age of 25) compete for the club each summer in the Herts, British, European and World Championships.
Herts Swimming League
Hertfordshire Swimming League operates the following county competitions:
National Swimming League
The National Arena Swimming League (formerly known as The Speedo League) is a National League competition broken down into seven Regions and HHSC competes in the London Area and is currently in Division 2. The London Area is organised into three Divisions with over 40 Clubs spanning from Tring to Hove, Windsor to Norwich.
Notable Swimmers
Richard Charlesworth swam for Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 1500m freestyle swimming event.