Coaching clinic for Counties swimmers

Swimming New Zealand’s National Talent Identification and Development Coach, Gary Hurring, recently visited the Counties Manukau region for a coaching clinic.

Sixteen swimmers from around the region attended the day which included pool sessions on all four strokes, dry land activities and a couple of sessions discussing some of the main messages of the day and pathways to the next stages of the swimmers careers.

During the day Gary shared with the group how elite athletes need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable as doing things the right way and trying to change for the better is not always easy.

Mangere Swim Club coach Brian Sorensen was there on the day and said everyone was able to take away knew knowledge from Gary.

“Gary started with a great motivational talk, giving the swimmers some information on how to go about reaching that next level above Opens and Age Groups, the pathways and qualification to international meets,” Brian said.

“We all went away with a greater understanding of the importance of doing our drill work in a more focused way, what the drills were to achieve and how to go about relating them to their racing.”

Gary left the day impressed at the groups give it a go attitude and willingness to take on board the messages he was explaining throughout the day.

“It was a great day and I was very impressed by the attitudes and talent in this region.”

The swimmers that attended were: Amy Metcalfe (Manurewa), Caitlin Lucie-Smith (Papakura), Daniel Koenigsperger (Howick Pakuranga), Erin O'Mara (Fulton), Georgia Aykroyd (Papakura), Josh Nicol (Pukekohe), Kiana Swain (Pukekohe), Matthew Heim (Howick Pakuranga), Michael Mills (Mangere) Nathan Hickmott (Fulton), Noah Vilisoni-Heather (Howick Pakuranga), Olivia Clare (Pukekohe), Taylor Stevens (Howick Pakuranga), Thomas Hughson (Howick Pakuranga), William Hughes (Pukekohe) and Zac Dell (Pukekohe).