Chairpersons Report 2005-2006

This year we have had many fun and sponsored events. Dolygaer training camp was just as popular as last year and I already have people asking about next year!
We?ve had the Big Freeze, Christmas Parties, Nipper camp, St.David?s training weekend, a sponsored swim, a 12 hour iron man, BBQ?S, birthdays, the bike ride of doom and collections. I am hoping that more silly and exciting ways of making money will appear next year.
The 25th Anniversary was an amazing success which has yet to be publicised, well done to everyone who was involved in making it such an amazing night- the comments I received from ex-members were truly outstanding- and some of them have even agreed to come back!

Our presentation evening/Barn Dance was quite well attended and was a popular idea, which may occur again next year. Thank you to the seniors who worked so hard in getting it up and running.

Congratulations to Will Richards who won The Most Improved Nipper 2005-2006. Will is a fairly new member of the club, who can?t wait to get in the water and have a go! He came to lots of training sessions and enjoyed taking parts in lots of the competitions this year. He is always well behaved and polite and a great example of what a nipper should be!

The Most Improved Junior of the Year went to Joanne Williams.
Joanne has been in the club a long time now. Jo has worked hard on her competition and lifesaving skills this year. She completed her LifeSavers Award, and took all of our breath away at this summers competitions, (a board race that will go down in Southerndown history!). Jo has been a valuable member of our coaching team this year and even went to Nipper Camp for me this year when I was ill, more amazingly it didn?t put her off! Joanne is friendly and excitable?. A bit like all the other seniors she joins this year!

Junior Captain 2005-2006 was awarded to Aled Oakley.
Aled is a popular member of the club who is always smiling- (most of the time anyway). He?s been coaching for a few years now and putting the Juniors through their paces in the pool for a long while! Aled has always competed with enthusiasm- I remember going to a Nipper Carnival where he was the only competitor! This year he performed fantastically and has developed a new passion for the board! Aled is a great inspiration, he is friendly and fun, and what is more important he dances like a demon!

The Most Improved Senior Award 2005-2006 went to Max Davies
Max is a relatively new member of the club, who arrived with his siblings and bowled us over with his enthusiasm! I?m pretty sure you could ask Max to swim to England in training and he?d give it a go! He?s worked hard to gain his Beach Lifeguard Award, to gain some experience life guarding the beach, coaching the younger members and socialising with the best of us! Max can be relied upon to make you smile, the more he moans, the more he?s loving it! (I hope) and we have all (Examiners from other clubs included) enjoyed Max wondering around without his top on in sub zero temperatures- what a nutter!

Senior Captain 2005-2006 goes to Nick Lock
I am very proud to Welcome Nick as our Senior Captain this year. He is well liked and friendly and is not afraid of hard work and responsibility. Nick is a great beach lifeguard who worked for the Council this year, and is a great competitor too! Nick showed great skills on the beach and the sea this year which he enjoys passing on to younger members of the club. ?Stick Nick? is a great asset to the club and a great inspiration to everyone who wants to be a great all rounder with great hair! He?s great!

This years Loyalty Award went to Angharad Llewellyn
Angharad is one of our longest standing members. I am so glad that we are able to learn from her fantastic experience and knowledge. Over the years Angharad has been a council lifeguard and a member of the Welsh Lifesaving team. These days she is a fantastic coach and a great official. Angharad was left ankle deep in the water officiating whilst the rest of us had gone home- dedication indeed! On a more personal note, Angharad has a great taste in hats, Australians and fine wine! AND is one of the original dream team of Legends!! (Dai would be proud)

The IRB Award went deservedly home with the Champion of Ridiculous Blunders- Will Hedges.
Will can always be relied upon to be professionally ridiculous and hilarious at all times. The time has now come for him to choose a new prodigy of silliness- as he is sponsoring next years IRB Award!

I would also like to thank the 2005-2006 committee:
Richard Hedges- Vice Chairman
Karyn Melbourne Thomas- Secretary
Angharad Llewellyn- Competition Secretary
Jane Stephens- Treasurer
Phil Chamberlain- Gear Steward
Rebecca Melbourne Thomas- Club Captain
Will Hedges- Patrol Captain/ CPO

It is with immense sadness that we say goodbye to two of our committee this year.
Phil has been keeping me afloat for many a long year and I?m seriously worried about my ability to stay on top of the water without him, though he has promised to stick around? I?m hoping if I chase him with a ski for long enough he?ll give up and stick a patch on it!
Karyn is also stepping down as Club Secretary and Nipper Boss this year. For once I really am stuck for words? I?ve been working with Karyn since I was 12 or 13 and we even went on our first highly amusing Nipper Camp together in Dawlish Warren. Karyn has kept the club going for years and has been the driving force behind two of our past chairmans (though this is a secret!) I have no doubt that lifeguards took over her life for a long time and I only hope it gave her some moments to cherish! I will miss her greatly and the only consolations are?. I know where she lives and I know she will now have a lot more time to spend with her horses ( the mounted patrol is still an area to be tapped you know Karyn!!!) Best Wishes?.. And Good luck. Thank you so much for keeping the club alive for so many years, I really will miss those moments of madness?

What have we introduced this year?
New Badge system.
Extra sessions for Seniors.
Use of a Safety Officer at training.
Co Ordinators for Nippers, Juniors and Seniors.

What we hope to implement.
New committee positions:
Senior, Junior, Nipper co ordinator. To organise and run each session, take control of membership awards etc.
Media Officer. To publicise the club in local papers.
Fund raising officer. To take charge of finding new ways of raising funds and organising fund raising events.
Educations officer. To help bring lifeguards to local schools, organisations etc. Producing leaflets, giving talks etc.
Implement new coaching structures- sessions tailored and people sent on new courses.
Continue with social and fundraising ideas.
Reward system for Competition training attendance.
Improvement of club equipment.

Best wishes and Good Luck in the forthcoming year?.. May it bring more memories for us all?..


Karen Bale- Chairman.

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