About WCPSC
Winchester City Penguins Swimming Club was formed in 1948 and currently has approximately 250 members ranging in age from 6 to 76. Although based in Winchester, the club not only attracts members from the local area but also from Andover, Basingstoke, Eastleigh and Southampton.
The club swimmers are allocated to one of the 8 squads – (Flippers, Otters, Seals, Dolphins, Royals, Kings 1, Kings 2 and Masters). The 'Masters Squad' were 2007 and 2009 County Champions, runners-up in in 2008 and 2010.
The ability of members range from those that can swim a few lengths through to those that compete at major open meets and County, Regional and National competitions.
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.
Dry-land training at Winchester College is available for members that are 12 years and older. Parents are welcome to attend providing they are members of the club and registered with the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA). A charge of £2.00 is levied for parents attending. The swimmers are coached by a team of paid and voluntary staff, led by the Head Coach, Kevin Terry. The club has also organised summer swim camps and warm weather training.
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’ programme. This rapidly growing operation offers swimming lessons at both River Park Leisure Centre and Kings School, and currently caters for some 250 children under the asa's National Plan for Teaching Swimming.
The Club has signed up to the Swim 21 programme and was accredited with 'Skill Development Level' in August 2008. The club is also active in promoting "swimming development for all" through the ASA's Long Term Athlete Development programme.
As a non-profit making members’ club, WCPSC is managed by an elected committee and publishes its accounts annually.
Club History
The Club can be traced back to the middle of the 19th century. It was then known as 'The Winchester and Itchen Swimming Club'. Club members swam at the Weirs in Winchester, the canal at St Catherine's, Winnall and at the Fulling Mill in the Worthies.
At that time there was no official connection with the Southern Counties Amateur Swimming Association ((SCASA) - now the South East Region ASA). Hampshire swimming clubs and, in particular, Winchester swimmers joined London Clubs to participate in competitive swimming. In 1860 the City opened the River Water pool at Bull Drove in Garnier Road. In 1901 the City purchased and provided a second site, in the North West corner of what is now the River Park complex, where organised swimming could take place. The reason for the two sites was to enable both sexes to swim - there was no mixed bathing allowed at that time.
George Tull, a local baker and confectioner who had a shop in the centre of Winchester, was instrumental in Hampshire joining the SCASA and became the Hampshire County Amateur Swimming Association's (HCASA) first President (1908). Other members to hold the post of HCASA President are Rev H Vaughan Johnson (1911), H White (1927) W A Weller (1933), E H Griffiths (1953 & 1971).
In 1924 the Mens' and Ladies' Clubs were amalgamated and mixed swimming took place at the Bull Drove (but only on certain nights as mixed swimming was still frowned upon!)
Swimming continued at both sites until the City acquired the Lido complex and the Hyde Mead venue was dropped in favour of the lavish facilities provided by the Lido (i.e. changing cubicles!). The Instructor at the Lido was Mr. S. Abrahams who, on the outbreak of war, left to serve in the Merchant Navy leaving the coaching to his good lady. Swimmers, however, had to join Southampton County Borough Swimming Club to take part in competition and there was much talk amongst swimmers and parents who were proud of their Winchester connections.
And so it was that in 1948 a public meeting was arranged at Abbey House presided over by the Mayor of Winchester. At this meeting the decision was made to form a competitive swimming club in Winchester and the Winchester City Penguins Swimming Club was born. One of those founder members was Reg Collis, who remained our President until his sad death in 1992.
Swimming continued at the Lido until 1969 when the Club started to use the newly opened Winchester College Pool. This decision enabled training to be put on a more regular basis without the weather playing an adverse part. In 1974 the Recreation Centre now known as River Park Leisure Centre, was built by the City Council and the Centre management were keen for Penguins to use these facilities to ensure the pool's success. The fire at the Centre inevitably led to a fall-off in numbers but the Club has grown in membership since that time.
In past years we have seen many Penguins compete at County, District and National levels. Julia Beckett is the club's most successful swimmer ever, becoming a Junior International in 2002 before gaining Senior selection in 2005. She has gone on to represent Great Britain at European Championships, Commonwealth Games, World Championships and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
There is a strong tradition in the Club and many of our elder swimmers help with the teaching of our younger members, together with ex-Penguins returning with their own children to have them taught to swim and join the club.