When the idea to do an event in memory of Jonathan was first suggested Head coach Stuart Livingstone wanted to really challenge the swimmers and push them to the extreme. A Dover to Calais swim would be too easy, so the challenge of swimming as far round Britain as possible was set. The shortest route was a massive 1,995 miles. How far could we go?

Not only did the swimmers get involved but parents, family members and friends, some coming on the day to watch their children, but feeling inspired returned to swim themselves. The positivity of everyone who supported the swimmers and those who entered the water alike spoke so much of what the club is about. The event exampled the best of what the club can collectively achieve and was the embodiment of our "small club, big heart" values.

Over the 10 hr event, starting a 2 pm on the Saturday, at Epworth Swimming Pool, 76 swimmers took to the water, with many setting their own personal challenges. Some faced the challenge of just getting in the water, others setting themselves the challenge of completing a distance. It was a truly inspirational day, with a real positive vibe about it.
As midnight approached and the aches and pains started to set in, the final push for the last few lengths with tired arms and legs, it was revealed that a massive 209 miles had been completed. What a fantastic effort by all involved.
The same distance if you drove from Manchester to London, or crossed the Channel 21 times.
The swimmers managed an average of 20.9 MPH that really is some going.

Zoe and Emily had this to say about the day;
“No one knew the significance of the date of the swimathon to us as it would have been our 31st wedding anniversary, but also the day Jonathan and I met and got engaged. It seemed that Jonathan had somehow influenced the diary and was still determined for the 1st of September to be significant in his memory, and it certainly was. Jonathan himself was a doer rather than a talker and in that way, the day shouted loud and clear to Emily and myself of just how well remembered Jonathan is by the members and supporters of the club. It seems his memory can still motivate us all in our joint effort to "MOVEeeeeeee" the water and, much like Jonathan in life, the water was never still. For this Emily and I offer our personal thank you in massively helping us to get through what otherwise would have been a difficult milestone to pass.”

A massive THANK YOU from South Axholme Sharks to all who swam, came along to support, or fed the troops during the event.
Well done also to the Life Style Group who held a bake sale during the event, the proceeds of which are being split between Lindsey Lodge Hospice and Weston Park Cancer Charity.

The entry forms for the last two club championship galas of 2018, have recently been emailed to all swim members.

Swimmers are required to submit the entry form and the entry fee of £2.50 per race, before the closing date, 24th October 2018. If you have any queries as to which races to enter please speak to the Head Coach. (Some events are at the Head Coaches discretion).
Medals are awarded to the top 3 swimmers in each event on the poolside on the evening.

Spectators are charged a small entry fee, they will receive a programme of the race events with all swimmers listed. This raffle at these Galas are to support Weston Park Cancer Charity.

What is the Blind Date Relay?

The Blind Date Relay is an event held twice a year, and all swimmers at the Gala are encouraged to join in. It’s a fun relay at the end of the Gala, with swimmers, swimming in mixed squad relay team, with the winning team receiving an award at the end (usually chocolate). The teams are worked out and announced just before the start of the relay.

Please ask if you require any further information.

It is an ideal way to learn the basics of the ASA rules and to help out the club at our galas through the year.

The introductory talk should last about one and a half hours and then you will need to complete a practical session at a gala to be arranged, with Julie Hirst, who will be running the course.

There are no tests, and no pass/fail. This is an interesting no pressure information session. You might even enjoy yourself.

Still interested, please check the noticeboard at the pool, to sign up.

Unfortunately we were reduced to three teams as Knottingley and Rossington pulled out due to insufficient swimmers, but in true Sharks spirit our swimmers rallied round, some coming back from a gala in Sheffield early so they could take part, some missing the World cup in order to swim and some at Sheffield next morning and should have probably been in bed early. We were up against it from the start as Armthorpe and Adwick were main stays in League 1 before all the teams were amalgamated.
Some of our swimmers were swimming up age groups as well as those taking part for the first time.
Our swimmers continue to make us proud with great team spirit in and out of the pool, and our parents for their support.

Final points after round 1
Armthorpe 164
Adwick 146
SAS 118

To order you need to follow the link below, register and the rest is straight forward.

http://southaxholmesharks.zeonshop.co.uk/

As an introductory one off offer we would like to offer every swimming member a FREE poolside top if ordered within this first shopping period, new hoodies and shorts are also available but not compulsory kit, the shop will be open again before Christmas.

For officials, team managers, poolside helpers there is the option to purchase a white top and the subsidised price of £15 during this shopping period, again they are not compulsory.

We would appreciate initials on hoodies and poolside tops, if you
purchase shorts please make sure you name them.

The shop will close on the 31st May.

