New Year Newsletter 2026

Kelly McManus - Admin


 

 

Dear team,

First of all, I hope everyone is having a great holidays and Happy New year to you all.

As we come to the end of this term/cycle of training there are a couple of aspects that I wanted to provide an update on. We’ve had a very good cycle, with a very high PB percentage at our targeted meets (83% in P groups). We now have county accepted entries coming in although at time of writing our clubs data hasn’t been collated yet. There are certainly plenty of new qualifiers – well done. 

We hosted 2 excellent home meets, thanks to everyone who chipped in to make these events go so well. The November county qualifier was very busy and a great weekend of racing and over 100 entries from CMK swimmers including many first timers. 

Fixtures list

Please find an updated fixtures list. There a number of changes from early plans as we get more details from organisers and Swim England/British Swimming. 

Plans for swimmers at different levels notes are as follows:

  • Swimmers looking to qualify for British Champs. Qualifying times are now published on British swimming website. Swimmers should focus on Sheffield (10/1) & Derby in Sheff (7/3)

  • Swimmers looking to qualify for Summer Nationals. Swimmers rankings are used between 6th March and 10th May. Swimmers should focus on Derby in Sheff (7&8/3), London Legacy (28-30/3) and Regionals (1-4/5). A few swimmers will be selected for relay teams that have a chance of making Nationals. These clash with London Legacy on 28/3. A few selected events will be suitable at Luton L1 on 21/3. This allows distance swimmers to spread events, to replace training that weekend and ensure swimmers doing relays the week after have all events covered 3x.

  • Swimmers looking to qualify for Regionals. Qualifying times are now published; however, rankings are important as rejections are inevitable. The best chances to qualify are Counties (various) and Coventry (21&22/3).

  • Swimmers at counties but unlikely to be at Regionals. Counties (various) and Coventry (21&22/3) are a lot of fun and fast meets to get PBs. We are also planning on doing a level 3 meet in May - most likely the Wycombe long course meet.

  • Swimmers not yet at county level. It’s a difficult time of year to find meets as counties & regionals dominate the national schedule. The Oxford meet we’d planned is not on. We are therefore planning to run a time trial type meet in Feb possibly with another club. We are also looking at a local level 3 in late May. The message from Governing bodies is that this is a time to prioritise training and development to focus on meets in June-July. (Excessive competition is deemed to be detrimental in early years). 

Club records

Please find attached an updated club records. This involves an updated all member records. These include members who are training at Uni programs as well as in MK. Long term performance is a key focus for us.

Staffing update and contacts

I am disappointed to say Will has got a new day job, so will not be around in the week for a while, this could become long term. I speak for everyone when I say we wish him good luck and I am delighted he’ll still be around for weekend cover and some galas. 

Faith will lead Ag4 from 1st Jan which fits well with her current Academy role. Hannah will continue to support her on Sundays and with trials.  Bee is taking on more hours support Hannah with Ag squads. Bee will lead Ag5 as well her current lead role of Ag3. However, there will be a period where staff chip in across all squads in January as staff adjust other commitments. We hope to be able to deliver a full service. We are looking to develop new coaches as well. 

I also have a new email address – please contact staff as follows and not via whatsapp/text. NOTE: Faith and Bee are part time so for a quick response or for wider enquiries cc Greg or Hannah. 

Greg Buck [Full Time] (P squads and CD) : [email protected] (07917170473)

Hannah Wilson [FT] (Ag1 & Ag2 squads) : [email protected] 

Bee Marriott [PT] (Ag3, Ag5 squads) : [email protected] 

Faith Kimberley [PT] (Ag4 and Academy) : [email protected] 

Planned Schedule and changes (for Academy and AG2-5 in particular)

To respond to changing staffing and pressure on numbers we have a few changes to pool time drafted for 1st Feb. I inform you now to provide early warning – confirmation and a new schedule will be sent out in the coming days once finalised. 

Thursday Academy will move to Wednesday at 6-7pm at Leon. Swimmers in Academy who cannot attend Wednesdays should contact [email protected]. We appreciate this may challenge family’s weekly plans and have a couple of solutions of Weds doesn’t suit.

We have had to change a couple of sessions around on Wednesdays Ag4 will move to 7-8pm and Ag2 to 5-6pm at Leon.

The Ag5 on Tuesdays will move to Sundays 6.30-7.30pm. There is more space on a Sunday night so it makes sense to adjust.

Squad moves are planned for 1st Feb to coincide with these changes.

Performance behaviours (for AG1 and P squads in particular)

There is significant opportunity at CMK to train and swim at a high level. There is also flexibility and understanding - not all swimmers can commit full time - all the time. This requires understanding, accepting others may be in a different place. This also requires self-discipline to act in accordance with your own goals.

Training content (for Ag1 and P squads in particular)

The first 3 months main goals were to build fitness after summer, stimulate technical development and perform well short course. Our next 3 months focus is towards qualifying for National and Regional events, increase intensity of training and maintain technical form at speed and competition. Swimmers in Ag1 and P squads should review their goal setting forms with coaches. Swimmers in Ag2/3 May wish to take part in this. 

 

Good luck in 2026

I wish all members and families well in the coming year with some fast swimming too!

 

Yours sincerely,

Greg Buck, CMK Head Coach