Winchester City Penguins is a Members’ club catering for all swimmers – from those about to start lessons to those competing at national level. We have LESSONS sections and CLUB squads (Flippers, Otters, Seals, Dolphins, Kings, Royals and Mariners/Masters)
Winchester City Penguins Swimming Club, established in 1948, currently has some 250 members ranging in age from 6 to 76. Although based in Winchester, we attract swimmers from as far away as Basingstoke and Southampton.
The club has always sought to combine success in competitions with a friendly, family atmosphere. Under Head Coach, Kevin Terry, the club is striving to make itself a force to be reckoned with in the competitive Southern Counties region. In the long term, we aim to be a top club in Hampshire and to place swimmers on the National team. However, we attach equal importance – through an active lessons programme and a thriving junior section – to the achievements of younger and less experienced swimmers. We seek to form closer links with local schools and colleges, and to introduce as many children as possible to the fun and excitement of competitive swimming.
We have sessions at four excellent 25m pools in Winchester – RIVER PARK Leisure Centre (Gordon Road), WINCHESTER COLLEGE (Kingsgate Road) KINGS’ SCHOOL (Romsey Road) and ARMY TRAINING REGIMENT (Andover Road). We also use the purpose-built Learner pool at River Park for our youngest lessons swimmers and the Aldershot Garrison pool for 50m training.
Land Training takes place in the gym at Winchester College.
Lessons are booked and paid for in advance in blocks of typically 10-14 weeks. We cater for all levels from complete beginner ASA National Teaching Plan level 9. After level 9, swimmers are usually ready to move into the club’s Flipper squads.
Squad swimming. To swim in the WCPSC squads you must become a member of the club. This involves a one-off joining fee per swimmer, annual membership which varies according to the family size and a monthly swimming fee. The fees vary for the different squads. Check this year's membership fees.
Penguins have a full and varied competition diary, competing in the Speedo League and Minor leagues. Local inter-club galas also feature and those at the Novice and ‘fun’ level, which we run as home fixtures at River Park, are particularly important in encouraging new, young swimmers. At the other end of the performance ladder, the club is gaining an ever-higher profile at the various Southern County and National Age Group competitions where podium finishes for Penguins are now regular events.
The club swimmers are spread over 11 squads – Flippers, Otters, Seals, Dolphins, Royals, Kings and Mariners/Masters. They range in ability from those who can swim a few lengths to those who compete at County and National level. If you are unsure of your swimming ability, come and trial with us at River Park Leisure Centre.
The club runs more than 30 hours of training each week, using the pools at River Park Leisure Centre, Winchester College, Army Training Regiment and Kings School. We also offer ‘land’ training sessions at Kings and Winchester College. The swimmers are coached by a team of paid and volunteer staff, led by the Head Coach. The club has also organised summer swim camps and warm weather training in Cyprus.
To provide a feeder system for the club – as well as offering a much-in-demand service for the city – we run our own ‘Learn to Swim’ scheme and Lessons section. This rapidly growing operation features sessions at both River Park and Kings, and currently caters for some 250 children under the ASA's National Teaching Plan.
As a non-profit making Members’ club, we are controlled by an elected committee and publish our accounts annually. The Club has signed up the the Swim 21 programme and is active in promoting swimming development for all.
The Club holds annual championships – where team-mates have a (brief) opportunity to become rivals! Swimmers also have the chance to take ASA distance swimming awards and to sample some of the more unusual water sports such as synchronised swimming and water polo. Last, but not least, our social functions, picnics, barbecues and parties are always popular with the children – and sometimes even with the mums and dads!
If you swim with Penguins on a Saturday morning at River Park Leisure Centre, you will be able to browse through the large selection of swimwear and the correct accessories to enable you to enjoy swimming. A list of items on offer can be found on the Penguins shop webpage.
Any of the Club’s committee members or senior coaching staff will be happy to give you more information. You’ll find people to talk to at any of the training or lessons sessions – just come along and ask! Alternatively visit this site's Contacts page