We have several sizes of samples for you try for size just ask a
committee member or these will be available to try at May Sprints.

Bags are in stock, at the pool and available from a member of the committee during training sessions

On Tuesday the 1st of May the second annual South Axholme Sharks lifesaving pairs competition took place took place at Epworth swimming pool. The competitors formed five teams of two people throughout the events. The evenings’ events started with a dry SERC (Simulated Emergency Response Competition) which was a caving incident with our own makeshift cave. This was followed by a wet SERC, involving a canal and two difficult casualties. In these the teams are judged on how well they deal with a simulated emergency situation.

In the dry all teams had the awareness to get help and performed good quality CPR on the manikin that was unconscious from a rock fall, which was great to see. In the wet situation stand out performances were the near textbook treatment of the angina casualty by Daniella and the teamwork of Cerys and Alfie to allow them to treat both casualties whilst getting a phone call off. This teamwork allowed Cerys and Alfie to come 1st in the SERC’s section of the competition.


Next up were the speed races, which included a swim and tow relay, a rope throw relay, an obstacle race and a torpedo tow race. There was close racing in all events with 3 different winners from 4 events. The experience of Jessica and Elodie allowed them to perform consistently well winning them the speeds part of the competition. Cerys and Alfie managed to score well enough on the speed events to pick up the overall win of the competition with them being the new South Axholme Sharks Lifesaving Pairs champions.

A big thanks to all the volunteers for making this possible.

Jonathan would be proud of his daughter's leadership and strength and also her baking skills that shone in the event. Jonathan, Chairman of South Axholme Sharks until his health would not allow him to continue in February this year, was a keen cake maker. Steam trains, princess castles, football shirts, minions and even the Millenium Falcon, he baked it all!! He passed his love of baking to Emily and her bake sale was a fitting tribute combining this with his dedication to the club.

Emily held the bake sale with kind permission at Epworth swimming Pool with help from her swimming club South Axholme Sharks, and club-mates Lizzie McCallum, Molly Warr and Caitlin Bradwell and their family members, also Sam and Alex Cook.

£667 was raised on the day, far exceeding Emily's target of £200. A further mini bake sale held by Natalia Bradwell and Amelia Wilkinson at The Tumbles, the following day and together with kind donations made to Emily for this fundraiser, the total achieved " a good rise" to £876.10, which has now been gratefully received by the charity.

Emily would like to say a massive thank you for your support and help with the fundraiser for Weston Park Cancer Charity. She was amazed at the amount of donations, as well as cake , that poured in on the day. In addition to thanks for all her helpers at the event, she would like to voice gratitude for the support shown by the club and its members to herself and her mum in general. " Although my Dad wasn't Chairman for as long as other's, I am still amazed by the messages of support and just how many people he influenced in a positive way."

Jonathan himself, supported whole-heartedly the family plans to give something back to the hospital through the charity for all the fantastic care and treatment he received at Weston Park cancer Hospital in Sheffield.

The Exton family plans to hold further events to raise money and show their gratitude to the hospital that took such great care of Jonathan in his final weeks of life, including Jonathan's niece Becky Kelly and ex member of Sharks, signing up to the The Big Jump 15000ft Sky Dive in June. Fund raising continues: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RebeccaKelly14.
Also family friends Debbie and Andy Bradwell are also completing their own triple 10k challenge as part of Team Exton and their fundraising via just giving is also up and running!
www.justgiving.com and search Bradwell Triple 10k Challenge.

South Axholme Sharks will host the Halloween Meet at Beverley Leisure Centre, on the 28th October 2018. It is open for all our 9 years and over swimmers, a great way to get into Open Meets and is highly recommended by your Head Coach. Last year South Axholme Sharks came 2nd in the top Club scores, the best results for many years, so this year Head Coach Stuart Livingstone is aiming to bring the trophy home for TOP CLUB. This gala is a Head Coaches targeted gala and double gala points are awarded.
How do you enter?
There is a Halloween Meet Entry form on the noticeboard, fill it in, ticking the events you wish to enter and post it in the post box along with your entry fee addressed to the Open Meet Secretary and we will do the rest. Alternatively please speak to any member of the Committee and they will advise you.
All swimmers must be ASA category 2, to enter the event, but don’t worry your ASA can be upgraded at any time before the Meet.
Why do we run the Gala?
This is an important Gala for South Axholme Sharks as it raises money for the club, which we rely on for buying new equipment, trophies and making improvements to the club.
As we host the Meet a lot of help is needed in the preparations and also on the day. Any help from parents will be greatly appreciated, please speak to a member of the committee, if you are able to help. All parents who help on the day will be able to watch their child swim.